A bit late to this but I have joined in on similar discussions on the fell runners face book page. The point that has never successfully been answered for me is the massive advantage that local runners get in fell races. Never mind maps or compasses or gps tracks, if you’re a local it’s quite likely you could know every nook and cranny of the route. A non-local or somebody who just runs in the area occasionally doesn’t stand a chance in an everything else being equal race. Add bad or extremely bad weather and the local runner has a huger advantage still.... and, as an added bonus, is far less likely to get lost on the hill and die.

So I guess all I need to do is spot the local vest of a similar paced runner to me at say the langdale horseshoe or borrowdale - never mind gps, hey presto I’ve got a real living breadcrumb trail to follow 😊