What is fell running to you?

Sometimes on this forum I feel like one of a small minority of fell runners where fell racing isn't the be all and end all and just running and 'wilderness exploring' is the main thing. Don't get me wrong I like racing too (albeit for completely different reasons) and I guess I will enter a dozen or so races this year but, for me, running and wilderness exploring is what I love the very very most, especially with my trusty sidekick collie (and regular hangers on ;) ) in tow.

I think Brett should add a 'Wilderness Exploring' thread category so as to give me a corner of the forum where I can feel more at at home. What do you think? (And no the general 'training' thread just doesn't cut the mustard as, when push comes to shove, I don't ever think of running in the hills as ever being 'training') :)

I do both but I do really enjoy races, nothing like competing to feel truly alive

where's the choice..."it's my religion man..."

There is nothing like a run with friends on hilly terrain - or the best local equivalent - followed by a drink/cake - but races are fun too. Even though I finish well towards the back of the field it is inspiring to see those around you interacting with the terrain, and witnessing their inner battle with tiredness/lactic acid ....

What a splendid question Stolly.

I dont know really. I dont usually "enjoy" racing as I just suffer and want it to end. But Im not the only one who feels that way. Yet I still long to race (once its over). To be able to test myself against other and to see how tough I am. Its also quite good to have a sense of "weirdness" status you have from your colleagues when the general question about about 4pm comes of "what are you doing tonight" ends for me in "Im going up Winter Hill.Yes, in the dark". I also have alot of respect from friends from what I get up to at the weekend.

I suppose thinking about it I centre all my "training" around being fit enough to race. It sounds really bad but at the moment Im not fit enough to perform how Id like to in races and therefore at the moment I wont even consider racing. Then when I think Im fit I'll look at investing in 4 new safety pins and off I pop.

I certainly cant knock a good social run in the fells though. Be it with friends or just with Joss the dog.


Aslong as I can run. Not fussed how far. Im happy.

I just like being outdoors but there is something about the 'thrill of the chase' when racing (however slow you are :o) I'd rather go bird watching or flyfishing than run on the road mind :closed:

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Originally Posted by Stolly

...I think Brett should add a 'Wilderness Exploring' thread category so as to give me a corner of the forum where I can feel more at at home. What do you think?...

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I feel at home on your "Today's Wildlife Encounter" thread Stolly.
For me fellrunning's about being in an environment where I can be at one with nature.
I do like the odd race every now and then, but to be out on the fells on yer own, without anybody else "spoiling it", is what it's all about.
I think there are a lot of racers who just don't appreciate what fellrunning's all about.
When I see how some people treat the fells I wonder why they bother, they might as well be in any other crowd, at a football match for instance.
When it comes to the hills and dales I'm a selfish b4st4rd, happy to be without other human contact.
Bring on the "Wilderness Exploring" section.

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Originally Posted by wharfeego

to be out on the fells on yer own, without anybody else "spoiling it", is what it's all about.
When it comes to the hills and dales I'm a selfish b4st4rd, happy to be without other human contact.

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Absolutely. I remember a colleague of mine, a fairly elite fell racer, commenting that, if he so much as sees somebody out walking his dog during his morning run it ruins his day!

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Originally Posted by wharfeego

When I see how some people treat the fells I wonder why they bother, they might as well be in any other crowd, at a football match for instance.

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I joined a mountain bike club once, but left because of their attitude to the fells. They seemed to see the countryside as just another place to ride their bikes. I see running as just another way to enjoy the countryside.

I really do like racing as well, though.

For me running on the fells is another way to enjoy the wild experience and see more of it in a limited time. I enjoy running. I enjoy wilderness. Two pleasures for the price of one.
Racing is different because you are more concerned with your own performance than with your environment. Battling lactic accumulation, breathlessness, fatigue, pain....you're more involved with the internal than the external (unless, of course you are being battered by freezing rain). Racing, you aren't likely to stop and watch a hunting peregrine.
That said, I enjoy racing too.....but it's a different thing entirely. I've never done any of the long Lakeland races, and suspect I might enjoy them in a different way....more leisurely, navigating, more time to enjoy the surroundings.
Most of my racing, when I was younger, was on BOFRA "up and down" courses. Pain on the way up....self-preservation on the way down.

