Quote Originally Posted by IainR View Post

But I don't think there is a definitive answer. I'm quite big for a runner and think poles make a huge difference. The hands on knees walk that us fell runners use isn't possible for 30 hrs.
When you say big Iain, do you mean weight or height?

Sorry if that's a personal question but I've been curious about the whole issue of the body shape of distance runners ever since I started. I'm short and bulky and I don't see many people my shape on start lines for fell races, but ultra start-lines seem to have a much greater variety of sizes and shapes.

One particular area of interest is the mechanics of having short legs. I've convinced myself that short legs equals short levers and that puts less strain on the moving parts. I've never had any leg joint problems despite putting in some big mileages, and I seem to experience far less pain in my quads that other runners on similar days out.

Reading this back it seems a bit anal I guess that's what happens when training sessions go on for hours and hours.