good to see the natural barefoot runner is ok then and does not have to wear shoes....
good to see the natural barefoot runner is ok then and does not have to wear shoes....
Well said Britta!Originally Posted by Britta
Fell running for me is certainly NOT about a lot of the wording on this thread (and many other threads on this forum).
Social media has possibly 'helped' to increase the numbers of runners on the fells, and folks posting photos and videos has probably 'helped' to popularise fell running.
Maybe I have inadvertently 'helped' to increase the number of race competitors by posting many pics and vids over the last few years? If I have then I'm not proud of that.
Inevitably fell running will become even more popular in the future and therefore, unfortunately in my mind, many more rules and regs will have to be put in place just to cover the organisers.
For me, if I go out on the fells, either for a run or a race, then I take full responsibility for myself and that's how it should be.
By all means produce some basic guidance for beginners but for crissakes DON'T go down the line of how some people on this thread want to see fell running go.
I'm sick of reading unreadable posts on 'ealth & bl%%dy safety!
HELLO THERE! We're talking about fell running here!
Cue the long-winded, unreadable replies...
Here bleedin' here Wharfee.
Nothing at all to do with fell running I know but the sport of bare knuckle boxing was supposed to be made safer with the introduction of boxing gloves. In actual fact the introduction of boxing gloves suddenly made head shots far more viable (bare knuckle boxers usually stuck to body punches because boney heads broke their hands) and led to a massively increased death toll in the sport
Ummm... so lets make boxing gloves compulsory in fell running too
It's not what we think about fell running or want it to be, but how outsiders might look at it in case of a tragic accident
Wharfee I must protest… I always try to keep my posts as short and to the point as I can, and speak in plain English, even when I’m talking about bloomin’ ‘elf and safety..
I understand that people are sick of hearing about safety but a man died in a fell race and we can’t ignore that.
As a fell runner, I’m on the same wavelength as those of you who just want to run and not worry about it. Most of the people who have been the most vociferous on these safety related threads lately, believe it or not, are arguing for exactly what you are crying out for; that the sport is able to continue the way we like it and not become buried in a mass of hastily drafted rules in the mistaken belief that that will make it safer!
Surprisingly, we believe the sport can continue unspoilt AND can be safer at the same time, with very few rules, but the FRA is not really taking that on board.
That’s what the fight is about.
SHR and WFRA are currently considering draft documents which have been drafted by people – including me - who want to preserve the traditional values of the sport, minimise bureaucracy, and enjoy fell running as it’s always been.
Don’t shoot the messengers, even if the message is sometimes long winded and, to be honest, a crushing bore! It’s trad fell running that’s at stake!
PS - I also agree with Britta, who makes the good point that glamourisation of the sport doesn't help; this is a sport for grouchy old curmudgeons and let's not forget it.
I understand the argument, I just don't think it works in practice. If you make kit optional, some people will take less than would be required if it were mandatory.
Also, I think most people are capably of understanding where responsibility starts and finishes. eg, I need to carry kit, but if I get lost it's my responsibility to sort it out. It's not rocket science.
You are Stephen Fry and I claim my £5.Here bleedin' here Wharfee.
Nothing at all to do with fell running I know but the sport of bare knuckle boxing was supposed to be made safer with the introduction of boxing gloves. In actual fact the introduction of boxing gloves suddenly made head shots far more viable (bare knuckle boxers usually stuck to body punches because boney heads broke their hands) and led to a massively increased death toll in the sport
Ummm... so lets make boxing gloves compulsory in fell running too
One issue is the weight of the kit. Some people will say that they will carry nothing, so that they are lighter and able to run faster. Similarly people will say that they don't like carrying a bumbag, so won't carry anything.
All sports have to have rules. Even in the old days of fellrunning there were rules, e.g. you have to visit all the checkpoints on the route.
It is perfectly reasonable to say that a rule for fellrunning is that the minimum equipment required for fell running is full waterproofs, hat, gloves, map, compass, whistle, emergency food. That then puts everyone on the same basis for racing and no-one can get an unfair advantage. That equipment is also there for the safety of the runner, and it is then up to the runner if they think they need to carry more.
Many years ago the organisers of the Ben Nevis race told everyone they had to start in their waterproofs to prove that everyone had them (the day was pretty poor). There was a lot of groaning about this. My view was that it was their race and could tell us what their rules were. If I didn't like it I could not run. What I did was to run out of the field, then take my jacket off, until I needed it later. That worked for me and for the organisers.
Neither is having the sense to carry kit in dodgy conditions.
The FRA should concentrate on education instead of trying to impose unworkable rules. A better alternative would be a licensing system where runners need to complete an online course on mountain safety / navigational skills before they can enter races. The only pre-requisite for race entry would be possession of the certificate which would have to be renewed annually / every two years
The runner, aware of the rules, would then take responsibility for their own safety.
The course would be administered by the FRA / SHR etc as part of the membership - free to members but with a small cost to non-members.
I'm PADI qualified in Scuba Diving and had to do a similar thing (theory & practical tests) - there is no reason why a watered down (no pun intended) version could not be applied to fell running.
Last edited by TheHeathens; 29-04-2014 at 06:03 PM.
I agree knowledge and experience is key.
They have been moving down the education road with Hypothermia article, navigation article etc. However how many runners are members of the FRA, certainly a lot of the shorter routes have high percentage of roadies turn up. we ask for experience in the longer runs but you still get plenty of unattached runners? very difficult to police.
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