The mythical spirit

[delicious]

The FRA is 40 years old next year. Since this forum started there has been a lot of talk about the 'spirit of fellrunning'. What is this spirit of which they talk? It is certainly not the spirit that immediate members of my family see from well over 35 years in the sport. The sport has changed, unfortunately due to modern life it cannot be as free spirited as it once was. Alot of people want things now, they need to know what they are doing in 3, 4 ,5 months time. Massive pre-entry is not in the old spirit but maybe there is a new spirit.

[alf.t]

What is this spirit of which they talk? It is certainly not the spirit that immediate members of my family see from well over 35 years in the sport. The sport has changed, unfortunately due to modern life it cannot be as free spirited as it once was. Alot of people want things now, they need to know what they are doing in 3, 4 ,5 months time. Massive pre-entry is not in the old spirit but maybe there is a new spirit.

Such spirit is not tangible and easily defined. Nor should it be.
Things change but not necessarily for the better. Sometimes things go in circles, die off and regenerate. Look at the age of fell runners. At some point, race numbers will plummet, races die off etc and then some enthusiastic young person will re-invent a race and off we go again.

Fell running is not solely defined by races. A lot of legwork goes into the training and maybe that is where the carefree aspect lies. With insurances, regulations, rules comes accountability which is not good ground for free spirit.

In the next hour or so, I will be off for a run around the Dunnerdales and Coniston range. I don't know how long I'll be nor do I care so long as I have the energy. Whatever the weather, I will enjoy it. It may help with a race or challenge but more importantly it will keep my body, mind and spirit in good order.Its as free spirited as I can get.

I too could give countless examples of carefree, free spirited events. BUT that was as a green participant in the 70s and 80s who had no idea what the organiser had to put up with or worry about. Rose tinted spectacles have to replaced from time to time with magnified clear ones.

[Don't fear the sweeper]

Alf, I'm off up Brown Pike around midday. Looks a bit claggy up there but should still get some of that spirit.

Have a good run!

[southernsoftie]

In support of alf.t, I've really enjoyed just being back on my feet since returning from injury. Running over the hills in all weathers: sometimes fast, sometimes slow; sometimes alone, sometimes with company. I think this is what I love most. None of this has been in any races, though I use these as markers/goals to ensure a smidgen of focus.

I can't talk for what the 'spirit' was back in the 60/70/80/90s, and no doubt people still involved with the sport from back in the day will have noticed some changes. As usual with human nature, there are going to be people who view most of the changes since as a deterioration. But I know when compared with other sports I've been involved in in this day and age, there is still a relative innocence, which I guess is what you refer to?

The people - competitors, organisers, supporters - are welcoming and friendly and there are no barriers for anyone who wants to take the sport up. Could you really ask for any more?

[ukhursty]

I've not been to many races, maybe 4 now, but about the age of fell runners, it does seem to my eyes, that the average age of runners at races is about 40.

This is slightly worrying for the future of the sport, there are young runners, but compared to track/road/XC, there doesn't seem to be a similar correlation. I don't know why this is? Fell running outclasses track/road/XC hands down in all aspects. Maybe its because the track/road/XC get more media coverage.

That aside its definitely the best sport I've taken up for a million reasons, and have been helped massively by various runners, who are keen to pass on their tips and knowledge.

[Mark G]

I agree about the pre-entries, I'd rather turn up on the day, pay a fiver and go for a run. Its a shame but I find if I want to do the races that really matter to me in most cases getting an entry in early is the only way. There are exceptions of course - 3 Shires being a prime example. What does disturb me about the pre-entries though is the large proportion of non starters, and perhaps that might be part of what has changed? At one time I suggest people would only enter the longer or harder races if they had served their time and gained experience and confidence in their ability and were prepared to turn up and run regardless of weather etc, only staying at home if they were injured or if something unexpected crops up. I think this takes a mindset or attitude, possibly rooted in mountaineering, that is sometimes missing nowadays. For example I heard a runner commenting on Borrowdale a few years ago that they were taken aback that there were no drinks stations. I'm not sure what they expected, or what they thought the streams were for, but they clearly didn't have a lot of experience of fell running. Since then the organisers have felt it necessary to vet entries, and based on that example I think I can see why, and that is probably one of the reasons that some of these changes have come about. I suggest a proportion of pre entries might be made on a casual basis based on an over optimistic training programme and anticipation of good weather, with little intention of actually doing the race if neither happens. But behind all that I think a lot of the original 'spirit' remains - once we are on the hill whether just out training or during a race its never easy, (nearly) always enjoyable, and in many cases we can run the same routes and lines if not always the same races as people were doing at the start - even doing one leg of the BGR and imagining the man himself going the same way, seeing the same views, knowing the same places all those years ago is a shared history that will hopefully keep some of that spirit alive, or at least it will for me!

[nightingale]

I think, for me "the spirit" is about being in the mountains . A feeling that I've had since I was a boy when my Dad used to drop me off,several miles away from where we used to stay in north Wales, give me a map and compass and let me find my own way back (he would be arrested for that now). Walking over mountains that most of the population never get to see because their too lazy (long may they stay lazy). And now ,much later in life, I find small groups of like minded people that love being in the worst of the weather with the minimum of kit . Whether it's an AS or a BL , good weather or bad, there's something about giving it your all and getting covered in mud . Great......

[Nathaniel Lee]

To me it seems like Fell running is between a rock and a hard place as regards the aging athletes. To attract more youngsters there needs to be involvement from qualified coaches specific to Fell running getting involved in schools and making it a part of the cirriculum just like track and cross country are. I am aware this is a double edged sword and may lead to too many fell runners and possible enviromental damage but that could be managed thru race organisers and also making sure the F.R.A. membership actively help with the maintainence of the countryside. At the moment the juniors seem to be sons, daughters, niece and nephews of senior fell runners and that needs to change to get real growth. I would implement the coaches to get involved with schools in areas which have easy access to hills initially and take it from there. There also needs to be more of a drive to persuade more of us to become coaches to pass this on as it would be sad to see such a historic part of Britains' sporting heritage disappear because enough of us didn't get involved because we felt it was against the spirit of Fellrunning which i can understand and to a large extent agree with but it looks like there will be a time when a crossroads of spirit or survival will be reached and difficult decisions made. Sorry for getting on my soapbox. I just care about what happens.

[southernsoftie]

I think, for me "the spirit" is about being in the mountains . A feeling that I've had since I was a boy when my Dad used to drop me off,several miles away from where we used to stay in north Wales, give me a map and compass and let me find my own way back (he would be arrested for that now).

Character building, puts hairs on your chest, foundation of the Empire, etc.

What an experience that must have been. What a dad!

[nightingale]

Character building, puts hairs on your chest, foundation of the Empire, etc.

What an experience that must have been. What a dad!

I'd like to think he did it on purpose but I thnk he was hoping to loose me