Hello! I'm new to *everything*

I'm reading the other threads and it seems that everyone else has come to fellrunning from running first.

At the moment I cycle to work (4 miles there, 4 miles back and on the flat) so that's not a great deal of fitness. In a few weeks I move house so won't be cycling to work anymore, and I know I'm going to miss it - however I will be living on the side of a hill in Rossendale so I though, AHA! I'll do fell running. I went in to buy a sports bra and said "I'm taking up fell running" and they fell about laughing. It does seem to be something that people go into after doing other running...

So I've started going for jog/walks to try and get myself into it, but bimbling along the flat is very boring, and I keep detouring onto the beach. I'm definitely not a road runner!

I'm looking forward to it, but am I being a bit insane wanting to head up hills when I'm not even a "proper" runner - ie not very fit?

Wanting to get out and about, and finding road running boring - perfect reasons to start fell running. Welcome.

Just because you feel inexperienced doesn't mean that everyone else is an expert. And, just because people have been running a long time doesn't make them any better at it, or more deserving at having a go, than you. If you lived more 'up north' I'd say let's go for a run together, but I'm in Ambleside so a bit too far away.

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Originally Posted by yomper

I'm reading the other threads and it seems that everyone else has come to fellrunning from running first.

At the moment I cycle to work (4 miles there, 4 miles back and on the flat) so that's not a great deal of fitness. In a few weeks I move house so won't be cycling to work anymore, and I know I'm going to miss it - however I will be living on the side of a hill in Rossendale so I though, AHA! I'll do fell running. I went in to buy a sports bra and said "I'm taking up fell running" and they fell about laughing. It does seem to be something that people go into after doing other running...

So I've started going for jog/walks to try and get myself into it, but bimbling along the flat is very boring, and I keep detouring onto the beach. I'm definitely not a road runner!

I'm looking forward to it, but am I being a bit insane wanting to head up hills when I'm not even a "proper" runner - ie not very fit?

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Hi, Yomper, you are only insane in the way we all are on here. And not all of us are super-fit, I can assure you. Explore and you will find that some of us are over-weight, some smoke, many are languishing with injuries and some even with broken bones. Some, like me, are distinctly over the hill. Some poor wretches live in the South of England!!!

IMO, walking, especially hill walking, is the best preparation for running of any sort. You might like to build up the length of your walks (join a local group?) and on other days run on valley footpaths and trails to get more used to off-road running. You could also do some weight training in the gym to build up strength in your legs for coping with hills and rough ground. (Not everyone here will agree with this.) It sounds as if, what with the cycling, the jogging and the sports bra you've made a great start already.

Welcome to the forum Yomper, good advice from Eleanor and Alexandra, just get up in them hills and run when you can and walk when you can't, it's that simple, stick with it and before you know it your fitness will increase. Don't be bothered what other people think, do what you enjoy and if someone falls about laughing at you, laugh back, works for me. Think: I can and i will:wink:

Insanity is a pre-requisite for fell running.

If you'd said you'd never run and were thinking of doing the BGR next month we might have thought you very stupid but not insane.

Some amazingly fit people on this forum and in fell running generally BUT most of us are mere mortals. Yes most of us have progressed from other forms of running but not everyone.

Fitness will come. Unless you're a seasoned hill walker I'd say you might need to strengthen your ankles. Try a wobbleboard. Other than just enjoy it and don't worry about what anyone else is doing / achieveing / thinking. :)

Ahh well I do plenty of walking, so maybe things won't be too bad! I just have memories of school cross country runs that leave me shivering in corners.

In my head, I'm leaping over mountains. In reality... I fell sideways into a bog on Saturday, and that was just out for a walk.

Welcome Yomper! :)
Have courage and determination and you will be alright! :D
Get out and enjoy those hills. Where there's a will, there's a way!
Have fun! :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by yomper

... I fell sideways into a bog on Saturday, and that was just out for a walk.

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You are definitely at home here!

Awwww thank you to everyone who has said hello!

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Originally Posted by yomper

Awwww thank you to everyone who has said hello!

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...and from me yomper. welcome to the sunny, sweaty, misty, rainy, windy, snowy, achey world of joy we call fell running/walking:))

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Originally Posted by yomper

......and said "I'm taking up fell running" and they fell about laughing.

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Incidentally I think you need to find a different shop, cheeky sods.

Welcome! Rossendale, you say? See my 'Care to Join Me?' thread if you fancy a. crack at Pendle. Cheers,
Gary

Welcome to the forums.

I started running on the hills late last year with no previous experience apart from walking. I'm fat and unfit and definitely not superhuman!

I'm on the other side of the hill above burnley and I'd recommend following Gary up Pendle. Incidentally I'll be over that way on Sunday if anyone cares to join me.

On the topic of fell running and walking let me share with you a post race comment once made by Gavin Bland, an English and British Champion fell runner.

"Not really a proper fell race, I never had to walk once"

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Originally Posted by andy k

On the topic of fell running and walking let me share with you a post race comment once made by Gavin Bland, an English and British Champion fell runner.

