Bio's and Reports from fell runners
One idea that came from the 'Women in Fell Running' working group was to highlight women who are current fell runners. It was recognized that the female participation in Wales within fell running of around 25%, was far lower than in other running genres. These 'bio's, it is hoped, may both inspire other 'would-be' fell runners and illustrate that fell running is as much a sport for women as men.
Embedded Files
The final 'bio' in this series features Ruth Pickvance - a well known pioneer for 'women in fell running' and the founder and director for Element Active: https://element-active.co.uk/
After almost 35+ years connected to fell running, here are some reflections on my journey and why, as a woman, you should take up this BRILLIANT sport.
I’m from a pre-Strava era and a time when you could enter British Championship races ON THE DAY, when there were no official guidelines on what you had to carry on any fell race, and only one make of fell running shoe that you could buy.
Some things have changed AND the sport in essence is still the same.
My first fell race was Wansfell in Cumbria in late December 1985. I’d been up in the Lake District the year before and had seen this fell race on a snowy day under blue skies, never having watched a fell race before, in fact, not even knowing what fell running was.
I was utterly captivated and despite the fact that I didn’t run at all and that I knew nothing about running, I vowed that I’d come back the following year to do the race and so I started running.
At the time I was working in the Midlands and started to run 4-miles ‘round the block’ at lunchtime. Most of my colleagues were perplexed and some were mildly amused. Women just didn’t really run back then and it wasn’t mainstream at all; you rarely saw women out running, there was no real women’s running kit and Lycra hadn’t been invented!
When it came to race day, I knew so little and I was so ill-prepared, and so badly dressed it was a case of ignorance is bliss.
I did the Wansfell race in late December in my blue V-necked wool jumper, baggy jogging pants and Adidas trainers, and finished almost last – in fact, second from last. Yes, I was evidently destined for great things!
I remember wondering how people had finished so fast and how I’d finished almost last when it had hurt so much. I said, “I’m never doing anything like that again EVER” and yet, I’d found something that had hooked me.
In the decade from 1985 onwards I won the British Fell Championship, competed in almost all the classic UK fell races and set many race records (I think there’s now only one remaining). I completed the Bob Graham Round on 7 May 1988 which I guess these days with the rise of Ultras looks short but back then it was a major long-distance challenge (with no paths round the route either!).
As an early female fell runner, I raced with men around me and I raced against men.
Except the men didn’t get the (now infamous) heated hair curlers as their prize when they won the long Lakeland Wasdale Fell Race! Yes folks, it’s true – the men received lovely North Face mountaineering jackets and I got heated hair curlers.
In 1994 I went to live and work in Singapore. It was the polar opposite of life in Cumbria. An island city of 5 million people, humid and hot. On the way out to work in Singapore I stopped off in Sabah, Malaysia, to do the Mount Kinabalu race. This race starts at 6000ft and goes up to 13,455ft and then down again, and it’s the down that is the relentlessly hard bit. 1994 was the year that the British army expedition became trapped and lost in Lowe’s Gully which had made headline news in the UK and so there was significant media interest in this British blonde girl (the papers love a blonde girl don’t they) getting to the summit as first British woman and back down again without getting lost.
I loved the camaraderie of fell running, loved getting to different mountain areas that I’d otherwise never have been to, loved the de-stress from working life and loved the sense of freedom and being out in nature.
I’ve never been particularly good on very very rough downhill terrain as at the Bens of Jura race for example, but you have to learn to work on and with your weaknesses if you’re going to be a successful runner. It’s all part of the package. You also have to lean towards races that support your strengths and for me this was very much European Skyraces and European mountain races.
One race I’d put at the top of the list of favourites is the Skyrace Valmalenco-Valposchiavo. It’s a 30km mountain race that starts in Italy and finishes in Switzerland and follows an ancient smuggler’s route through the mountains. It was always hotly contested on the female front, with an international field. I never won it but always finished in the top three.
I also loved the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in Italy, an uphill only race that finishes by three iconic rock towers in the Dolomites at 2,450m; and there’s always a place in my heart for the Monte Rosa Skyrace for sheer landscape inspiration.
I always really enjoyed running at The Man v Horse (I had two wins). I ran 2-40 for the Man v Horse in 2000, and just missed the record, and went back in 2001 and ran 2-38 which was a new record. It’s interesting now looking on the Wiki entry for the race because ALL the male winners are listed and none of the female. Hey ho, plus ca change and all that!
After almost a lifetime of fell running what do I say to newcomers and to women who are interested in taking up fell running:
· Jump in somewhere and make a start – we’re always very good at justifying why we can’t do things – there’ll always be a reason why you can’t! What’s the worst that can go wrong (you finish second from last!)? Confidence is built from having a go and it doesn’t come from justifying why you can’t do something.
· Running is a simple sport and fell running even more so – don’t overcomplicate it. There’s a lot of stuff these days that seems to make it more complex than it is. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other, getting out in beautiful surroundings and the kit you need is minimal.
· Getting out of the door is often the hardest part – literally and metaphorically. Find a running buddy, think about joining a club, get a routine – all good things for creating accountability.
· Walk in the hills and mountains – fell running is a lot about being at ease in mountain environments and walking is great for building this. And, walking uphill is a great cardio workout.
· Have a go at a race – getting out is one thing but fell racing is brilliant as is the camaraderie – there are lots of shortish races suitable for beginners, so cross that line and have a go – you won’t look back.
· Fell runners do not generally run uphill! Know this and don’t let it put you off racing.
· Road running is very useful for getting fit and for learning pace and discipline. My first great love was mountain running but I also had a (late) and successful road running career which I used to support my fell running. At the age of 40 I clocked 34 mins for 10k and 2.45 for the marathon. I also ended up having my most successful fell racing years around this time. It was something I learned late but even if it’s parkrun, it's very useful to support more confidence with fitness and it’s good to mix it around.
· The more you do, the better and more confident you’ll get – this sounds so obvious, but I meet a lot of women who say that they’re not ‘fit enough’ or lack requisite experience. You need to put the time in; you simply need to get out.
· Enjoy what fell running brings. Take some time to appreciate the natural environment. The fact that fellrunning gets you to places and landscapes that you wouldn’t have been to, gets you to see the glory of the landscape, sunsets, cloud inversions, changing weather, and changing seasons… even gets you to recognise how lovely the rain can be (sometimes!). It’s what we don’t make space for in everyday life and for me, that’s at the heart of it all.
