Hi ,
It looks like you're using an ad blocker.



The revenue generated from the adverts on the site is a critical part of our funding - and it's because of these ads that I can offer the site for free. But using the site for free AND blocking the ads doesn't feel like a great thing to do, which is why this box is so large and inconvenient. Some sites will completely block your access, but I'm not doing that - I'm appealing to your good nature instead. Did you know that you can allow ads for specific sites, whilst still blocking them on others?

Thanks,
Ian Williams aka Fetch
or for an ad-free Fetcheveryone experience!

Fetch Fell Runners

160 watchers
19 Jan
6:45pm, 19 Jan 2025
7,253 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
paulcook
In fact these were further instructions re early start. Doesn’t look like one mass start.

However, you may start from 6.30am to 7.15am from the Fleece Inn where we will have official starter. You will use your SPORTident Timing Card to start the clock with the official starter.
19 Jan
8:15pm, 19 Jan 2025
21,385 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
flanker
That was last year's approach. Under the new dictat it may have to be different. 🤷🏻‍♂️
19 Jan
8:31pm, 19 Jan 2025
6,332 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
K5 Gus
This may clarify, from race organiser's email, received yesterday :

"and just to make clear that early starts will be available for both our big races exactly as before for those who need them."

[bold added by me]
20 Jan
8:46pm, 20 Jan 2025
10,762 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
Northern Exile
Posted an hour ago on the Fell Running FB page:

Early Starts - communication in further detail
To address some of the views and questions that arose from our recent communication about banning early starts for individual runners, we have put together this short explanation to set out our reasoning for this change to our rules.

It has for some time been the FRA’s view that agreeing to individual requests from runners for an early start should be discouraged as they create a safety risk. This view has been mentioned previously in Fellrunner articles, in the FAQ section of our website and in communications to race organisers.

Fell running is an inclusive sport – a glance along the start line of a typical fell race is proof of that – with a vast range of abilities and ages all taking part in the same races. Naturally we want this inclusivity to continue, but not to the point where it creates a safety risk. And this is where the topic of individual early starts comes in.
The reason we strongly recommended against individual early starts is because they are often agreed on an ad hoc basis on the morning of a race, giving the race organiser no chance to properly organise and communicate what is happening to their race team. This has in turn led to several “near misses” where slower runners have set off either before marshals are in place or caused confusion and mis-counts of runners. As you might be aware, the risk of mis-counting runners is a serious one, and can lead to major problems for both runners and the race team. Mis-counting runners has been cited as a key contributing factor in several cases where serious harm has come to runners.

Unfortunately, despite our recommendation, we have received regular evidence that individual early starts are still happening, putting both runners and race organisers at risk. Therefore, to simplify matters for race organisers and prevent that awkward conversation where an organiser is put on the spot, we have decided to update our rules and actually ban these ad hoc, individual early starts. This change DOES NOT prevent a race organiser from choosing to offer an official early start, for instance, for older age category runners. And in this way, we can remain both inclusive and safe.
Finally, here is the text of our updated rule:
Whilst the FRA wants fell running to be open to everyone with as few barriers as possible to participation, the nature of the sport requires a certain basic level of fell skills and fitness. Taking into account the safety of runners and what is reasonable to ask of volunteers and marshals, organisers must not offer “walking starts” or “advance starts” for individual runners, whether these are asked for in advance or on the day. However, organisers are free to have more than one official start time, for instance an earlier start for older age categories, followed by another start for the remaining categories.
We hope that all fell runners and organisers will see this as a sensible step, but we are very happy to hear your thoughts and views.
20 Jan
9:55pm, 20 Jan 2025
26,448 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
larkim
That all makes a lot of sense.
20 Jan
11:56pm, 20 Jan 2025
23,498 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
rf_fozzy
flyingfinn wrote:Northern Exile wrote:paulcook wrote:Two very different people told me basically the reason why the no nav rule was brought in because podium finisher(s) were using on championship races and felt to be completely against the fell running ethos. Whether it's happened since, I've no idea. That's essentially true The main reason it was brought in was that people in the Lakes didn't like their local knowledge advantage being undermined by technology. Most fell runners cannot navigate well enough with a map and compass to cope with running at race pace (there have been a couple of championship races in NI in very low vis where the overwhelming lack of familiarity with the area has exposed this very clearly and identified the small number who can.). They rely on local knowledge and repeated recces of race routes. This clearly provides an advantage to those that live close to races. Technology undermined that advantage and enabled 'outsiders' to beat them. The fell running ethos argument was largely a convenient smokescreen.


Also happened several times at Black Coombe.

If I'm remembering correctly, Rhys F-R won it by a long way one year because of the clag and the fact he could navigate and lots of others could not.
1 Mar
5:17pm, 1 Mar 2025
4,749 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
jacdaw
Posting this in several threads (sorry). Slightly off subject; does anybody know a good physio in the north east (England) or Cumbria, with a strong running bias / specialisation? Thanks.
1 Mar
10:45pm, 1 Mar 2025
26,784 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
larkim
I could probably get some Newcastle based recommendations from son? Or is that too far east?
1 Mar
11:18pm, 1 Mar 2025
7,540 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
paulcook
This isn't probably what you're after, but one of my previous club mates, used this strength and conditioning coach to help him before his BGR.

Looking at her website, it's more coaching and S&C, so not sure what physio work she does. Think she's based in Newcastle too.

coachmargarita.co.uk

Other than that, sorry, no I've no personal recommendations for physio work.
2 Mar
9:14am, 2 Mar 2025
4,750 posts
  • Quote
  • Pin
jacdaw
Newcastle is good, thanks @larkim. Thanks, Paul, I will have a look.

About This Thread

Maintained by Northern Exile
A place to discuss all aspects of running on the fells, from footwear to the best line off Scafell Pike :-) Beginners welcome!
  • Show full description...

Related Threads

  • cumbria
  • fellrun
  • trail
  • yorkshire

Report This Content

You can report any content you believe to be unsafe. Please let me know why you believe this content is unsafe by choosing a category below.



Thank you for your report. The content will be assessed as soon as possible.










Back To Top

Tag A User

To tag a user, start typing their name here:
X

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.

Fetcheveryone lets you analyse your training, find races, plot routes, chat in our forum, get advice, play games - and more! Nothing is behind a paywall, and it'll stay that way thanks to our awesome community!
Get Started
Click here to join 114,477 Fetchies!
Already a Fetchie? Sign in here