Unwritten Fell Running Rules

[Brotherton Lad]

Never draw a sharpened whistle, unless you mean to use it.

[CL]

Ensure that your emergency food consists of at least 4 polo mints!

[IanDarkpeak]

Here's one that my 4-year-old learnt:

If you're marshalling, telling people that they need to go "back the way you've come" isn't normally received with the humour it was intended.

or if spectating never say...."not far now" or "not much further" knowing there is still a steep climb and over a mile to go.

Never ever be jolly and chatty during a fell race with fellow competitors, spectators or marshalls, especially two thirds of the way up a killer climb.

Ooops Sorry.....

[ukhursty]

All seem like good unwritten rules to abide by!

Picked up most of them now, in just about my first years fell running

[noel]

If you've never done a race before and don't know where it goes, it can help to let those in front of you get out of sight. That way, when they go the wrong way, you won't follow them.

I think I've gained places twice due to this (in relatively short peak race too). Conversely when I've been close enough to people in front, I've followed them the wrong way a few times.

I wish more people would follow this advice, particurly those behind me.

[mr brightside]

Never ever be jolly and chatty during a fell race with fellow competitors, spectators or marshalls, especially two thirds of the way up a killer climb.

Picture me, totally out for the count, staggering forward on fumes alone, completely out of gas and energy, extremely cold and wet on the final f-f-f-fricking climb up Big End in the FTOP 3 years ago. A fellow runner, cheery as the day he was born ambles past, and starts talking to a marshall or fellow supporter about a night out a couple of days before. I would have stabbed him to death with my whistle.... if I wasn't actually in the process of dying on my feet on that godforsaken hill

Not surprised you're cold if you're running in shorts and a crew top a la XOTF , for anyone that wasn't there it was about -12 with the wind chill added.

I wish more people would follow this advice, particurly those behind me.

You wouldn't need that anyway, the speed you go.

[Shazza]

I've only got very limited experience of all this, but there seems to be an unwritten rule:

Never run on the footpath - even if its quicker!

I've gained a couple of places going a direct route following a path which everyone else seemed desperate to avoid, is that considered as cheating

[Brotherton Lad]

Not sure if it's the reason for that one, but alot of runners prefer grass or heather to stony paths, if they have a choice.

[Roy Scott]

Give extra thanks to fell running legends if they provide much needed food and support. Had the luck of getting a chunk of mars and a shout from Joss Naylor at the foot of the Gable in last years Borrowdale. Didnt realise it was him till someone mentioned it post race. Thanked him this year when we met at Keswick following a night with fell legends.

[Roy Scott]

If you pass someone twice or more having gone wrong and they ask how the hell you are not ahead of them, attribute it to your poor navigation and not their lack of fitness