Newbie

[stevec1234]

Hello forumites,

I'm still to get started at fell running awaiting a move to nearer the Peak District later in the year. I do road running and cross country - is there much difference ?


What really interests me is the races over many days where the runners camp during the night - true outdoor pursuits in the extreme. Do races take place in the winter months as I think this would be the most difficult as this is what I'm after?

Any specific equipment for FR compared to standardised running equipment - are GPS systems allowed in races or to be used?


Steve.

[mr pitt]

Join the FRA, only £12 quid and they tell you everything you need to know. Got mine for X-mas and was shocked at the amount of races etc that go on. As for GPS I think most would not allow but some may! Don't really know.

[Toreador]

What really interests me is the races over many days where the runners camp during the night - true outdoor pursuits in the extreme. Do races take place in the winter months as I think this would be the most difficult as this is what I'm after?

Well I'm a newbie to fell running, but have years of hillwalking and orienteering behind me, and have done a load of mountain marathons. The following applies to MMs only, I can't comment on fell running as a whole as I've only done one race!

Here are a few URLs for you:
http://www.theomm.com - formerly the KIMM, this is the biggest event, and the hardest to get into. Last weekend in October.
http://www.lamm.co.uk - always in the Scottish Highlands. June.
http://www.slmm.org.uk - always in the Lake District. July.
http://www.highlandermountainmarathon.org.uk/ - new this year, somewhere near Inverness, the last weekend in March. Not suitable for novices.
http://www.thecapricorn.co.uk - Northern England, July. Return to the base at the end of day 1 so don't have to carry camping kit
http://www.newcastleorienteering.org...x/phoenix.html - the Cheviots, August. Also return-to-base.

I expect there are others I've forgotten!

The Highlander is the only one in the winter, and could be quite serious with a fair chance of full-on Scottish winter conditions!

For a first event, if you don't have much hill experience (apologies if you do!), then I'd probably go for the Saunders (there are more paths in the Lake District, and you're not as far away from the nearest road as in the Scottish events), or one of the 'return to base' events.

"Is there much difference from road running/cross country?" Yes, absolutely, you're usually on pathless terrain, and navigation ability is more important than running ability (until you get good and think about winning!).

"are GPS systems allowed in races or to be used?"

GPS is always banned. Altimeters are usually allowed, though not always (the Capricorn doesn't allow them for instance). And the OMM maps don't have any heights marked which reduces their usefulness.

Hope this helps! Have fun, you're first event will probably either be your last, or the first of many, there aren't many people who are neutral about them

[Stevie]

Any specific equipment for FR compared to standardised running equipment - are GPS systems allowed in races or to be used?

The FRA has no specific rules on the use of GPS - I just checked, so it's down to the rules of each race. For most fell races there should be no need to use GPS, and it's probably a disadvantage anyway. Your GPS won't tell you the best route / line: recceing and / or map reading will. If you're following your GPS straight to a checkpoint, beware cliffs, rivers etc! There's a lot more to fell navigation that working out the direct route to the next checkpoint

If you really want to use a GPS on the fells I'd say learn to read a map and use a compass first

For mountain marathons etc, Toreador has given you the lowdown on legality.

Nice list Toreador. There are also some single day fell navigation events that are worth doing e.g. Kinder Trial, New Chew, Lakeland Mountain Trial, Warrior O-Trial (on the orienteering calendar) etc.

[Toreador]

There are also some single day fell navigation events that are worth doing e.g. Kinder Trial, New Chew, Lakeland Mountain Trial, Warrior O-Trial (on the orienteering calendar) etc.

The New Chew is a good one, and coming up in a few weeks.
http://saddleworth-runners.co.uk/?q=newchewprofile
I did the Warrior last year in hill fog with 20m visibility - I've never been so lost in my whole life!

Excuse the slight hijack - do you know when the Lakeland Mountain Trial is this year? I rather fancy giving it a go.

[Stevie]

According to the FRA calendar, the Mountain Trial is on 9th September this year. There's a website but it's got no 2007 info at the moment, but check back in a few months.

http://www.ldmta.org.uk/

[Stevie]

We shouldn't really be discussing this on this thread. The Mountain Trial is a severe event in terms of distance/climb, terrain crossed and navigational difficulty, and not suited to newbies at all.

[Toreador]

Sorry

</end hijack>

[Stevie]

I'll keep an eye open for you at the MMs, I expect I'll know you by the cape - ever use it on a training run?

[Toreador]

ever use it on a training run?

What's a training run?