Another southern newbie

Hi, can anyone recommend a good race for a newbie who's based just south of London (Reading)?

I've seen Box Hill and wanted to give that a go but it's well and truly sold out.
I believe there are a few on the Isle of Wight as well but wasn't sure what a good option for someone with limited navigation ability and almost no time on 'serious' hills?

I want to get onto some of the tougher races in time but the lack of navigation experience & not much time on the fells make it hard to know where to start.

Appreciate there are a load of similar questions on here but being the wrong side of London I'm going to end up with a serious drive to get anywhere and wanted some advice where to start.

Thanks everyone.

I can't offer any advice on Box Hill or the IOW races, but a club mate of mine speaks highly of the Fell races down in the vicinity of Sidmouth, Exe To Axe, etc.

You'll find plenty of "beginner friendly" races in the Peak District and the Shropshire Hills, as well as plenty of tough races in those areas to challenge the toughest runners. I suppose they are the nearest Fell running heartlands to you.

As to what sort of race you want to start with, it really depends what sort of distance you think you can manage, or more precisely, how long you think you can keep going for. Even a 5 mile race is likely to take you in the region of an hour if you're new to the terrain and there's enough climb involved.

Yes a serious drive to anywhere of note for fell running but living not far from Birmingham, I'm also used to a long commute to the fells! I guess that of the main areas for races, South Wales might be easiest to get to for you but Shropshire is also not too bad. When I first started racing, I'd always try and make a long weekend of it. That way you can recce the route beforehand or recce other races while you are there.

I live in Hungerford so not so far away and started at this game only about 4 years ago. There are loads of good multi-terrain races locally which although they don't have the navigation element, the ones in winter can still be reasonably tough - look up the Rough n Tumble (Milton Lilbourne in Jan), Pewsey Terminator in March and Cleevewold 14 in March - all 10-14 miles and c.1,500-2,000 ft of climbing.

After that, have a look at the races in South Wales eg Llanbedr-Bleanafon, and also those in Shropshire, like the Long Mynd Valleys; many these are not particularly hard on the nav front, but they can still be seriously hard (despite having completed about 15 Lakeland AL races since, the Long Mynd is still the only race where I've genuinely wondered if I was capable of finishing). After that, just get yourself up to the Peaks or the Lakes.

Aside from that, it's worth playing around with a map & compass even on mild terrain, just to get used to it - it's not so hard; in fact the hardest part of navigation is actually having the discipline to stop and look at the map, rather than relentlessly following others for fear of losing touch or losing places....

Llanbedr-Bleanafon and the Long Mynd Valleys are NOT beginner friendly races!!
South Wales would be an obvious choice for access from the M4, have a look at the South Wales Winter Series races:
http://www.wfra.me.uk/SW_Winter_Series_2017_2018_V1.pdf
dates for those next year have now been agreed.

Back in 1961 a member of Reading Athletic Club decided that he wanted to have a go at fell-running, so he went to the Ben Nevis Race with a few of his clubmates. He won it! His name was Mike Davies, and he later went on to be one of the founders of the Fell Runners' Association. But I wouldn't recommend Ben Nevis as a first fell race!

The Surrey Hills Races in June are quite close to you, but are not suitable for someone with "limited navigation ability" (as evidenced by your describing Reading as "south of London" :o). But for real fell races, I would agree with those who have suggested the shorter races in South Wales and Shropshire as good for beginners. The hills are mostly grassy rather than rocky, although they are rather steep in places.

Like Pete S, I would recommend making a weekend of it when travelling to races: enjoy the journey, enjoy exploring an area that is new to you. I have never lived particularly close to the fells (I was in Bracknell for a while), so I often did that.

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

Back in 1961 a member of Reading Athletic Club decided that he wanted to have a go at fell-running, so he went to the Ben Nevis Race with a few of his clubmates. He won it! His name was Mike Davies, and he later went on to be one of the founders of the Fell Runners' Association.

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FRA Member #7

In fact, as I am sure you know, Mike won it twice more and came second 5 times and in The Ben Race history he is described (with Eddie Campbell) as "arguably the race's greatest ever runner and certainly the most consistent".

"Arguably"? Well "arguably" Americans didn't land on the moon and I don't think Bill Smith thought that - Peter Hall won the next 4 races - but Bill does credit Mike's win in 1961 to his being the first to go up the scree rather than the usual route up the path and so bringing a fresh approach to the race.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice and I'll certainly check out the South Wales & Shropshire races as it sounds like they're essentially my 'local' ones.

@anthonykay - Sadly you hit the nail on the head navigation-wise with my comments about Reading being south of London. My excuse is I'm from Devon (although I spent a fair bit of time in Hungerford in the early 90's @Edsned) so I get confused anywhere north of Exmouth!