I really want to go running out in the wilderness of Swedish Lapland, where I spend my summers. Trouble is, alone out on a densely forested hillside, running....I'd be concerned with becoming a sporting lunch for Bjorn the Bear.

I'm a bit of both. From a bit of a 'sad loser' perspective, I work on my own at home, I live on my own and I used to always run on my own and so a race was a great way to have a bit of social interaction doing something I love on a weekend, invariably sundays, when most 'civilians' are at the garden centre having domestics, cooking sunday lunch or (if very lucky) enjoying a 'lie-in';) with their partner. However, I also like the fact that it pushes me, I like the competition and the challenge and the chance to catch up with people that I only see at races but since I've been doing more weekend runs in company:) my desire to race every weekend has diminished and I am cherry picking certain series and special events instead.

As for the wilderness aspect...that's what the joy of running is all about for me. I love the countryside and wildlife and I like to be outdoors in the elements. It keeps me feeling happy, healthy and sane.

After being stuck indoors for an eleven hour night shift it's just nice to be outside.

A bit of both for me... 99% of my training is on the fells but most of my racing, mainly on and off road duathlons is on road or trails... I do love long days doing "BG" type pace (walking climbs, jogging flats, running downs) as walking bores me senseless and you can cover so much more ground that way.

Fell running is exceedingly annoying at the moment. Suspected labral tear in hip means very little running full stop and only slow and flat over short distance. Not run properly since November and thoroughly fed up, aim with luck is the KCAC half Yorkshire man with a bit of good fortune.

Love being outdoors though and I enjoyed the racing side but am primarily a runner, I like road, like trail and like fell. Favourite race last year was probably back and forth over Humber bridge for 12hrs followed by Noonstones, then stanbury splash then Chester 20!! None of those were really the same as each other....

Having only been doing it now for 8 months i'm still deciding, at first i was happy just running because i was fat then wanted to do better and now i get disappointed when i finish outside the top 10. I think there are two sides to this question, i love racing and if i dont get a race in a week i get grumpy and agitated. Although on the other hand i lkie both the solitude when training but also our social runs we have. I think it just depends on how well your running and how you feel on any given day. Fell running is also special because of the cameraderie we share both on race days and socially, something i have never really associated with running especially after playing a team sport like football. Thought i would really miss the crack at football but fell running has really surprised to how friendly everyone can be even in competition. So for me its a mixture of all the above answers.

Being plumb in the middle, I however cant help thinking that the poll is slightly biased statistically, cos the 'all out wilderness explorers' are, (if true to their word) well outside t'internet range by now on a Friday evening? If we were to do it properly we would locate a handful of them by satellite, and parachute drop some questionaires that they could bring back to civilization when they check in again on Monday.....:closed:

Being out in isolated places is my idea as relaxation and fellracing helps me to maintain a level of fitness that enables me cover a satisfying amount of ground when relaxing, if that makes sense.

I dont like the idea of a wilderness related thread best to let folk find the quiete spots for themselves IMO

I think a lot of us came in to it (fell running) from a more general outdoor/mountaineering type background and for me at least it started as a way to move further/faster/lighter across the fells. I started doing a few races and mountain marathons etc from there but its always been more about being on the hill than racing across the hills although I do enjoy races as well as just going out.
I think the question to ask is 'If there were no fell races at all would you still go running across the fells?' For me the answer is a resounding YES. The follow up question is probably 'If there were no fell races at all would you enter road or track races instead?' For me the answer is NO - I'd be too busy running over the fells!

In my 1st year fell running i did a lot of races but now in my 2nd year i tend to just go for long runs on my own of around 4-6 hours for no reason other than i can and enjoy being out.I get more days off in the week and finish at 1400 so its a lot less busy which i prefer don't understand big groups on the hills.

I'm surprised by the number of wilderness explorers out there. Mrs Noel just raised an interesting point of what's your ratio of runs:races. I think mine is about 6:1 (and I voted mainly fell racer).

