If carrying my mobile means that the chap who organises the Edale Skyline feels he has a better chance if anything goes wrong, then that's alright with me. I'm certainly not going to complain - and I know it won't affect my enjoyment of the race. What's all the fuss about?
At least most folk know how to use a mobile phone!!
Originally Posted by Mud
The FRA had the rules changed last year to enable race
organisers to include extra reasonable safety measures and equipment
above and beyond our rule 9 mandatory kit. This decision falls well within that clause.
I'm not suggesting it's not a legitimate decison, just that it's not a very good one (for many if not all of the points made above).
This is partly about practicalities (network coverage, false sense of security etc*) and partly about the culture of fell-running.
* I don't wear a helmet on my bike except when racing, if that helps place my position...
Indeed the FRA did. I drafted it.
As I recall mobile phones were not raised at the relevant FRA Committee but there was a debate on the definition of waterproof rather than windproof and what is "full" body cover.
I did Edale in 2007 and I have raced in even worse conditions.
However whether or not I think carrying a mobile phone is sensible, as a race organiser my start point is that the race organiser is always right. It is his race and if you don't want to play by his rules then don't play at all.
Btw there are now approaching 7000 members of the FRA. The days that Wheeze likes to wax poetical about are gone or going. Fellrunning isn't a fringe pastime for a few hard men who build dry stone walls and have sheep anymore.
Welcome to the real world of the 21st Century.
Always interesting to read your posts Graham, often they are very informative.
Shame that so often you spoil it by having a dig at someone.
Don't worry Fellrunner, he can't help it.
Progress is progress. Doesn't stop people pushing vigourously to preserve the essential culture of something...witness Golf Clubs. This is a very worthy discussion. Do we want to preserve the 'old-skool' hard-man image or go for the full-lycra GPS version?
I've got absolutely no issue with the concept of accepting whatever the RO wants as what you have to comply with. But RO's need to see all aspects of what they introduce. Andy is clearly scarred after last years very difficult situation. Believe me, I know EXACTLY how that feels (with an even worse outcome than he endured). So, I sympathise fully with his decision to increase safety and the new rules allow that (and there was nothing to stop it before).
But I think it's worth carefully considering everything thats been said here because it does have implications for the future. I believe its very important not to over-react to an extreme circumstance just as much as you should never ignore an obvious and sensible improvement. Simple as that.
Last edited by Wheeze; 22-12-2007 at 01:19 PM.
I'd agree with that. He can be wrong, but if we don't like it don't run.
The race organiser puts the work in, its up to him what the rules are. As runners if we don't like it we race elsewhere, don't race at all, or organise a race ourselves.
I'm not in favour of carrying all the kit that things like the '3 Peaks Yacht Race' demand, its the main thing that puts me off, but the fact remains its the organisers call.
I've seen a race organiser have to deal with the guilt of a death during a race, it wasn't his fault at all, but nevertheless its something that will stay with him forever. So whatever they feel they need to ask for to avoid/reduce the risk of such a situation is their call.
Personally I'd rather not carry a mobile on a race, but its a standard piece of safety kit in the hills. As an ML if I had a client who died of a heart attack and I was in an area of signal and not carrying a mobile I'd be strung up and would potentially face court action. It's up there with any other piece of safety kit, suvival bag etc really.
Well, that was a very interesting 20 mins spent reading this thread.
I fully realise people want to protect the traditions and the aura of the fells.
But if carrying a mobile has the potential to save a life, even if 1 in 50 years, then I think it's a sensible thing to carry.
However, I took my phone up Helvellyn in my Walsh bum bag, in a plastic money bag. The phone got condensation in it and the lower half of the display broke. In the end I had to get a new phone.
So there are practical issues to be dealt with. I wouldn't like to take a state of the art phone out, not use it and find it was broke when I finished.
And if people haven't got a phone, I don't see it's fair to ask them to buy/borrow one.
So while in priniciple I have no problems with this rule, I think it may turn out to be unworkable on some levels.
Coming from a Rugby league back ground, the above is certainly true and clear to all.
Its simple to me, if you carry a phone you can race Edale. If you don't want to then go and run it at some other time.
We must have respect for the good people that organise our races.
We do, but that doesn't mean we can't disagree with them and have an open discussion.
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