I can nav, but I won't do it in a race if there is any way of avoiding it (eg reccying or following).
My only problem with people following me is that it makes me feel a certain burden of responsibility and I just don't do responsibility.
I can nav, but I won't do it in a race if there is any way of avoiding it (eg reccying or following).
My only problem with people following me is that it makes me feel a certain burden of responsibility and I just don't do responsibility.
Utter rubbish - you did Responsibility soooo well, when I followed you over the Moors in Calderdale last year Mark !!!Originally Posted by MarkL
I think most of us will have been at races - for the first time, in an area we don't know, some distance from where we live... and will have 'used' others to get us round. I did it on LToB last year. I can nav, pretty well actually, but not having to phaff with a map allows you to run. I have admitted not knowing the area/route and therefore by implication admitted I am hoping to rely on the presence of others if I can. It doesn't always work out and sometimes you do end up on your own- certainly this was the case on the H110 for me. I would always shout someone back if I possibly could and am happy to share knowledge even with rivals. I would be more than angry if I went wrong and others following me then blamed me but I can't think this has ever happened.
I understand the annoyance of some when being followed. I'm never going to win a race or even be near the front end but I do know how to use a map and i try to recce races. I never used to bother about slow runners latching on until the two times near the end of the race where they sprinted off and beat me in. They wouldn't of even got round without following. I would still call someone back if they went wrong and I probably wouldn't tell them to "f off" unless they were constantly talking as that annoys me more than following. Fell running isn't like road or trail as part of the "fell running" challenge is to have the ability to navigate the beautiful hills, mountains and valleys of the land. If you were at the top of your game and someone came in before you who had been led around or followed how would you feel then? Especially if it was a race that was part of a series or championship. IMO we all have a responsibility to be able to get ourselves fairly around a race.
Next year I'm doing the Half Tour of Bradwell. I think it's a great routeHope I don't get lost now :thumbup:
I don't mind leading others round the tricky bits of navigation, provided they're open about it, & don't get competitive afterwards - after all they haven't finished the race without help have they? And usually runners don't. For example on this year's Calderdale Hike I came across a Scot called Graham wondering where to go above Haworth. I set him right & we ran together for a while. Later, I led him over the tricky bit above Pecket Well, as his navigation wasn't as good as mine, & I knew that bit. By this time he was actually a lot stronger than me, & the way is obvious once you get near Jerusalem Farm. He could have run on ahead & finished well ahead of me, but instead he stuck with me, encouraged me up that sod of a climb up from Luddenden Foot, & we finished together. Thanks again Graham! And somethign similar happened to me 3 or 4 years back towards the end of the Hebden. I picked up 2 runners who were faster than me but kept going wrong. I led them in to the finish straight, & they made sure I registered at the finish ahead of them. They didn't have to do that, but because so many runners do behave like that we've got a great long distance running community. Amateur sport at its best.
I completely agree with you Alan, very well said :-)
Good point that Splatcher. I agree totally - great spirit in the long distance running community when people let you cross the line before them.
On a different note, does anyone know when the results will be put up here?
The went up on Monday, here.
Cheers.
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