Quote Originally Posted by dnf View Post
I organize a local race, have to say very minor in the scheme of things and although I don't think we will have any problems I do worry for some of the Lakeland " biggies". when I race these days I'm seeing more of the "Tuff Mudder" brigade and worry they think getting a bit cold and electrocuted qualifys the for something like Langdale.
I ran the Three Peaks last year and did wonder how some of em managed to get an entry to be honest.
This year marshaling in a local race I managed to persuade a big strong lad to retire after only 4 miles in foul weather because he was in obvious distress. On the way back down he admitted all his training was on a running machine and he just fancied a go at a fell race.
I kind of disagree - my very first ever fell race was the 3 peaks and, yes, I did blag myself in. But its actually experiencing something that gives you 'experience' and it puts my back up if fell runners somehow consider themselves more elitest than others. Everyone has to start somewhere and people should be free 'to come and have a go if they think they're hard enough' (qualifying rules permitting). What ever else you can say about fell races they are miles more safe than just running in the hills on your own, something anybody can do when ever they want to. In some respects people may run fell races to actually become more au fait with an area or route, to later run on their own.