Thanks again all and hopefully I'll spot some of you from my view on the floor crawling up a fell near you soon!

Well admitted Ole...I was going to pull your leg about Reading location, but Anthony beat me to it!
You'd be made more than welcome at any of the South Wales races, nearly all of which are suitable for a beginner. You have also had some good suggestions for more local events but no one has mentioned the Chilterns yet. There are some good races there or just good training...I cut my teeth in those hills.
Anyway, hope to see you at a South Wales event soon. Top tip, at peak times use the old severn bridge...queues for the toll MUCH shorter!

Legend, cheers Wheeze!

I'm going to get on the race calendar and start planning my year ASAP!
Probably going to have a bit of fun with the map & compass over Christmas as well, see if I can get myself and the dog lost a few times!

Any recommendations for which South Wales races are easy/hard/bit different?

Haterall Hammer (17^th Feb) is a straightforward up and down from a pub. No real nav needed.
Tor y Foel (18^th March) might also suit. Both give a good idea of what "short" races are like and are in the Black Mountains/Brecon Beacons, close to campsites/pubs/B&Bs so easy to make a weekend of.

The winter races in Shropshire are challenging, but the summer series races are much more beginner-friendly.

It might help us a bit if you can give indication of your current running distances/times etc...oh and age if you want!

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Originally Posted by Wheeze

Well admitted Ole...I was going to pull your leg about Reading location, but Anthony beat me to it!
You'd be made more than welcome at any of the South Wales races, nearly all of which are suitable for a beginner. You have also had some good suggestions for more local events but no one has mentioned the Chilterns yet. There are some good races there or just good training...I cut my teeth in those hills.
Anyway, hope to see you at a South Wales event soon. Top tip, at peak times use the old severn bridge...queues for the toll MUCH shorter!

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Eyeh?? Which events in the Chilterns? I've not come across any in the FRA calendar and I look quite hard since I live near Aylesbury. I'd be delighted to find some, though won't be around much longer.

Nope, not in FRA. These are trail races so check there. The Chiltern Challenge was last month. 5 x 10 mile laps. Now that aint funny! I used to string together a 6 miler for my lunch time run when I was RAF Halton and, believe me, some of those climbs and drops are real lung and leg busters!

A couple of off-road and undulating races in Buckinghamshire I can recommend if not previously tried..........

https://www.bearbrookrunningclub.co....dwick-x-stream
http://www.tringrunningclub.org.uk/ridgewayrun/

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Originally Posted by MarkClayton

A couple of off-road and undulating races in Buckinghamshire I can recommend if not previously tried..........

https://www.bearbrookrunningclub.co....dwick-x-stream
http://www.tringrunningclub.org.uk/ridgewayrun/

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Thanks for the suggestions. I'd forgotten about the Ridgeway run. Unfortunately I don't really do Sundays. Hardwick must be as flat a pancake!

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Originally Posted by Latege

Thanks for the suggestions. I'd forgotten about the Ridgeway run. Unfortunately I don't really do Sundays. Hardwick must be as flat a pancake!

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Actually, think I was getting Hardwick one confused with Coombe Hill 6k race.... short but with a brutal climb. Not sure if Aylesbury AC still put it on though.

Unfortunately the Coombe Hill race hasn't been on for the past couple of years, since the RO decided to call it a day. Shame, as it was great little race!
As far as other Chilterns off-road races with hills are concerned, Watlington Hill-bashers do a very low key trail 10k both summer and winter, which is probably the closest thing to a fell-race in the Chilterns, both in terms of climbs and ethos. There are also a fair few other trail races that have plenty of climbing, but certainly no navigation element, such as the Ridge Off-roader, Run the Rock, AShardeloes 10k, and Rugged Radnage. Funnily enough these are all 10k and most are fund-raisers for schools, but still tough little races of their ilk.

As far as navigation is concerned, weekends away oop north or to Wales, ideally with more experienced mates, is one way or how about doing one of the FRA navigation weekends?

Thanks again everyone, definitely a lot of food for thought here. I'm definitely going to look up some of those trail races a bit closer to home and the FRA navigation courses look like they might be a winner too (sadly my Army Cadets map & compass skills of 20 years ago just aren't going to cut it!).

Now just need to work on the hill fitness so I can actually survive long enough to get lost!
Thanks all, look forward to seeing some of you out there!

Check out the Wendover Woods 50 mile challenge route. This is what I mistakenly called the Chiltern Challenge wihich is a 50km single lap.
The Wendover Woods course will certainly give you good hill fitness. Or you could just do reps of Coombe Hill. That is as steep as any fell!