"Not really a proper fell race, I never had to walk once"

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Very reassuring!:thumbup:

Rossendale Harriers meet at Marl Pits, Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:45. Fell running is a major activity with training groups for all abilities. You will be most welcome.
http://www.rossendaleharriers.co.uk

There's lots of us plodders about. I only really started because I wanted to exercise my dog, who can walk all day long. (he can run all day as well, but I started to enjoy it...)

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Originally Posted by yomper

Ahh well I do plenty of walking, so maybe things won't be too bad! I just have memories of school cross country runs that leave me shivering in corners.

In my head, I'm leaping over mountains. In reality... I fell sideways into a bog on Saturday, and that was just out for a walk.

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I'm new to fell running Yomper and I've been dedicated since last September. I decided to turn my daydreams into reality. I can now be found lying in ditches all over the North York Moors and Nidderdale. It's great. Sometime I can't get up for laughing.

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Originally Posted by yomper

I'm reading the other threads and it seems that everyone else has come to fellrunning from running first.
I'm looking forward to it, but am I being a bit insane wanting to head up hills when I'm not even a "proper" runner - ie not very fit?

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Hi 'yomper'

1. I too came into running from cycling.
My main competative riding was Cyclo-Cross (I commuted too, still do) so when I started running a bit more seriously it seemed logical to get on the dirt/mud/hills on two-legs as well as two-wheels

2. I'm very surprised that none of the male members on here have offered to help you with your sports-bra
If you'd mentioned them on the 'Runners World' forums, you'd have been inundated with unsolicited offers!!!

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Originally Posted by Alexandra

Some poor wretches live in the South of England!!!

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That is 'the cross they have to bear' through life, poor unfortunates!

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Originally Posted by RichardAThackeray

Hi 'yomper'

1. I too came into running from cycling.
My main competative riding was Cyclo-Cross (I commuted too, still do) so when I started running a bit more seriously it seemed logical to get on the dirt/mud/hills on two-legs as well as two-wheels

2. I'm very surprised that none of the male members on here have offered to help you with your sports-bra
If you'd mentioned them on the 'Runners World' forums, you'd have been inundated with unsolicited offers!!!

That is 'the cross they have to bear' through life, poor unfortunates!

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Alan hasn't been on the site for ages much to the relief of many of the ladies...:)

Re sports bras there is a thread on the very subject much discussed and thought about....

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Originally Posted by Fairyfeet

I'm new to fell running Yomper and I've been dedicated since last September. I decided to turn my daydreams into reality. I can now be found lying in ditches all over the North York Moors and Nidderdale. It's great. Sometime I can't get up for laughing.

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I think I may have seen you in a Nidderdale ditch last week Ff. Apologies for not saying 'Hello' as I ran by on the other side, I hadn't realised you were a forumite.

Oh, and welcome yomper. I was going to ask with a name like that if you used to be a Royal Marine, till I read about the bra!

On the other hand though, I do know some booties who wear tights in the winter.

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Originally Posted by andy k

On the topic of fell running and walking let me share with you a post race comment once made by Gavin Bland, an English and British Champion fell runner.

"Not really a proper fell race, I never had to walk once"

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Does this, by extension, make me a better fell runner than Mr Bland?

perhaps more "authentic" ?
maybe more "experienced" ?

Welcome Yomper. I second the person that said to change your running shop! cheeky beggars.

I got into fellrunning a few years ago by mistake when I agreed to do a race that I thought was a road race (Guisborough Three Tops). I loved it and have never looked back.

Just keep getting out there. You become a fell runner by running on fells and it doesn't matter if you are slow or fast the important thing is to enjoy it. You can see already that most people here are friendly and helpful and will give you lots of advice (some of it confusing and conflicting but you can take what you want from it :) ).

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Originally Posted by yomper

I'm reading the other threads and it seems that everyone else has come to fellrunning from running first.

At the moment I cycle to work (4 miles there, 4 miles back and on the flat) so that's not a great deal of fitness. In a few weeks I move house so won't be cycling to work anymore, and I know I'm going to miss it - however I will be living on the side of a hill in Rossendale so I though, AHA! I'll do fell running. I went in to buy a sports bra and said "I'm taking up fell running" and they fell about laughing. It does seem to be something that people go into after doing other running...

So I've started going for jog/walks to try and get myself into it, but bimbling along the flat is very boring, and I keep detouring onto the beach. I'm definitely not a road runner!

I'm looking forward to it, but am I being a bit insane wanting to head up hills when I'm not even a "proper" runner - ie not very fit?

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Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

I was going to ask with a name like that if you used to be a Royal Marine, till I read about the bra!

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Aren't women allowed to be Royal Marines?

