EQUIPMENT
Fell Running Safety Equipment
Fell running by its very nature puts you in isolated mountainous or hilly areas that are susceptible to adverse weather conditions.
All runners who participate should be aware of the dangers this can present and ensure that they take relevant steps to ensure they are protected against the elements and have the necessary mountain craft skills to ensure they can return safely. It is not only your own safety you are putting at risk if you do not protect yourself, it may well be the safety of fellow competitors.
Below is an extract from Fell Runners Association Rules regarding equipment that should be carried on all fell races and is mandatory on all Category A Long and Medium races.
Competitors should arrive at races prepared to carry any or all of the following equipment:
a) Windproof whole body cover.
b) Other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions.
c) Map and compass suitable for navigating the course.
d) Whistle.
e) Emergency food (long races).
These requirements constitute "best practice" and are mandatory at all Category A Long and Medium races.
However any race organiser is free to impose additional safety requirements (e.g. waterproof as distinct from windproof whole body cover) and competitors must be prepared to accept such requirements as a condition of race entry
A number of races in which we compete during our club Fell Championships are local, short races were navigational skills and previous fell running experience are not compulsory, however regardless of this, we should during these races ensure that we have available full body windproof protection (preferably a waterproof jacket). These can be carried in a ‘bumbag’.
Last year we had bad weather prior to and during races in Holcombe and Rochdale and the organisers have the right to refuse entry into the race to any person who are not carrying such equipment.
There will be a number of Medium races and one Long race in the new season were the full safety kit will be a condition of entry and must be carried.
Purchasing Fell Equipment
There are numerous outlets that can give sound advice regarding what equipment to buy e.g. Pete Bland Sports, Running Bear, Up & Running, Planet Fear and they have websites to look at. A good starting point for anyone would be the Fell Runners Association website ( www.fellrunners.org ). Have a look at the forum to see what other runners choose to wear or recommend.
In brief, pertex is an ideal windproof material and it is light and easily carried in a bumbag. Running Bear (Alderley Edge) make their own brand of pertex kit which is very reasonably priced. Montane also make decent windproofs at a good price.
Some waterproof kit is lightweight too e.g. Montane, Inov8, any Goretex Paclite kit, and if you want to invest in some OMM or Haglofs be prepared to shell out quite a bit more. Shop around as prices vary.
Bumbags cost between about £10-20 and the most popular ones are Pete Blands own or the OMM and Inov8 ones.
A decent base layer, hat and gloves would be a good investment too to put in the bag as it can be much colder than expected on the hilltops.
If anyone would be interested in some basic navigational skills input, please let me know as I can arrange this at the club.
The FRA run weekend courses at a reasonable cost to cover basic navigation skills for fell runners.
Anyone interested in joining the FRA can do so via the above website for £12.00 a year, and for that you get a fell calendar, quarterly Fellrunner mag and discount at most outlets selling fell kit.
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