Fell running blogs

[Mounsey]

I applaud this report from Mounsey because if this can happen to an elite runner on a relatively low level, short and flagged route (which I have run): then there but for the grace of God...

To my acute embarrassment I have been hyperthermic in a race and I remember the efforts of Mrs Scoffer and others in trying to stop me shivering, get heat back into my body core and get my brain working again to leave its inarticulate state: all inside a relatively warm café at the finish area.

The FRA/RO, and rightly, can have rules about carrying kit but it cannot (yet) control whether or not people put it on, or put it on early enough in a race and, of course, once you become hyperthemic your brain stops functioning as well as it should, especially in race conditions.

I have a photograph of the start of the 2012 Buttermere Sailbeck race. Some runners are wearing enough kit for the Arctic but of the dozens of runners in the picture only a single person is setting off in a vest and shorts. That runner had done the race several times before and he had the required kit in his bag and much later in the race he eventually put in on. The reasons for the death of Brian Belfield cannot be reduced to one simple, trite factor and runners have different metabolisms and will be "out" for different times in a race, etc; so there can be no simple rules.

But all the tragic deaths in fell races - Bob English, Ted Pepper, Judith Taylor, Carol Matthews and Brian - were associated with hyperthermia (and going off-route); not from overheating for wearing too much kit or putting it on too early in something as trivial as a mere fell race.

As others have said, Mounsey should be congratulated for sharing his experience on here.

Thanks Graham, I certainly won't be making that mistake again in weather like that. As you've quite rightly said, hopefully we can all learn a lesson from my stupidity. Let it serve as a stark reminder for anyone who races in similar conditions in the future.

[Graham Breeze]

Well, I was clearly overheated and hyperthermic when I typed my post or I would have spelt hypothermic correctly (with thanks to Richard).

[FellJunior]

I was present, when Ben was being revived. As the father of a man also in his thirties, it was deeply sobering to watch someone in such distress. To put this incident in context, Ben was 7th fastest overall in just over 52 minutes for 10Kms. Thus anyone and everyone can be vulnerable. The relief in the room when he started grinning again was palpable.
Ben's very honest blog should be a powerful wake up call to all fell runners. Carrying kit and knowing when and how to use it matters. Put bluntly, those who choose to avoid the requirement are risking lives, and not just their own. They have no place in this sport.

[CalFerguson]

Newt special but I've probably bumped in to a few of you this season...check it out if you're bored on this Sunday night;

http://calferguson.blogspot.co.uk/20...ce-season.html

[Travs]

70 races that is awesome... Well done. this year was my first season, and by comparison I've only done 10 fell races... (albeit I live miles from the fells, and only started in may)...

I'd say to anyone who reads your blog, to just turn up and have a go... I was nervously on the start line of my first race in may, thinking about possibly doing a 'long' race before the end of the year... Next thing I knew I was doing 3 longs in 5 weeks (Stretton Skyline/Black Mountains/Langdale)...

I'm also looking ambitiously at next year... 3 peaks in April, Lakeland classics over the summer, at least 1 of Jura and Welsh 1000m, and possibly Manx mountain marathon...

I also packed up football a few years ago, then packed up kickboxing at a decent level to concentrate on running, and don't regret it one bit...

Good luck for 2016...

[CalFerguson]

70 races that is awesome... Well done. this year was my first season, and by comparison I've only done 10 fell races... (albeit I live miles from the fells, and only started in may)...

I'd say to anyone who reads your blog, to just turn up and have a go... I was nervously on the start line of my first race in may, thinking about possibly doing a 'long' race before the end of the year... Next thing I knew I was doing 3 longs in 5 weeks (Stretton Skyline/Black Mountains/Langdale)...

I'm also looking ambitiously at next year... 3 peaks in April, Lakeland classics over the summer, at least 1 of Jura and Welsh 1000m, and possibly Manx mountain marathon...

I also packed up football a few years ago, then packed up kickboxing at a decent level to concentrate on running, and don't regret it one bit...

Good luck for 2016...

Thanks mate. Yeah, the main message is that if I can do it then anybody can, just give it a go & don't think about it too much or the enjoyment is usually taken away...

Hopefully see you at a race next year

[sbrt]

Nice one Young Feller

[Manix]

Here's my latest blog on the Really Wild Boar race: http://marknixonsblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Sorry it's a bit long, and kind of goes of topic.

[Mounsey]

2015 review, it's been a bloody good year.
https://benmounsey.wordpress.com/201...mountain-goat/

[Derby Tup]

What an inspiration you are Ben