Yes I think that would work.Originally Posted by LissaJous
The way I proposed was not so much to put it on the RO, as the race would be designated in the calendar and publishes as (for example) Age limit 18 (U18) provided the athlete's coach signed it off.
The race would have already been approved as an acceptable over distance race by the FRA.
But your way is also worth consideration.
It has puzzled me for some time that we have a Championship that has races of mixed distances. It would be akin to a track and field series where we had 6 races say 200m, 800m, 3000m, 10000m, Half Marathon, Marathon. to Marathon with 4 from 6 to count and you must have a 800m or under and an over HM in there.
I'm surprised we don't have a Short Champs, a Medium Champs and a Long Champs.
You only have to ask dear boy!
History.
Originally "the Championship" was "Fellrunner of the Year" and it was based on points accrued in virtually every race in the Calendar (ie over 30- thirty) so more races= more points. Over the years it has been refined: fewer races, different formats, women, vets, and British/English & etc.
But the Champs. test what they test. Not what some refugee from T&F thinks they should test.
However every few years, the question is asked about revitalising the British Champs. which is a poor relation of the English, and "just one race" or "3 different Championships" is suggested. But, as we see, it hasn't happened and I doubt if it will anytime soon.
Last edited by Graham Breeze; 27-01-2012 at 11:46 AM.
I am not in a position to publicly debate this but if anything the view within UKA is for shorter distances for juniors in fellrunning, certainly not longer.
No to the first, yes to the second.
I am very confident that I have growing knowledge and limited experience; I have no doubts about that whatsoever. I've got a coaching assessment day tomorrow; all being well I'll be a Level 2 coach on sunday but i won't be any more experienced/competent than i am today.
I always question (not doubt; a negative term) other peoples abilities and motives; no one has the absolute right to the intellectual high ground, no matter how convinced they are of their own prowess. If a coach cannot justify a particular viewpoint/strategy properly, in an evidence based argument, without resorting to 'pulling rank' then their viewpoint/strategy holds no credence. Again, that's not specific to anyone in particular, it's a general axiom.
Realistically Richard, you're talking to the wrong people here, we are not the people you need to convince. Also, if you have talked to the right people and they disagree with you then you might just have to accept the possibility that you're wrong?
Ah, unfortunately it appears that the usual suspects have turned up with their characteristic tact and diplomacy.
I'm off. I can see where this thread is going and it's not going to end well. Will someone PM me if/when the mud stops flying.
Which is fine. And athletes will more likely become involved when they're 35. Which is also fine.
However, it doesn't preclude the possibility of there being other race series, of official or unofficial standing.
Indeed. The Lakeland Classics Trophy for one
You've nicely exemplified my point there Graham! What's seen as worthwhile is even longer and even more demanding than the English Champs. But what could be better for a lot of athletes, both ~20s and other seniors, would be a more performance-oriented series of Shorter or Medium races. And by performance I'm not having a go at the long/ultra-distance athletes, just saying it's a very different sport, and not well suited to young adults. I just checked Paula R and Jo Pavey on Powerof10 ~ neither of them doing serious 10Ks until well into their twenties.
So I guess I'm saying to Richard: The long distance options are available for the very few young adults that are interested, once they turn 18.
And I'm saying as a way forward (if anyone's interested in being constructive): The problem is there are no suitable series of shorter / performance oriented races for athletes to enter once they reach 18.
Some perspective as ever: I'm very wary of long races, especially super-longs. My recovery period after running to the best of my ability in a super-long is 4-6 weeks.
Lauren,
Of course the LCT is at the tougher end of the scale but I cite it (as I would) because it was a concept I (and a couple of other people) developed and just implemented. And (some) runners liked it as a different challenge to the Championships with their 40+ year history- which means they will not change radically in the short term.
No one is stopping anyone else doing whatever they want in terms of other more focused shorter race "championships" or races.
But, using all my tact and diplomacy, IMHO there is no possibility at all of the FRA registering any RO to organise a fell race which allows "underage " runners to enter. Which view may not make me Mr Popular.
Of course fell races do not have to be registered with the FRA, although RO would be well advised to ensure they take out race insurance, but whatever people's opinions about FRA (sometimes also UKA) rules it is the job of the Committee to uphold them in whatever form they currently stand.
Graham
A lot of the views in UKA are questionable - in fact the grass roots of the sport pulls it's hair out at many of the initiatives that have come out of UKA in recent years. I'm optimistic that fell running is in better hands.
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