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Fetch Fell Runners

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larkim 17 Mar 4:49pm, 17 Mar 2025 26,909 posts	Quote Pin larkim The nutrition one is odd. I'm a sceptic by nature on that sort of stuff, but the evidence now of the actual benefit of high carb gels for endurance performance is mounting. Dare I suggest that some "beneficial substances" were more tolerated in fell racing in years gone by to maintain alertness on long races?
flyingfinn 17 Mar 6:01pm, 17 Mar 2025 3,782 posts	Quote Pin flyingfinn Such as? The use of such substances in the Victorian 'pedestrian' races with there associated betting is well documented but long fell races weren't really a thing until the 70s (most long classic fell races are relatively modern if you look at the history) and anyway they aren't really that long (few have records outside 3 hours). I've certainly never come across suggestions of the use of "beneficial substances" in fra type fell races. There just weren't the incentives. The fields were generally pretty small (the numbers are far higher now than they were historically), the prizes as good as non-existent (a few bottles of beer etc) and next to no publicity beyond the local rag.
cackleberry 17 Mar 6:10pm, 17 Mar 2025 4,757 posts	Quote Pin cackleberry I thought the accepted, nay preferred nutrition for fell races was a handful of Haribo (other gummy sweets are available) and a pie at the finish?
Northern Exile 17 Mar 6:24pm, 17 Mar 2025 10,929 posts	Quote Pin Northern Exile larkim wrote:Dare I suggest that some "beneficial substances" were more tolerated in fell racing in years gone by to maintain alertness on long races? I'd be really surprised if that has ever been the case
larkim 17 Mar 10:44pm, 17 Mar 2025 26,910 posts	Quote Pin larkim For some reason I thought amphetamine use was pretty widespread in greek running back in the day, same as with amateur and pro cycling. Not really considered "doping" so much as just sharpening the mind. I may be conflating stories though!!
rf_fozzy 18 Mar 12:07am, 18 Mar 2025 23,643 posts	Quote Pin rf_fozzy I'd be surprised if one or two fell runners haven't taken something or other at some point. Not sure it'd be particularly widespread though. Although maybe I'm being naive!
flanker 18 Mar 12:12am, 18 Mar 2025 21,413 posts	Quote Pin flanker Had wondered about Edale, but with Heptonstall on the doorstep this weekend I went for the easy option. With most of the local fast boys down in the Peak (it's in our club champs) my time might even look semi-decent
paulcook 18 Mar 12:15am, 18 Mar 2025 7,631 posts	Quote Pin paulcook But for more train disruption, I was going to do Heptonstall. Instead I doubt I'm going to get a warm up race for Fellsman in now.