Hi I'm Kat, or Fat Kat to my besties! My running journey began in April 2018 when I ran my first parkrun. This was the Ashton Court parkrun in Bristol, 2.5km straight up a 100m hill and back down the same way and even at this early stage of my running journey I loved the uphill but was awful on the downhill! This still remains the same 5 years later!
Running my first parkrun with a backpack on, I didn't know there was a 'bagdrop' 😊
7 months and 8 parkruns later, I was approached by a coach from Bristol & West AC to join the club and compete in the Gwent League cross country taking place the following weekend. I agreed immediately and attended the cross country at Parc Bryn Bach. It was pouring with rain and blowing a gale and, a complete novice I was, I ran with a t-shirt under my vest, soon overheating within the first 5 minutes. I had to borrow a pair of trail shoes from a team mate as all I had were a pair of nike 'fashion' trainers. I didn't tie the trail shoes tight enough and subsequentially lost one in the mud, spending at least 30 seconds fishing the shoe out of the mud. I was fuelled with adrenaline to regain the time I had lost and finished in 28th place out of 319. I was delighted to finish within the top 10%! It was safe to say I immediately had the running bug and I knew it was cross country I loved. Freezing cold, covered in mud, what could be more fun?!
I was a bit apprehensive at joining an athletics club as I wrongly presumed it would be a competitive and unfriendly environment. How wrong I was! Joining Bristol & West AC was the best decision I made, no matter your ability all the coaches and athletes are so encouraging and friendly. I have made most of my closest friends through the club and most of the time I just go along to training sessions to catch up with my friends.
A jack of all trades, master of none some may say!
I threw myself into the sport and of course suffered various injuries over the first few years as my body wasn’t strong enough to cope with the high impact. I have since learnt the importance of adequate recovery which includes strength and conditioning work, sufficient nutrition, good sleep and my favourite is a painful sports massage! Along with running I also like to cross train by bouldering, cycling, swimming and playing for The Misfits FC in a local women’s casual football league.
Throughout the years at Bristol & West AC I have raced on the road and track to pass the summer months by, but my true love has always been on the trails and cross country. A friend and amazing athlete from the club Chelsea Creak competed and won the South Wales Winter Hill series in 2021/22 and posted the fixtures for the 2022/23 season on our ‘ladies who like to run’ WhatsApp group. I liked the sound of these ‘fell races’ and entered the sugar loaf winter race in Nov 2022. Mistakenly, I thought the ‘mandatory kit list’ was up to athlete, and was informed on the start line I needed to be carrying this gear with me, so had a moment of panic to sort myself out. This fuelled me with more adrenaline to get up that hill. I was chuffed with my run to the summit (8th position); however, the way down was a different story and I was much too cautious. Ten runners flew past me, one even saying ‘enjoy it, this is the fun bit’. This made me laugh, but I was still too scared to let myself go. I had a tumble on the way back down, although this isn't unusual for me (picture after Craig Yr Allt with my bloody knees, still smiling!). My downhills have improved since but still need a lot of work. I also immediately invested in a pair of INOV8 mudclaws, they are great and I highly recommend them!
I love these fell races as they take you to new amazing places with spectacular views, but the thing I love the most is the people and camaraderie! I thought I was extremely lucky joining Bristol & West to find such a lovely group of people - it turns out it’s not just Bristol & West, all runners are lovely! I have been made to feel so welcome in the WFRA community, no one is pushing to the front of the start line looking for a PB, everyone is there just to have a nice day out and run as hard as they can. We stay around chatting over a cuppa and cake and all for a fiver, now that is a bargain! My running has gone from strength to strength, largely due to these hilly races. I recently completed the Cader Idris fell race in Snowdonia, which at the time felt like the hardest race so far, but afterwards felt like the biggest achievement ever. If you prefer short or long, or grassy or rocky, there is something for everyone.
Thank you to everyone involved in the WFRA for putting on these amazing races and to all the runners for being so friendly and encouraging, I am well and truly now a Mountain Goat.
Hi, I’m Anwen Hockley, I’m 17 now and I started fellrunning when I was 12. My first fell races were the Joe Brown Tuesday Evening Series in North Wales which I absolutely loved (they are still the highlight of my year). Earlier that year we had started going to Parkrun as a family and then I started going to Sunday morning training with Eryri Juniors in the village and met Efa and Mabli, who are now great friends and rivals during races!
I love everything about fellrunning, from the tough races to the brilliant prizes (thanks for the loaf of bread Ellie). I often think that everyone should do fellrunning, that it will solve all problems. I simply don’t understand why anyone would want to run around a track (or even worse, indoors) when they could be in the hills! This is clearly short-sighted of me and fellrunning isn’t for everyone (and if lots of people did suddenly start, I would probably think there were too many people), but I still think that most people would love it if they gave it a go.
As I’ve got older, I’ve been able to do longer, more challenging races like the Welsh 1000m peaks race and Mountain Marathons and they have made me realize that for me, the longer the better. I’m lucky enough to have a dad who is a keen fell runner (u18s often need a parent or guardian on these longer races). I have now done three mountain marathons and a few mini mountain marathons (where we somehow won the MIXV40 category despite me being only 15😂). Doing the OMM with my dad was super fun (most of the time). We were 1st mixed pair and 1st family pair on the B course, despite me running right past one of the checkpoints down a steep hill! I’m really looking forward to this year’s OMM on home territory in North Wales.
Recently I’ve done quite a few short fell races where I’ve been able to run with the seniors. My favourites from last year were probably Elidir Fawr and Ras Tri Chopa’r Eifl, both of which had great views and lovely courses. This year I had a great run at Pipe Dream where I broke the u23 record (alongside Efa) and I’m really looking forward to all upcoming races (it’s Moel Wnion next week!)
As a junior there are a few opportunities to represent Wales in Mountain Running and I’ve been lucky enough to run for Wales twice in the British and Irish mountain running champs. The first time was just outside Newcastle (Northern Ireland) which was a brilliant course with a great descent and as a team (Female U17) we came 3rd! Last year the race was in Ambleside on Todd Crag (a bit too much road but still nice) and we were 3rd again!
One of the great things about fellrunning is the community and the people: it’s so much more fun to train and go to races with friends than on your own. I run a lot with Efa and Mabli and it’s great to be able to train together and keep each other company on long drives to races.