Given the right setting I'm both, but at the moment I only get out for races and the odd trot in the hills, making me more a racer. I sat on the fence and went both though as given the right parameters that's what I am.

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Originally Posted by noel

I'm surprised by the number of wilderness explorers out there. Mrs Noel just raised an interesting point of what's your ratio of runs:races. I think mine is about 6:1 (and I voted mainly fell racer).

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Mine would be about 50:1....but that may change in the favour of racing when I'm fitter and more competitive.

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Originally Posted by noel

I'm surprised by the number of wilderness explorers out there. Mrs Noel just raised an interesting point of what's your ratio of runs:races. I think mine is about 6:1 (and I voted mainly fell racer).

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About 30:1 :)

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Originally Posted by Stolly

About 30:1 :)

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About 260:1 for me last year, after that 1 last year it's likely to be about 260:0 this year

I am I the only one in this sport for the beer and cake?

The logic that leads me to fell running is:
1. I want to eat beer and cake
2. I don't want to be fat.
3. I hate swimming as it is the most boring antisocial godforsaken sport in the world
4. I want to spend as little of my potential beer and cake money as possible on my exercise
5. I do not want to breath in fumes or be shouted at by men in vans while running, and I live next to beautiful moors
6. If I enter fell races or go on club runs, I often get beer and cake.

Simple.

My ratio is 4:1, yet I'd class myself as more on the explorer side. It's just that I got less than 20 fell runs in last year, since the fell running is largely restricted to when I'm on holiday - so I tend to go for races where I can cover lots of ground, sometimes new ground - so last year I did a Rab mini, Edale Skyline, Borrowdale, and 2 days of the Rab.

the poll clearly shows that there is no majority of racing-serious types on here

there is a tendency to post more about racing/training/equipment etc, but I don't think that's down to a lack of a sub-forum to discuss wilderness exploring

for my own part, long days out on my own are what I enjoy most, but I don't post about them (much) because:
(a) I can't imagine others being that interested
(b) I haven't got time
(c) part of the attraction is that they are personal to me - most of the best moments I've experienced on the fells I haven't ever told anybody about (partly cos there are some things you can't do justice in words)

I enjoy taking part in races too though - not for the racing (I'm yet to break the top half in a race), but for the personal challenge of improving, and also I like the feeling of being part of a "tradition" - being a (VERY) small part of sporting history in the making

Wilderness? Where is this wilderness?

I voted for both but I run most days, dare I say it on roads and pavements at the moment going to and from work and being located near Watford there is not a lot of fells!! I really enjoy the days out in the hills and like combining both days out and my running. As for the racing side, I am a competitive person and enjoy races, the chasing down of those in front and the being chased. It is the only way to assess how good you actually are in comparison to others. I also enjoy the social aspect of them. Living where I do it is hard to get to races or days in the hills so I am looking for a good long race once a month, as can be seen by my race selection on the forum champs. If I have to travel hours to a race, then I want it to be worth while. My ratio of races to runs is therefore about 25:1.

I am so envious of those who only have to run out of their front doors straight onto the hills.

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Originally Posted by sbrt

Wilderness? Where is this wilderness?

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There is a little bit in Scotland but you can cross it in a long day. I tend to do a race a month mainly to push me to keep fit. I'm not very good my goal is to make the top 50%! My excuse is I'm old and will not compromise on my other interests of the pub and vindaloo.

I love to race in the hills. I love to have a leisurely run in the hills also. Just not fortunate enough to have easy access to the hills, so tend to use a race as a good excuse to make the effort to get to the fells/hills. Have been known to go to great length to get to races and I enjoy this challenge, it adds to the day/event :) Might get the single speed out to get down to Danby for the beacon race 2moro, about 70 mile round trip. When I first started running in the fells, Id be reluctant to go hiking anymore ( which I used to do a lot ) because I knew I could cover 2 or 3 times the ground on a few hour run, than I would be able to an a full days hike! I have got over this to an extent but only hike in places I haven't been ( I have to explore lots of the scottish highlands yet )

This is one of Stolly's 'I just want to convince everyone that I don't take it too seriously' threads. Anyway in answer to the question I'd say fell running to me is Whooping (with a capital W) Al Fowler in the Auld Lang Syne race a few years back.:)

It has provided me with no end of entertainment since. Just hope he doesn't get his own back, I'd never live it down even though I might be 60 by then.

