With several race this year being cancelled or routes changed, largely related to SSI areas it would be interesting if fell running (races and runners alike) took up a more proactive approach to managing our impact on the environment specifically looking at the development and growth of race trods. Mountain Marathon organisers like the OMM already do Ecological Impact Assessments e.g. https://theomm.com/ecological-responsibility/ but I have never seen one for a fell race. Mountain Marathon change locations every year whereas fell races routes don't often change and repeat every year.
Is one year to little time for the ground to recover from a field of a few hundred runners or is it from its use throughout the year by runners, race reccies and walkers? In the Bob Graham Club's Tradition and Ethics Document its states concerning "the effects of the ever-increasing footfall of humans on the delicate Lake District landscape ... the need to limit footfall in terms of pacer numbers (why do you need more than 2 per leg?) and to avoid over-reccieing legs".
And don’t get me started on fell shoes not lasting more than one season of use…