Hi, I’m Efa. I’m 18 years old and 2023 will be my tenth year of running. I was really lucky to go to a small primary school with a headmaster who was very keen on all kinds of sports. He encouraged my twin sister Mabli and I to enter a cross-country race run by the Urdd when we were in year 3. I came ninth in that race and Mabli was 15th and I became convinced that the socks I wore were lucky. For the next year we competed in the few races we could enter at 8 years old (me wearing my lucky socks every time) and begged our parents to let us join our local club, Eryri Harriers the second we turned 9. Through the club, we have been able to run many fell races over the years and it has been my favourite running discipline since the very first Tuesday evening race I ran in Abergwyngregyn. I love all the lovely views and (slightly controversially) running uphill is my absolute favourite thing; the steeper the better! Mabli much prefers the downhill so it’s always been fun to somehow end up nearing the finish at the same time. We have now been part of the Junior club for almost 10 years and I can’t believe that we’ll be moving away soon and unable to run with all the amazing friends we have made over the years.
Recently, we’ve moved up to adult categories in most of our races and it’s so much fun. Everyone has been super welcoming and it’s been nice to run with such a variety of people from all ages and abilities over some new and challenging courses. Last year we spent a weekend camping down in South Wales to run a race on Pen y Fan. It was an amazing experience and a brilliant race in a new environment. In March, we competed with Anwen in a WFRA Welsh and North Wales series counter - Pipe Dream. We were slightly worried about annoying all the adults by holding them back in the single-file snake heading up the pipe. Luckily, everyone was stuck in the same line so all was good. Both Anwen and I set new under 23 and under 18 records but Anwen beat me by a couple of minutes. It didn’t matter though because I won the best prize ever in the raffle-style prize giving: a twelve-pack of toilet roll! It was simultaneously an embarrassing and proud moment.
I really hope that I can continue to do fell running wherever I end up in the future but for now I’m just focused on my rivalries with Mabli and Anwen and any random men I find myself running behind in the current Tuesday evening fell series.
And from Mabli: I was lucky enough to be selected for the Welsh team for the WMRA International U18 mountain running cup in Ambleside in the lake district which was an amazing experience. Everyone was so supportive and the chance to race internationally is definitely a memory that will last forever!
For the future: Last year I (Anwen) did an analysis of women’s participation in fellrunning and I found that the numbers of women taking part were much lower than men (around 36% in the Joe Brown Tuesday Evening Series) and I also haven’t seen any improvement this year (so far) so I would say to all women who are thinking of getting involved then please do - help change these numbers!
Hi I’m Fliss (Felicity) Aries. I’m 61, heading all too rapidly towards 62 and I really started fell running when I was 59. Like lots of people I started out as a road runner, coming to running by chance when my office moved from the town centre (and the shops) to an out of town business park (with no shops), meaning lunch breaks needed an alternative activity. I had pretty much abandoned roads in favour of trails when I joined my first running club, Wellingborough and District AC, after a few years of pottering about on my own or with friends. I’d seen and heard of fell running and liked the idea of it but had little chance to participate living in Northamptonshire and working full time. I had though started to really enjoy running and entering races and progressed, with the support of my Club, to running ultras. Starting these at 56 years old.
Key things to know about me: I am slow, my endurance is good and I’m stubborn as hell but I’m slow (especially on hills); my navigation skills are not good; and I’m scared of heights (drops, ridges, even very steep slopes). I love being outside in natural surroundings and do love a challenge that pushes me physically and mentally. I’m also pretty much willing to try anything once unless there’s a real risk of serious injury or death! (Tryfan Downhill Dash)
Before moving to North Wales after I retired I’d started to dabble with fell running. My parents lived in Derbyshire and when visiting before one Christmas I entered the Bill Fox Gravy Pud race. This was a lovely introduction to a short race: register at a pub, walk up very steep hills and trot down very steep hills, followed by soup and a roll for a fiver. I loved it and wasn’t even last. I then completed the Charnwood Hill race in Leicestershire, a CL race that is also lovely but not the same as running in more traditional fell country and I had a couple of “failures” a DNF at the Trefriw Mill race where I was timed out at a check point and a DQ at Tarren Hendre. At Tarren Hendre I was so far off the back of the field I’d lost sight of the other runners, the clag was low and I got to a point where I wasn’t sure of the route. Rather than get lost I retreated and cut back to the finish on fire roads, telling the organisers what I’d done. I was DQ’d for missing a check point but still got the soup and a roll!
I moved to North Wales in October 2019 with plans to start fell running. I’d transferred clubs to Eryri Harriers, joined the WFRA and was all set to begin my fell running until Covid stepped in. With most of the races cancelled in 2020 I was pleased when I saw that the Llangollen race was happening, albeit in August rather than April and with a reduced field. The reduced field concerned me, was it going to be full of racing snakes and I’d be “holding everyone up” marshalling out on the hills. I emailed the organiser, Warren and received a lovely positive, encouraging response. They were running a recce before the event, which I went along to and I entered the race. As usual I was at the back end of the field but I wasn’t last and I had a great time. I followed that up with the Gladstone 9, where I was last but second in my age category so “featured” in the results in the Fell Runner magazine. Despite there being no third placed runner in the category, showing the absence of older women in these events, I was still ridiculously proud to see my name in print.
Things improved Covid wise in 2021 and I entered the Great Orme race, Llangollen and Gladstone 9 again, the Pipe Dream and Trail by Torchlight, which is one of my favourite short events to date. I maintained my form at the back end of the field but wasn’t causing any real delays to officials and was still having loads of fun, soup and cakes.
In 2022 with things much more back to normal I entered the Pipe Dream and Llangollen plus the North Wales mid-week series. This is 12 races over 12-weeks, on a Tuesday evening, all short and most ridiculously steep. I completed them all, was last or in the last few every time but I had a blast and came away with a bottle of wine for doing all twelve. My navigation hasn’t greatly improved (I struggle with any visual representations whether maps, graphs or diagrams, etc), I went wrong on an out and back one Tuesday (whilst chatting with the back pack) and as a result I pick races where I can be reasonably sure I won’t get lost, so they tend to be the shorter ones. If I’m not sure I’ll offer to marshal to get a feel for the course to help me decide for the next year.
Plans for 2023 include the mid-week series again, Cader Idris, the Pipe Dream (it’s in the village next to where I live) and whatever else catches my eye. I fully expect to be at the back end but I also know I’ll have a great time and be welcomed by everyone. There are races I’d love to be able to do but know I never will, e.g. the Welsh 1000m Peaks, Tryfan Downhill Dash, so I’ll marshal instead.