I use to play squash but I had to give it up because my back could not handle it, I was devastated. I started running (on roads) and done the Blackpool marathon, just training on my own. After that I was so sick or road running that I decided I needed to find something different. I found Pennine Fell Runners though Google and the rest is history. I will never be competitive but I just love the whole environment!

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Originally Posted by Al Fowler

"Im going up Winter Hill.Yes, in the dark".

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For me in Stockport it is going up to Cobden Cross in the dark, all my non-running friends think I am completely mad

In fact that should be another thread, What have "Non fell running friends said to you?"

I haven't raced tons but do want to do more this year so long as I don't lose my race mojo. I've lived in Hathersage all my life, so surrounded by hills & yet until I started walking & then running, there was so much I hadn't seen. Still discovering new places 2 years on...

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Originally Posted by DrPatrickBarry

In fact that should be another thread, What have "Non fell running friends said to you?"

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Most of my non-running friends are climbers. They're in no position to say anything!

ha ha ha...brilliant! Nope you aren't the only one, I have to say that cafes and tea shops play a large part in my fell running adventures and I don't turn down the odd bottle of wine that I sometimes win via the very generous Esk Valley Series races. I spend at least some part of the run dreaming of the food that I'll consume at the end and I also love the fact that when I am running regularly, I never have to think seriously about calories and dieting.

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Originally Posted by jellybabyfairy

I am I the only one in this sport for the beer and cake?

The logic that leads me to fell running is:
1. I want to eat beer and cake
2. I don't want to be fat.
3. I hate swimming as it is the most boring antisocial godforsaken sport in the world
4. I want to spend as little of my potential beer and cake money as possible on my exercise
5. I do not want to breath in fumes or be shouted at by men in vans while running, and I live next to beautiful moors
6. If I enter fell races or go on club runs, I often get beer and cake.

Simple.

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Ha ha! Yup. Today i had a big Sunday roast for tea. An hour later i cobbled the leftovers together for an even bigger one... Peeling peckish now..

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Originally Posted by christopher leigh

This is one of Stolly's 'I just want to convince everyone that I don't take it too seriously' threads

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Well I don't take it too seriously.... unlike some ;)

I think 'wilderness' is a state of mind in some ways. You an find 'wild' things anywhere if you look hard enough. Get right down and look at the bugs crawling through the long grass, it's like a massive forest to them and quite absorbing to watch. Well, if you've nowt better to do...:o
I can be out on Ilkley moor which doesn't really count as 'wilderness', but it can feel wild and free at times, with just me and my dog plodding through the mist and drizzle, watching for the well known landmarks of our usual routes to loom up out of the gloom.
I would like to do more racing, but I've got to lose a few pounds first, and get better at going up hills. And down them. Oh, and quicker on the flattish bits, too.

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Originally Posted by plodding bear

I think 'wilderness' is a state of mind in some ways. You an find 'wild' things anywhere if you look hard enough. Get right down and look at the bugs crawling through the long grass, it's like a massive forest to them and quite absorbing to watch. Well, if you've nowt better to do...:o
I can be out on Ilkley moor which doesn't really count as 'wilderness', but it can feel wild and free at times, with just me and my dog plodding through the mist and drizzle, watching for the well known landmarks of our usual routes to loom up out of the gloom.

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Well said PB. I only used the term wilderness because it better describes the kind of places I like running - its not just the hills; valleys make for good wilderness too and moors and forests and pretty much any place where you can feel off the beaten track. Wilderness though is all the more real when you're out on your own miles from anywhere in a blizzard or horizontal rain, even if you're only 4 miles from Horton in Ribblesdale. And in anybody's book running/bog wollowing across Howden Edge or Featherbed Moss at 4 in the morning in winter, or even going up Whernside from Kingsdale in a blizzard last weekend, is about as wilderness as you can get :)