Ole, I used to live in London and since moved back home just round the corner from you. Tadley! I do a weekly run every Saturday from Whitehill to Beacon Hill and back, you can do Beacon Hill twice if feeling strong.

Check out the Vigo Race on Valentines weekend...This is a trail race with some big hills (I'm told)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vigo-...ts-39250464195

Excalibur marathon is good in May (Wales)

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Originally Posted by rileforce

I do a weekly run every Saturday from Whitehill to Beacon Hill and back, you can do Beacon Hill twice if feeling strong.

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Just looked this up on the OS map: your Beacon Hill is 13 metres higher than my Beacon Hill. :( But at least mine is made of good, solid volcanic rock, not chalk like yours.

Ole i live in devon and have found some pretty demanding races through pure trail, Mud Crew and white star running to name a few. not sure how far you like to run but i have entered a 36 miler on the north Devon coastal path it has a 2500m elevation gain!
exe to axe and the grizzly are also pretty demanding races both about 1000m of climbing. I did a race on dartmoor called Dartmoor 3 in 1 which was a pretty grueling 22 miles over 3 races and about 1200m of climbing. theses arent exactly classed as 'fell' runs but i have run a few fells in cumbria and they are certainly up there when it comes to effort.

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

Just looked this up on the OS map: your Beacon Hill is 13 metres higher than my Beacon Hill. :( But at least mine is made of good, solid volcanic rock, not chalk like yours.

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My beacon hill is 1 meter higher than yours ;) lol luckily i live under it so run up it a few times a week

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

Just looked this up on the OS map: your Beacon Hill is 13 metres higher than my Beacon Hill. :( But at least mine is made of good, solid volcanic rock, not chalk like yours.

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How on earth did you know it was made of Chalk? OS or Wikipedia? It's quite a good hill, it can get slippy at certain times of the year.

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Originally Posted by rileforce

How on earth did you know it was made of Chalk? OS or Wikipedia? It's quite a good hill, it can get slippy at certain times of the year.

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I've got a reasonable broad-brush knowledge of the geology of England. In particular, I know which of the hills in South-east and South-central England are chalk and which are greensand. Greensand is lovely to run on: well drained, soft ground. Chalk is horrible: hard when dry, slippery when wet. Bilberries grow on the greensand; huge nettles and other thorny stuff grow on the chalk.

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Originally Posted by lewisatkin

My beacon hill is 1 meter higher than yours ;) lol luckily i live under it so run up it a few times a week

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I'm confused (or maybe you are?). My Beacon Hill is 248m high. A search on streetmap.co.uk brings up numerous Beacon Hills; the highest is near Upottery at 257m, then there is one above Sidmouth at 231m.

My Beacon Hill (Warnford, Hampshire) is only 201m. :(

The highest I could find on Streetmap is in mid Wales, at an impressive 547 m.

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Originally Posted by gej

The highest I could find on Streetmap is in mid Wales, at an impressive 547 m.

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I meant the highest I could find in Devon (using lewisatkin's information about where he lives).

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

I'm confused (or maybe you are?). My Beacon Hill is 248m high. A search on streetmap.co.uk brings up numerous Beacon Hills; the highest is near Upottery at 257m, then there is one above Sidmouth at 231m.

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The one above Sidmouth is the one i live under :)there is a good roller coaster of hills around here.

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Originally Posted by lewisatkin

The one above Sidmouth is the one i live under :)there is a good roller coaster of hills around here.

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@anthonykay. sorry i was a bit slow on the uptake there. i was confused by the height of your beacon:o lol

Hey, fellow Southerner here!!

As others have said the Southern Welsh and Shropshire races are your bread and butter and I've been made to feel so welcome at any I've been to!! Remember to keep checking the WFRA site as well as the Mynnydd Du and Mercia club sites for races in their areas.

One other tip for me is to take out a subscription to Trail Running Magazine. As part of the magazine package you get a years access to OSmaps online which has proven invaluable to me so far in the few months I've had it!

Another Reading runner here; I live in Caversham, and have spent the winter running up and down the edge on the Chilterns and enjoying muddy footpaths. Not exactly fell running but it's a start. I would like to do more in the future ... very pleased to have found these forums (fora?) more or less by accident, and would like to find some races suitable for beginners so thank you to all for the interesting suggestions on here.

Also worth thinking about southern coastal paths for training and possibly races too. I have done quite a bit of running on the Purbeck coast around Lulworth and Swanage and there are significant ups and downs, which are more severe than you might imagine. loops inland allow circular routes to be made.

There's a couple of 'official' fell races around the south coast, near to Exmouth/Sidmouth area. I'm sure at least one of them simply follows the coast path.