Memories so far that stick in my mind. The Great Orme race starts at the bottom of a steep bit of road and the first time I did it I was walking within a few yards of the start. The sweeper was alongside me, I was wearing my Eryri Harriers vest and he said, laughing, “you do know you’ve joined a fell running club don’t you?” I grinned and rolled my eyes but I love wearing that vest and thinking of myself as a fell runner, it’s corny but it gives me such a sense of pride and achievement that I’m doing these races at all. The other memories are being advised to bring gardening gloves to wear at the 3 Hills Penmaenmawr (one of the mid-week races and yes you do need them) and the views. Getting to the top of a hill, turning and seeing the beautiful scene laid out below, I mentioned this to a faster runner and they said they don’t have time to look!
For anyone thinking of entering a fell race do it, don’t be put off by the photos of whippet thin (mainly) men racing down hills you see in much of the media. Most people walk up the hills, everyone is so welcoming, they are fantastic value for money and the sense of achievement is real. If you’re still not sure go along to a race to spectate or better still volunteer, you’ll want to enter the next one. There aren’t as many women as men but it doesn’t matter, I’ve met some inspirational ladies in North Wales (especially the handful of older ones who I‘m nearer to in the races but who still finish well ahead of me) and all of them are so encouraging. I just hope I’m still dragging myself up the hills well into my eighties and that there are many more women out there with me.
Hi I’m Brigitte Allen and I was first introduced to fell running a few months ago. A chance comment by a friend about a race they’d entered, and the link they sent to it with pictures of people running up the Sugar Loaf at night caught my attention. I wanted to give it a go too!
Only a few years ago I couldn’t even run down the road! But like a lot of people, when Covid came along, exercise became a more important part of my everyday life and I started Couch to 5k.
Living on the edge of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley you can’t really get away from the hills and it’s not the easiest place to start running, but it is great for getting out on the trails and I love that the Severn Bridge is my local parkrun.
I joined Chepstow Harriers in 2021 through friends who persuaded me it wasn’t just for fast and experienced runners. It’s a very welcoming and social club and the structure and support they provide has helped to increase my running confidence. And through the well organised Club Champs and wider league races, it’s introduced me to a variety of running both on and off road.
Last year I entered the ballot for the London Marathon and I was quite shocked when I got a place for it first time! Training for the marathon was my biggest personal challenge and completely took over my time and life during the summer months. I was so happy when I got to finally run it and make it to the finish line! But when it was over, I felt a bit lost not having such a focused training routine. I know that probably sounds odd! Although I didn’t miss seeing all the same local roads from months of training. I was keen to get a change of scenery and find a way to maintain my motivation and love of running and try something new.
What put me off doing fell running before?
I didn’t really know what fell running meant. It just looked and sounded like something you needed to be experienced in before you could get involved. I’m not great at reading maps, and the photos showing wide open landscapes with no obvious paths and runners in the far distance made me worried that I would just get lost, something I’m quite at doing usually!
Why now?
After a lot of road running, I was keen to try new races and widen my experience of running. One of the Chepstow Harrier Club Champs for last year was Twmbarlwm Terror. While it wasn’t a fell run, it encouraged me to do something completely out of my usual comfort zone while in the company of lots of other people from the club feeling the same as me. After the long climb up, coming down the other side through water filled muddy and rocky gulley’s and fields was exciting and fun. Not words I would have associated with the title of the race!
From there another multi terrain race with the Howling Bull, then Night Sugar, Skirrid, Craig Yr Allt, Cwm Nant-Y-Groes and Hatterall Sledge have got me firmly hooked on continuing.
The reality of doing these are that the recce’s are as much fun as the race itself, but with the comfort of going round with friends who can read a map and point out landmarks and routes to look out for. The recce’s also usually involve a pub at the end! I also went along to an evening fell taster run up the Skirrid mountain organised by Mynydd Du. The night was very foggy but climbing to the top we saw the most amazing cloud inversion. They were great and made sure that everyone stayed together and they had a tail runner. There’s always people happy to share advice and tips, or let you join them, but so far luckily the ones I’ve done have been well marshalled or marked. I’ve got a few pieces of kit and a good coat that stands up to whatever the weather decides to do on the day, and sideways rain and wind does test it!
Why do I enjoy fell running?
Well the hills are hard, and being honest yes I do feel like giving up on the first hard hill climb when my heart is pounding trying to get up it, but I don’t and somehow I do get to the top. The views are amazing when I stop looking long enough at where my feet are going. And the downhills are getting faster as I start to take the brakes off as my confidence is getting there a bit more. I am clumsy though and I do trip (a lot!) but the feeling of flying down the last few fields is brilliant and I’m happy when I get to the end and realise my body and legs got me there. Although my legs like to remind me for a good few days after that they did!
I love the feeling of focusing on the moment and being up high on hills with views across the valleys in places I wouldn’t normally visit or I even knew existed.
I usually get a few nerves before any race on road, trail or fell, but this never lasts long with fell and I just do what I can and walk or slow down whenever I need to and rarely look at my watch or pace, although I probably shouldn’t admit that bit.
My experience of the races I’ve been to has been great, very welcoming, low cost and a great atmosphere in the pub after. I’m in awe of the people that hurtle down the hills at speed - no fear! - while I’m still making my way up. But they’re very kind and make sure there are still some chips or sandwiches left for everyone. Another pleasant surprise for a £5 entry fee, post race food or a drink is usually included!
My experience of running to date has been making the most of a series of opportunities in great company and it never really occurs to me to say no. I just tend to give it a go and I haven’t been disappointed so far! I’d really encourage anyone else thinking about it, to try fell running too.
Stef Francis - Forest of Dean AC.
What makes a middle-aged woman start Fell Running?
I haven’t always been a runner, not even a jogger. No, I was not that interested in exercise apart from the odd step class and ‘the needs must’ bike ride to work before I had a car. Then, three children and a few pounds later I tried running a bit around the mean streets of Northwich, (Cheshire) where we lived at the time. Did I enjoy it? Not really, I just felt it was a cheap way of keeping fit. Then we moved to the Forest of Dean and thanks to some encouragement from other mums at the school I trained for a 10k Race for Life. We went out on Sunday runs, enjoyed the race experience and then signed up for our first Half Marathon in Cardiff in 2009. We suddenly loved running. 2011, my kids were training at the Forest of Dean Athletic Club on a Saturday morning and somebody pointed me in the direction of parkrun. Wow, what a great concept. Friendly, likeminded people who meet every Saturday to race or not race, and eat cake. What’s not to like? Of course, these friendly people then talked me into coming to the Athletics Club training on a Tuesday evening and after some hesitation (an athletic club must be full of Elite runners and I am so slow!) I dragged my best friend, Anna along to the training session. We were made to feel so welcome, everyone encouraged us from the start and we had great fun.