Eek, I want to reply to everyone at once rather than doing a zillion separate replies...
I don't think I'm up to Pendle yet but give me a little while!
I know Marl Pits, it's opposite the soon-to-be-mother-in-laws house. If I join the Harriers for running, I'll have a good excuse to leg it out of there before she makes me knit her some more hats.
Regarding "yomper", that's cos I used to be involved with Army Cadets and really enjoyed a good yomp up the hills. Then I got very ill (crohn's) and lost a load of weight, and it's been a slog since then to get back the fitness that I used to just take for granted.
The ladies in the bra shop, once they stopped laughing, were pretty helpful - I think they were laughing at the way I said it, really. It was a bit disconcerting to have to jump up and down, semi-naked, so they could check if I bounced, though!

Thought Yomping was a Royal Marine term. Tabbing int Army, Tactical Advance to Battle, or Tatp in my case, Tactical advance t'pub

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Originally Posted by Alexandra

Aren't women allowed to be Royal Marines?

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Don't Royal Marines dress up as women when they go ashore:p

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Originally Posted by Fairyfeet

I'm new to fell running Yomper and I've been dedicated since last September. I decided to turn my daydreams into reality. I can now be found lying in ditches all over the North York Moors and Nidderdale. It's great. Sometime I can't get up for laughing.

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Ah well if you're ever over Niddeerdale way then give me shout for a run or a cuppa. I'll be moving to Bewerley in a few weeks time.:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by yomper

It was a bit disconcerting to have to jump up and down, semi-naked, so they could check if I bounced, though!

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I'm always amazed how many women I see running around with their boobs bouncing about all over the place. Must be a fair few black eyes about!! :w00t:

Shock Absorber (and go for the version for doing the most extreme sports) is definately the best investment you can make in a sports bra :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Flopsy

I'm always amazed how many women I see running around with their boobs bouncing about all over the place. Must be a fair few black eyes about!! :w00t:

Shock Absorber (and go for the version for doing the most extreme sports) is definately the best investment you can make in a sports bra :thumbup:

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Aye that's the one they recommended I buy. I tried on a fair few, they were pretty patient with me.

I didn't know yomping was a Marines term - then again, as a kid I was with the 17/21 Lancers (don't exist no more) and as an adult instructor I was with the Welsh Guards, and training with them was frankly terrifying (they're infantry which don't have women in, so some of them had a few issues with women on their patch. This was a few years ago, but the mess had a line painted on the floor about a metre from the bar and women could not cross it to buy their own drinks. After spending the whole day keeping up, not being able to buy a drink, was pretty archaic! And you couldn't have a pint! Only halves!!!)

I hope it was in a proper lady's glass.

Alexandra, no women allowed in the Marines, the Infantry or the Royal Armoured Corps, or in submarines (I believe, not a tar myself) though they do serve alongside.

After amalgamation in 1958, my old mob had a white line painted across the bar and over the floor in the Sgts' Mess; West Yorks one side, East Yorks the other (no women there either).

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Originally Posted by Alexandra

Some poor wretches live in the South of England!!!

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Ok Ok dont go rubbing it in, not all of us can help working in the Southern hemisphere of the UK - plus I will soon be moving from my home in the South Wales area to bloody Middlesex :w00t:

Welcome Yomper - just for the fact that you live where you do I am jealous - have fun matey !!! :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Flopsy

I'm always amazed how many women I see running around with their boobs bouncing about all over the place. Must be a fair few black eyes about!! :w00t:

Shock Absorber (and go for the version for doing the most extreme sports) is definately the best investment you can make in a sports bra :thumbup:

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I know what is that all about ! Even I wear a sports bra (tiny boobs :o) so goodness knows how they cope!

Oh and hello yomper, welcome :cool:

I am unofficially the worst fell runner on the forum - live in Nottingham, worked in London, and just started working Manchester, so spend more time working and on trains than running anywhere near any fells, well running at all is a trial at the moment... and they still talk to me so it is all fine :thumbup:

I fairness OHW is a fellrunning fashion icon, who can forget a chilly XOTF with One Hill wearing an angora (or was it Mohair) baselayer. None of your polyester/polyprop/pertex nonsense for her:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Flopsy

Ah well if you're ever over Niddeerdale way then give me shout for a run or a cuppa. I'll be moving to Bewerley in a few weeks time.:thumbup:

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May well do that, I'll work out who you are first and check your race results so as not to be humiliated on a training run! I'm just down the road in Ripon. I love coming up to Middlesmoor and Dale Edge, it's good training land..

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Originally Posted by Great Uncle Bulgaria

I fairness OHW is a fellrunning fashion icon, who can forget a chilly XOTF with One Hill wearing an angora (or was it Mohair) baselayer. None of your polyester/polyprop/pertex nonsense for her:thumbup:

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Armani, no less! :cool:

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Originally Posted by Great Uncle Bulgaria

I fairness OHW is a fellrunning fashion icon, who can forget a chilly XOTF with One Hill wearing an angora (or was it Mohair) baselayer. None of your polyester/polyprop/pertex nonsense for her:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by southernsoftie

Armani, no less! :cool:

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I think you should both lay off, She is in the media remember and has a persona to up hold :)

"Some poor wretches live in the South of England!!!"

We do our best to overcome this distinct disadvantage, but it is impossible to practice those long steep ascents/descents except on the genuine terrain ....