Fell Running

Equipment
Tips
Events
WWW Links

Why Fell?

We're blessed, in this country, with a few great wildernesses - the open fells and uplands. This page celebrates fell running and provides some info on how to get into it.

Fell running will appeal to you if you're looking for ..

a change of scenery. Fell races takes in some breathtaking countryside, as well as gritty local terrain.
a sport with a great tradition and heritage: the Three Peaks Race had it's 50th Anniversary in 2004, and there are older races than that;
a friendly (if robust!) racing scene;
value for money: fell running is a back to basics sport with low race fees, and FRA membership is amazing value for money;
it's true that there's a very strong Veteran runner presence in the sport. But there's also a very dynamic junior race scene. And there's a new breed of younger fell runner at the front of the field in races too.

Equipment

Fell running equipment is simple and robust. You can wear a super Goretex top if you like, but it won't look the same after you've fallen in a peat grough or torn it on a barbed wire fence, so think on ...

Shoes

For fell running you need shoes that grip well (heavily studded soles are best); that have a low midsole and heel (for "feeling the ground" and avoiding turning your ankle on very rough terrain), and that have a tough construction (stony paths shred lesser shoes; peaty mud dissolves them).

Fell shoes fall into two schools:

Traditional shoes, and the Walsh is the Daddy of them all, have a no-nonsense minimalist approach. Big studs, minimal midsole, tough lightweight upper, low-tech. The New Balance RX Terrain that we recommend offers a similar package, and some people find it more comfortable than the Walsh.

What about pronation, supination, and all that? When you're hurtling down a hillside, or running on rough surfaces, grip and contact with the terrain are more important. But as some fell races have long track and road sections you may still want some technical features in your shoe.

Technical shoes come from the other manufacturers who have tried to bring road/trail running shoe technology to the fells. This hasn't always been a great success. But a new brand that's got it just right is Inov-8. Their shoes are taking the fell running scene by storm: worn by top fell runners, tough with great gripping soles, with technology and design that improves comfort and support. Up & Running recommend them.

Clothing

You can get very hot running uphill. And very cold on long races in wind, rain, sleet, and snow. In a long fell race in April this year the runners had to guard against heat exhaustion and dehydration: 2 years ago at the same time it was hypothermia. So your choice of clothing and equipment is important.

Vests

You may wish to wear your normal club vest. If not, check out our breathable and moisture-managing vests. Moisture management? By pulling the perspiration away from your skin and helping it evaporate when you're climbing they'll keep you cool, and leave you dry so you don't get a chill when descending. When it's cold, wet, and windy our OMM Smitten thermal top is tops.

Shorts

It's back to basics here. Most men wear loose-fitting shorts. Many ladies seem to favour lycra shorts. Nothing too fancy, because it'd be a shame when you rip the seat out of them next time you fall on your backside!

Socks

Your feet are going to get wet and muddy - that's almost certain. To avoid blisters you want socks that won't crumple down into your shoes. Look for something like the Hilly mono skin off-road sock.

Waterproofs

At any race the organiser may require you to carry a "waterproof" top (they may require you to carry full body cover if they believe conditions will be bad). In our experience this means "water resistant", and most fellrunners make do with some sort of lightweight water-resistant top. Nothing too fancy. It's a bonus if it has a hood. But it must be light, should fold down small, and should appear waterproof (super-lightweight Pertex-type tops probably won't do). Many runners choose to carry such a top even if it isn't mandatory - it can be quickly donned when conditions get bad, and if you slow down after injury say could prevent hypothermia or worse. Our cheap and cheerful CagBag jacket fits the bill pretty well ...

Accessories

You'll want a basic bum-bag to put your cag in, as well as any of the other items that you might want to carry (the organiser can insist on a map, compass, whistle, and some energy food).

And you might need to carry some water too on longer summer races - check out our bottle belts and water carriers.

In winter, you'll need some lightweight gloves and a hat, as well as a thermal layer under your vest.

Fell running's different to road running. You won't have a 5 mile fell PB, because 5 miles on Ilkley Moor is different to 5 miles on Helvellyn. But it's useful to see how just how far you've gone and how fast, and the latest GPS solutions are available from Up & Running.

Tips

Here are a few pointers from our own experience ....

Training

• Make sure you do some runs on terrain, to get your ankles and legs used to the rougher surface, descents, and climbs.
• Train in your fell shoes, get used to them.

Racing

• Always take the full FRA safety kit, then you can fine-tune what you carry on the day
• Check your shoes are in good order - a small rip or a sole coming loose could mean that your shoes fall apart mid-race
• Tie your laces very securely, and maybe tape them too. Retying muddy laces is no fun, and other fellrunners may trample you into the mud (in a good-natured way) if you block the path
• Go steady at the start
• Be courteous at stiles and gates
• Always obey the marshals' instructions
• Enjoy it!

Events

Fellrunning is a little unlike roadrunning and trail running in that events are not widely publicised by flyers or in running magazines. So you'll need to ...
Join the FRA

The best way to stay in touch with events is to join the Fell Running Association. Their annual calendar is a bumper A5 booklet that has every race in it. The thrice-yearly Fellrunner magazine has updates to the fixtures information. It's also one of the best-written and most motivating running magazines you'll ever come across. The FRA web site hasn't got quite the same wealth of information, but you will find fixtures updates and lots of links to clubs.

You should also look at the races organised by the other fellrunning body, BOFRA (British open Fell Running Body, the former professional body). Many of these are associated with village galas, and have a very special feel. There's a calendar on the Junior Fellrunner page.

Up & Running puts back into the sport by supporting races of all kinds, eg in 2005 we did a lot to support junior fell running. If you'd like us to help with a fell event, just get in touch with your local shop, or contact Terry at Head Office - you can email him at racesupport@upandrunning.co.uk

WWW links

	www.fellrunner.org.uk	Fell Running Association (FRA) (event updates and links to clubs)
	www.bofra.org.uk	BOFRA - Fell Running web site
	www.felljunior.org.uk	Junior Fell Running web site
	WMRA	World Mountain Running Association