Fast forward to 2013 and the Forest of Dean AC club championship. Jools Boon, well known for his mad ideas and superhuman efforts in all sorts of races (be it Iron Man or the South Wales Traverse) was the championship organiser and of course he would stick a little hill race into the mix. I remember being taking up the valley from Pandy to Longtown and the guys in the car pointing at the Hatterall Ridge, telling me that we would be going up there. (gulp, really?). For June, the weather was rubbish. It was foggy and I just had visions of getting lost in the mist. I know Darrens Dash was not classed as a Fell Race, but it was the closest I had ever been to a hill run. It was an amazing experience. I loved every minute of it. The run through the stream at the start, the climb that didn’t have the views over the valley I had been promised, the run along the ridge and the descent back to Longtown, even the Sting in the Tail up the field to the finish. The great cakes and the friendly atmosphere were an added bonus. Needless to say I was hooked.
I always enjoyed the mountains, my parents were keen hikers and, growing up in Germany, we spend many family holidays (summer and winter) in the Alps. But running up (or mainly walking up and running down) is another level. I bought the kit, including the compass and the maps, which I still struggle to use to their full potential (shush, don’t tell Andy Creber). In 2014 I did quite a few Fell Races, my favourites were probably Tor-y-Foel and Fan-y-Big.
I have done lots of very enjoyable Fell Races since those first few. Some are very memorable for different reasons. At Hatterall Hammer in 2016 we had the worst weather ever. My Strava entry talks of workout and facial at the same time, as the rain was coming sideways and the poor trig point marshals were clinging to the trig to stay upright. The race was cut short because the road finish was not safe. As usual I was slow, but to my surprise my club mates waited, frozen to the spot, at the finish. (The camaraderie in Fell Running is quite unique).
Another memorable one was Cwmdu in the same year. It was the hottest day in May, we were told to carry water and I had a full camel back (I did not do many longer races and my camel back had been repurposed a few months before to carry lager for a friend at a wineathlon – she didn’t like wine). So after a hot climb I took my first sip of water, which tasted disgustingly of stale lager, I could not drink it. My friend who I was running with, duly shared her water and the kind marshal at the last check point gave me his bottle (an advantage of being one of the last runners through). We got back to the finish in one piece, but I made a note never to fill a camel back with lager again.
In 2017 we had a lovely outing to the Steam Bunny Stomp - who gave that race a cute name? Nothing cute about it!! And the 4 FODAC runners who took part all came away with a category prize. Needless to say, we enjoyed that one.
I love the Llanthony Show race. Talking of proper grass roots fell running. Isn’t that how it started? At country shows. We had a great day out with the whole family and lots of friends from FODAC.
My biggest Fell Running achievement to date is the 2017 Llanbedr to Blaenavon race. I ran with a friend, and we only just made the cut off at Llanfoist but we finished it and loved it. It was tough but it was a massive achievement and much more enjoyable than any of the 4 road marathons I did (even though it took about the same time). I tried again in 2019 but had to stop at Llanfoist as I badly sprained my ankle in a rabbit hole on the descent from Sugar Loaf. But even hobbling down Sugar Loaf and through Abergavenny I was much faster than in 2017. So, if my training is going well in the next two months I will try again. I’ve got a bone to pick!!!
Other favourite races include Waun Fach, Sugar Loaf Winter race, the Skirrid (even the new route, although I was picking gorse spikes out of my leggings with tweezers after the sliding descent on this one. The prize for being first in my age category – out of two - made up for it) and the Kymin Winter Race.
What’s next, you may ask. I am hoping to spend many more hours in the hills. I need to get better at descending. I am a scaredy cat when it comes to running downhill, I enjoy it, but I do worry about falling over. I know I need to disengage the brain… Does anyone fancy organising an uphill/downhill relay? I’d happily do the uphill.
I would just like to close my ramblings with a big thank you to everyone involved in Welsh Fell Running and the warm welcome I have received at all the races I have been to.
I do understand why women find Fell Running intimidating and I can see barriers such as the awkward time of races on Saturday afternoons, when lots of younger women may have family commitments, or the fear of navigation and getting lost in bad weather. I still don’t go to a race if the weather is too bad as my navigation skills are still very wobbly, but all I can say is try it out and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the friendly atmosphere. Ladies, don’t feel intimidated by gnarly old men!
Hi, I’m Niki. I’m 56 years old (almost), and I’m an addict. Mountains, running and racing have pretty much been my life for the last 30 years (or since I binned off booze, bad boyfriends and Benson & Hedges in my 20s). I traded the dodgy addictions for rock climbing in my 30s, and the rock climbing (which had its dodgy moments) for running in my 40s.
I blame Chepstow Harriers. They fed my running addiction by being friendly, welcoming, and above all, racing a lot. I got into running (very slowly and without a clue) in my early 20s to help me give up the weed, and it stuck, but it wasn’t until I joined Chepstow Harriers that I became a bit more serious about it. The really fantastic thing about this running club, apart from its warm and cuddly (in the main) people, was the variety of terrain they ran on – road, grass, mud, track, trails – and wait for it – fells!
I do like a hill. My parents had a ‘wedding fund’ for my sister and I. My sister used it for its intended purpose. I asked if I could use mine to do the Everest Marathon. Thankfully they agreed (I bullied them hard). That was in 1995, and I’ve been addicted to walking and running up mountains ever since. It even led to a 23 year career as a trek leader/Operations Manager, bumbling up several big lumps and getting paid for the privilege (I still work there).
