Beginners' Meets?

[Pilgrim]

In theory i am a beginner still. (When do you stop being a beginner exactly)

I don't know... how about when you qualify for a race where experience is a requirement?

[NirvanaBliss]

Well i got no chance if you and Al think your beginners!

Pencilled into my diary...

[Darth domain]

just wanted to say, i have been on recces, with the more experienced and was petrified thinking i would be left all alone and would feel useless. But they were nothing like that, they were nice gentle pace with everyone chatting and enjoying it.

However, if you go for a run with Mountain Man, it's like SAS selection training, in sub zero soaking, gale force wind conditions with no slowing down and a minimum distance of 23 miles!
i'm sure Tony will say i'm exagerating

[The Piglit]

Darth that's reassuring (I use the term loosely). I may turn up at a local one before too long. I am confident about covering distances but not so confident about pace.

I think that not only is FR hard but also more technical than any other running or than fellwalking! In short a lot to learn and I for one would like to learn.

Also - amongst beginners there must be some talent that needs developing. Behind the "its a nice day out with yer mates" front lies a competitive sport!

And again also - there must be novices (yes better term) who have no hill experience. Coming from a hill background its easy to forget that

Anyway We'll see where this thread goes and if anyone else is up for owt.

[Al Fowler]

Before i started running on the fells i had pretty much no experience of them. Although ive been going to the lakes ever since i had only just popped out, we have hardly ever done any fell walk - always on the flat or just little hills.
Its was at the beginning of 08' that i went up my first mountain.
So really i dont have much experience of the fells, or navigational skills. I may be an ok runner but i have a hell of alot to learn and experience.

[Stolly]

The trouble with trying to 'learn' things is that if you're not careful you can get all po faced and nerdy about it. I personally prefer the get up in the hills and run philosophy and just see what happens. Fell running on your own or socially is just a faster way of seeing and experiencing some of the most beautiful and wild countryside around, throwing in some hazards and risk along the way of course.

Fell racing is another thing altogether in that you're endeavouring to cross the same wild countryside but as quickly as you can. The fun in fell racing, like I said once before, comes from the camaraderie of shared and largely self inflicted torture

[Darth domain]

self inflicted torture it is

I dont mind running with a new person in a race if they are unsure of nav etc, thats because i dont race to win (would not stand a chance anyhow) i race for the social side of it and the fun.

[MOUNTAIN MAN]

However, if you go for a run with Mountain Man, it's like SAS selection training, in sub zero soaking, gale force wind conditions with no slowing down and a minimum distance of 23 miles!
i'm sure Tony will say i'm exagerating

What DD forgot to mention was the two long stops on the way - one for "breakfast" at the 3 peaks cafe and one for "afternoon tea" at the Station Inn followed by "late afternnon tea" afterwards in Settle.

Good idea about the meets though Piglet - the Peak is a great place to start fell running. I've been plodding away for over 30 years now and it still gives me a buzz.

[Deejay]

The trouble with trying to 'learn' things is that if you're not careful you can get all po faced and nerdy about it. I personally prefer the get up in the hills and run philosophy and just see what happens.

I couldn't agree more Stolly. We once had a bit of a run in with 3 po faced climbers of exactly that ilk at our local wall. We always used to fool around a bit and one night one of 'em pointedly said "Some of us come here to train" My mate shot back "Aye, and some of us enjoy it" Outside, they were crap climbers and miserable buggers there as well

[Epocian]

Deejay posted
I couldn't agree more Stolly. We once had a bit of a run in with 3 po faced climbers of exactly that ilk at our local wall. We always used to fool around a bit and one night one of 'em pointedly said "Some of us come here to train" My mate shot back "Aye, and some of us enjoy it" Outside, they were crap climbers and miserable buggers there as well

Reminds me of when I took my grandson (then 8 years old) to the climbing wall at Huddersfield
- got similar comments 'Why bring a young kid here on a night when we're serious' - He proceeded to outclimb them and outlast them (But then he has had a climbing wall in his bedroom since he was 3!)