101 uses for a mobile!

[Graham Breeze]

There is an interesting facet of this whole debate....why do we fell run/race?

Grahams point above seems to be saying that because there are now more people fell racing, we need to modernise it. But perhaps because fell racing/running places more emphasis on disappearing values of self reliance and self responsibilty, perhaps this is why more people are doing it? So, to modernise it would be to dilute the very reason why people do it in the first place.
I know that the reason I fell race rather than do XC or road running is because I enjoy the additional requirements on self reliance and good preparation rather than just outright speed.

I am not saying we need to modernise fell running. I am saying we/you need to recognise that fell running as judged by FRA membership and race attendances has increased in popularity and today's fellrunners are different from 30 years ago. Different backgrounds, expectations,.. And the attitudes of external authorities have changed as well.

Personally I don't like racing with 500 other people (and I always train on my own on Ilkley Moor which I can see as I type and sometimes I see no other person at all on my run) but just because I have been fell running longer than most of the 7000 doesn't allow me to resent them wishing to share the experiences I have had for a couple of decades or the fact that they are now more likely to be refugees from road or trail running than shepherds.

I just do not accept the mystical "self-reliance" etc argument for most fell runners. I recognise your values but I think the 500 people who turn up for a Woodhead race over Haworth Moor to run in a crocodile just think it is more fun than running on concrete. Yet those 500 or the hundreds who applied for the Three Peaks Race in 36 hours are the modern face of fell running.

It is, as they say, a point of view.

I have done the odd thing for the sport but I am most pleased to have helped to save Ennerdale and Wasdale because to me they epitomise fellrunning. I don't wish to see them modernised and I would be surprised, to say the least, if Colin or Richard demand the carrying of mobile phones in the near future!