When a Harrier suggested I join them on a jolly jaunt up Waun Fach about 14 years ago – my first ever fell race, I said “yeah, why not”. At the time there only seemed to be two women fell racing in South Wales and both were members of Chepstow Harriers – Sue Ashton and Gill Scott. They always seemed to win stuff which I thought was pretty cool. Even though I’m sure I had a pretty crap run I still came away with a bottle of beer – as a prize. I was probably the last women in the race, but I had won a prize, and I was delighted, and therefore hooked on fell racing. I would come home, proudly producing my winnings, and boasting of my age category achievements – leaving out the minor fact that I was the only one in my age category and had come last (detail, detail…)
My first experience of fell racing was overwhelming positive and all my subsequent ones with this niche and wonderful sport have been likewise. There’s always a rather marvellous laid back atmosphere to fell races, with super friendly, like-minded folk, who just love nothing more than to spend their Saturday afternoons at 2pm (why always 2pm? Nobody knows) blowing out of their backsides up an impossibly steep incline and hurtling down it like they are being chased by a pack of rabid hyenas. There’s almost always tea and buns afterwards and prizes – and all this for less than the cost of 2 cappucinos from Coffee #1. The afterglow you feel after doing one of these races is incredible and keeps you coming back for more.
Some folk, especially women, worry if they are fit enough, strong enough, navigationally savvy enough, not male enough, to do a fell race. I’ve never had to open/read a map on a fell race in the 14 years I’ve been doing it (probably explains a few ‘moments’ on the hills). The winter hill races are often reasonably well marked, and if you’re worried, you can either do a recce (or several), or find a navigationally competent person to buddy up with (make sure they don’t abandon you in the heat of competition), or go on a map reading course. It’s fun, it’s fabulous, it’s (almost) free – and you may just become a fellow addict. The scenery is infinity better than your average road 10k, and instead of obsessing about your mile splits, you can obsess about whether or not you’re going to get a bramble up your backside if you fall over – which is a less boring thing to consider.
The highlight of my fell running career (brag alert) was being selected to run for Wales in the Snowdon International race. It was an honour to be asked and to compete – but not quite as thrilling as winning that bottle of beer for coming last in my first ever fell race. Go on – try it – you might just get to represent your country – and if not, there’s almost certainly free tea and biscuits to be had.
My name is Amy Freeman, I’m 38 and I live in the Forest of Dean. I started running 11 years ago as a way to improve my fitness for my then-favourite sport – climbing. I’ve always been active but at school was decidedly mediocre in the speed department so assumed running just wasn’t for me. When I did pick it up in my late 20s, I was initially running on the road and built up distance from 5k to a half marathon. I was surprised to find that whilst I still wasn’t fast, I fared better in the longer distances than I ever thought I would. However, I wasn’t that keen…until I ran my first fell race!
A friend was looking for a partner in a mini mountain marathon (not a marathon, but 4 hours of off road running, navigating to checkpoints to gain points) in the Lake District. My half mara had given me some running confidence and I had some basic experience with a map and compass, so I agreed to join them. The route was in the hills behind Coniston. The climbs were tough, we got totally covered in bog, barely found any of the checkpoints and came in second last but had an amazing time! I loved the thrill of running over rough terrain, the challenge of route finding and the freedom of moving in the mountains. The boredom I felt when road-running was replaced by the excitement of adventure and as we plunged down a tussocky hillside towards the finish (in a desperate attempt to not be timed out) I was grinning from ear to ear and couldn’t wait to do more.
I was living in Lancashire at the time, so joined my local running club which had an off-road contingent. I was the only female on the first few runs which made me a bit nervous but the group were incredibly welcoming and I spent the next few years with them running over the local moors twice a week, in all weather and all seasons. I was enthralled by their stories of different race routes and extreme distances and made some great friends. I got fitter, stronger and, best of all, it didn’t seem like hard work as I was having so much fun. The thrill and adventure I’d felt running in the Coniston hills was there at nearly every run and I was hooked. I started entering more fell races, loving that rather than the pomp, circumstance and £50 entrance fee of a popular road race, a fell race has a friendlier, grass roots approach and is more like £5 – often with a pie, cake or beer thrown in at the end. I upped the distances I ran and discovered that whilst I was still not a sprinter, I could keep running for a long time and began to be able to hold my own on the fells, especially on climbs.
I built up to ultra distances, running the Highland Fling and the Ultra Tour of the Peak District in 2015 and then the Lakeland 100 in 2016. My navigation skills also improved by taking on the Great Lakeland 3 Day mountain marathon as a solo competitor twice. I was amazed that my “non-running” body turned out to be able to take on and in some cases even do well at these events, and it was an empowering feeling. Shortly after, a running club mate mentioned to me that there was yet to be a female club member to complete a Bob Graham round, and I decided to see if I could change that.
The Bob Graham is a 24 hr running challenge, taking in the 42 highest peaks of the Lake District. A big and rather daunting undertaking, so I put climbing on the back burner, plunged into training and spent the next 18 months recceing the route with club mates, meeting other attemptees via social media for training runs and supporting other people’s rounds. It was amazing to spend so much time in such a breathtaking place and to be inspired and motivated by the efforts of those I met. Rounds like this are rarely a solo affair, all the training, planning and support required needs a team and I found myself part of a brilliant community whilst having a blast running in the hills with friends. The round itself was the icing on the cake. I set off early evening on a Friday in May and everything fell into place. My legs felt strong, I knew the route well and I had stellar support from pacers and road crew. The amount of people willing to give up their time to help was humbling and this willingness to support and uplift is something I’ve found throughout the sport. There were plenty of rough parts to my round, but it was overridingly magical and an experience that will stay with me forever – a stunning sunrise over Bow Fell, hours of jokes and chat with pacers as the miles passed, hilarious renditions of motivational 80’s training montage songs and the shared camaraderie of being on this mission together. I finished in 23hrs 21 minutes; the sub-24hr time making my round official and me a member of the Bob Graham club.
I used the fitness I’d built up during the BG training to race the following summer; coming 1st lady in the Gorce Ultra, a 105km mountain race in Poland, and a month later managing to sneak onto my first and only outright podium by coming 3rd overall in the Pembrokeshire Coastal 100 miler - which still seems totally bonkers. Our human bodies, be they male or female, are capable of so much more than we think.
Life and Covid put running in the back seat for the past few years, but a move to the Forest of Dean and getting my running (and climbing) shoes on to explore the stunning hills of South Wales have rekindled the fell bug. I have (of course!) joined my new local running club and the people I’ve met and races I’ve run over the past few months have been brilliant. The highlight so far has been the Night Sugar race a few weeks ago, a ridiculously fun route with a super strong 45% female turnout (how cool!) and I’m excited to learn new training and race routes, meet new people and get involved with the fell running community here…. see you on The Skirrid start line in a few weeks!
Flora Beverley took part in her first fell race - the Blorenge, and posted a video blog shortly after. See the video here:
Bethan Logan.
A member of the Brecon Beacons based Mynydd Du fell running club.
I live at the foot of the Black Mountains, in Talgarth, and I’m 35. I have been running since I was a teenager, and as I grew up in Newport, and lived next to local landmark, ‘the fourteen locks’, I actually had the rare advantage of being able to do hill reps on the canal. I am one of those strange people who actually enjoys hill reps, but I definitely wouldn’t have classed myself as a fell runner, and I think my first pair of running shoes were from the lost property bin, which didn’t do my knees any favours! I am not a purist though, and I think running is running, whether it is in the mountains, around the block, along the canal, whatever, if you go running then in my books, you are a runner.
I have carried that ethos with me since then and thrown myself at whichever challenge I fancied the look of, from a few road marathons, in Bonn, Edinburgh and the infamous Snowdon Marathon, to an event which actually earnt me some kudos in the fell running community – The High Peak Marathon. I went to Sheffield University and joined the High Peak Club, Sheffield’s answer to all things mountain related. This was a game changer for me, I had been a Scout (first year they let girls in, coincidentally), which got me to Eryri once as well as a few yomps around the Brecon Beacons. But with the HPC we would all pile into a minibus amongst huge piles of kit and head to a bunkhouse in one of the most amazing mountainous areas of the UK to spend the weekend scrambling, climbing, biking and eating copious amounts of biscuits from the Cash and Carry. For a mere £50 a time I spent some awesome weekends in the Lake District, North Wales and the Cairngorms, seizing opportunities I simply had never had before and paving the way for a career in the outdoors and a lifelong love of the mountains.
Black Mountains Trail Race 2019 from Crickhowell - I came in 3rd woman. Photo taken by Tosh Simpkin.
Anyway, back to the High Peak Marathon, an event organised every year by the HPC – a 42 mile foray around the Edale skyline, taking in every crag and peat bog the Peak District has to offer – a self-navigation event completed in a team of 4, in early March. Oh, and you start in the middle of the night. The HPC enter a running and walking team every year and since being in Sheffield I had spent a fair bit of time running about in the hills so I fancied my chances of joining the running team. Which I did, myself and 3 blokes, which I honestly did not even think about at the time. The only slight point of jealousy came from the fact the men could stop for a pee a lot more easily and I didn’t want to slow them down so I managed the entire 11 hours only stopping once, not the best! We didn’t win and I am pretty sure the Dark Peak Ladies.
A team passed us at some point, much to my delight, a raging feminist even then. It wasn’t me who slowed us down either, just saying. The rules are you have to stick together at all costs and one member of the team had a pre-existing ankle injury which flared up two thirds in so we had to slow to a walk for the last quarter. But we completed, exhausted and happy, and I had caught the bug for extreme days (or nights) out in the hills.
Me and my partner Sarah Christensen walking in to our last checkpoint of the Brecon Beacons Ultra in 2019 after deciding to retire due to knee issues. Photo taken by Tosh Simpkin.
After I graduated, I decided to abandon my degree in German and History and become an outdoor instructor. I just couldn’t imagine staying cooped up in a library, school or museum gathering dust when there was a whole world of mountains to explore! It was a good move and one which has led me to 12 years and counting of joyful years spent in rivers, on lakes, up hills, underground and in cafés (essential part of being an instructor) across the UK. All the while a pair or two of smelly trainers have always lived in the van, ready to be deployed to chase after a group who’ve gone the wrong way, fit in a sneaky run on the way home or make the most of a day off in a new area. I moved to the Lake District a few years ago to work for The Bendrigg Trust for a year and joined the Helm Hill runners for a brief spell, which was great, but I still found myself being introduced as ‘new to fell running’. I thought, hang on, how many hills do you have to run up to be a fell runner then? I’ve done the High Peak Marathon don’t you know. But like with any sport, there will always be different levels of extremes. I don’t like to take things too seriously, it is all about the enjoyment for me and I am happy that if somebody suggests an activity I can say, yes, and join in. You don’t have to be an expert or an extreme, serious runner to be able to say yes, you just need to have some idea of what you are getting yourself into, a few bits of kit to look after yourself and the sense to turn back or change the plan if it’s not going so well. And that’s what I like about running. I think you can still be a fell runner one day and a road runner the next – it’s all running after all, it’s all putting one foot in front of the other and getting out there. Some days I eat cereal for breakfast, some days I eat toast, am I still somebody who eats toast for breakfast? Yes, I am.
Me and teammate Rachel Tate standing on a muddy podium at the OMM in 2019 in Largs, Scotland after winning the female team category on the B Course. Coincidentally we had to ask to stand on the podium because it was 'just' the female prize.
And for me, being able to say yes has opened the doors to a whole world of different events, whether they went well or not. Map reading has helped and having a good idea of weather conditions on the hills, but I have learned all of this through experience and getting it wrong sometimes (in a safe, controlled environment of course – disclaimer!). There was the infamous mis-punch incident in my first attempt of the OMM when it was in the Black Mountains in 2018 followed by a score to settle when it moved up to Ayreshire the next year and me and my teammate managed to steal the female win on the B course. There was also a decision I still stand by as solid for me and my partner to abort the Brecon Beacons Ultra, when we were a mere 7 miles from the end, due to failing joints which were not desperate but were only going to get worse if we continued. This was also followed by a female win at the 2 day Saunders event in the Howgills the following year for us so (I have just realised), a pattern emerges!
So I think if you are put off by any of the mysterious quirks of fell running, or mountain running, or trail running, or whatever you want to call it, that would be my advice, if somebody suggests leaving the road behind for a bit and setting off on a track, or a footpath, or even the open fell, it is not so different, there is in fact a lovely community of fell runners who are keen for more mad people to join them and will happily discuss for hours the perks of one trail shoe over the next and what’s better, a bum bag or a hydration pack.
Flora Gunner.
A Croft Ambrey club member and relatively new to running/fell running.
Hi, my name is Flora Gunner, I'm 59 years of age and started running around 5 years ago. I had put on weight following chemotherapy and started jogging around the village where we live to try and get a bit fitter. At first, I didn't enjoy it very much, but my husband Gary encouraged me to try a Park Run and I joined Croft Ambrey Running Club where he was already a member.
It wasn't until my first proper race in Croft's 2018 Summer Handicap Series that I really started to enjoy my running.
My first races were Club and Park Runs but Gary is a keen fell runner and when I went with him to some races I soon started to enjoy the freedom and fantastic views when running on the hills.
Now I normally train 2 or 3 times a week usually covering 30 to 35 miles of steady running, typically this will be a couple of 10 mile runs with a longer run of around 13 miles. I try and race at the weekend if I can find a fell or off-road race.
One of the most memorable races in my early days of running was the 42km Shropshire Hills Mammothan back in April 2019. Everything went wrong, I got lost and didn't have enough food or water with me, I thought about pulling out but kept going and finished in 7 hours 7 minutes. I learnt a lot on that run!
I've been fortunate with injuries, in 2019 I suffered pain behind my knee which my doctor said was Baker's Cyst, it didn't stop me running and has fortunately cleared up, hopefully it won't come back!
I enjoy running, particularly fell running as it gets me to different places that I would not otherwise see also meeting new people and making new friends.
This year I have had quite a busy time racing most weekends these are a few of the races I have taken part in:
9th January 2022. Mynydd LLangors /Grim Reaper, a short race of just 3 miles but very muddy and slippery from start to finish,it took me 38 minutes 11 seconds and I came in 2nd FV50.
5 & 6th February. The Shropshire Weekend is made up of the short Titterstone Clee Race on the Saturday, 2.5 miles with 751 ft of climb, followed by the Long Myndd Valleys on Sunday, a tough 11.5miles with 4501 feet of climb. After Saturday's run in 32 minutes 45 seconds, I was happy with my Sunday run in a high-class field and finished with a combined time of 3,22.51. This was the final round of the Shropshire Winter series in which I managed to complete all 6 races finishing 1st FV55 for the series.
2nd April. Devil's Staircase Ultra, 50km with 4300 feet of climb, it was my longest race so far and we ran through snow and rain, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I finished in 6hrs 12 mins, 3rd lady.
7th May. Cwmdu 9.9 miles with 3020 feet of climb, I lost my way and ran a mile extra but finished 2nd FV55 in 2.07.42.
18th June. Coity Race, 5.75 miles with1020 ft of climb, a great race with nice runnable hills. the pain in my knee returned but I managed I managed to avoid last place finishing in 1.01.17.
10th July. Four Fans over 12 miles with3700 feet of climb. I managed to find my way around on a very hot day finishing 2nd Lady in 3.21.48.
6th August. Llanthony Show race, held in conjunction with the village show. A short but tough race over 3.9 miles with 1138ft of climb. Finishing 3rd FV50.
17th September. Black Mountains fell race. This year a British Championship round over 18miles with 5341 ft of climb. I was nervous about running against some of the best runners in the country and not being able to make the cut-off times. Fortunately, I didn't get lost and managed to finish 2nd FV 55 in 4.15.06.
18th September. Brown Clee Burn. My legs were a bit tired after yesterday's race, but I decided to run as it was a round of the Croft Ambrey club Championship, the 11km of good running over the highest hill in Shopshire had some fantastic views on the descent. I finished in 1.10.46.
30 October. Clwydian Hills race, 9 miles 300ft climb. A great race, quite challenging and slippery going downhill, tricky uphill on the rocks. At least I didn't get lost this yer and managed to finish 2nd FV50 in 2.08.22.
5th November. Sugar Loaf, 5.80 miles1598 ft of climb, a great short race and we managed to miss the rain. I finished 3rd FV50 in1.07.21.
Lou Osborn.
An experienced fell runner from Keswick who has been taking part in fell races since 1994.
Winner of Black Mountains Fell Race 2022.
Hi all, my name is Lou Osborn and I recently won the British Champs race ‘Black Mountains’ in September 2022. Black Mountains is a long fell race which was part of the 2022 British Championship series. It was a beautiful, tough route with several energy sapping climbs but the weather was great on the day and luckily for me, my navigation was good and my body stayed in one piece! The organiser, Paul Dodds, asked me to write a bit about myself and fell running and hopefully it may inspire other women to take up our sport.
I started running on the fells when I moved to Cumbria when I was 17 years old, before then, I had never known such a sport existed. I was at college in Ambleside and every one I knew either ran on the fells or climbed on the crags. I was already an extremely keen rock climber so started running on the fells to join everyone else.
I entered my first race in 1994 in a pair of trainers aged 22. The race was a short steep route up a fell called Gunson Knot in Langdale. I finished 2nd from last but absolutely loved it. I then entered another race – Dalehead in Borrowdale, another short steep blast up and down and still in a pair of Nike trainers. I got a bit lost on the way down and a fellow competitor stopped and guided me back down to the path. That kind runner was from Keswick AC and persuaded me first to buy a pair of fell shoes and second to join Keswick AC. He is still a very close friend to this day and now comes to marshall at races that I organise!
After those 1st 2 races and having joined Keswick AC, my 3rd race was taking part in a relay – the Ian Hodgson Relay in Patterdale. Runners complete a leg of the relay in pairs and there are 8 runners to your team. I ran the 1st leg with another lady and absolutely loved it – we came way down the field but I was hooked. The race atmosphere, excitement and friendships that were formed were incredible. Everyone was so friendly and I met so many like minded people. Some were super elite athletes who were racing at the sharp end and some like me, were just starting out and were making up the back end of the field. We all went to the pub after the event and sat around together, swapping stories of the day and enjoying the atmosphere.
Since 1994, I have competed in thousands of races. I trained regularly with my club and enjoyed that just as much as the racing. I have been lucky and have competed for Great Britain, have won the British Championship 3 times and have won the World Masters Mountain Running Champs twice (most recently 2 weeks before the Black mountains race). I have loved competing at the elite end of the field but there have been times when I haven’t been fast, for whatever reason and I have been back at the back of the field but I enjoy that just as much. You still get to race with the same people and see them all before and after the race and the atmosphere is still the same – it just takes you a little bit longer to complete the course!
Fell running for me is so simple, all you need is a pair of fell shoes and some running clothing. Within 5 minutes of leaving a car park or road, you are out on the fells away from everyone, just enjoying the wide open countryside. I often run with friends and our dogs and could honestly not think of anything else that I would prefer to be doing. I am so so glad that I discovered the sport when I did – it has taken me to so many fantastic places and I have formed so many friendships over the years with other runners. I now organise around 15 or so races a year for my partner’s company – Kong Running in Keswick. This has allowed me to give something back to the sport which feels good. After 28 years of enjoying other people’s races, it’s time to put something on for everyone else to enjoy.
If you are trying to decide whether to give fell running a go, I would say, just go for it, join a club (you do NOT have to be fast to run for a club!) and look forward to many happy times!
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