Runners
The philosophy of fell running is that you the competitor are responsible for your own safety and that you enter a race with this understanding and that you equip and conduct yourself accordingly.
It is therefore essential that you must have appropriate experience in the conditions that may be encountered so that you can manage your own safety.
Full Kit List
- Waterproof/windproof top
- Waterproof/windproof legs
- Hat
- Gloves
- Compass
- Whistle
- Food and Drink as needed for the conditions
- Own map of race route (optional - maps are provided but are often poor)
- Something to carry above in if not needed (Bumbag/Rucksack)
You’ll need to take all of the above with you to the race - even if it looks dry when you leave home. At the race the Race Organiser (RO) will make a decision as to what you need to take with you. When you know what kit you must take with you, you then have to make a decision as to what to wear and what to pack. If like most fell runners, you'll be pondering this right up to the start!
Most fell runners stash all their kit they’re not wearing into a ‘bumbag’ but some use a hydration sack (small rucksack designed to carry minimal gear and a water bladder).
Sometimes you’ll carry nothing at all, your compass and map if you need them, can go in a pocket.
Footwear
Perhaps the most important piece of equipment are the shoes you wear. Pictured below are the Inov-8 X-Talons. The main characteristics of a good 'fell' shoe:
The grip is provided by widely spaced studs - these clog up with mud less than shoes with treads or closely grouped studs.
There is less mid-sole so they have less cushioning but your feet are in closer contact with the ground for a better feel of the terrain underneath.
The shoe fits the shape of your foot more snugly so your feet do not move around inside the shoes, giving you better control when traversing and descending.
Choosing waterproof tops
The governing body for all the races within this website (WFRA) states:
“Adequate whole body cover, e.g. windproof or waterproof top and legging to give protection against the effects of wind chill, hat and gloves to protect you against hypothermia or heat exhaustion/ dehydration in the severest conditions likely on the day.”
No where is it stated that it needs be made from breathable fabric like Gore-Tex/Event etc. Something cheap is fine
It is perhaps best to take both a windproof top and a waterproof top to the races. Windproof tops like those made from ‘quantum pertex’ can be folded up to fit in the palm of your hand. This kind of top is ideal - it will keep you warm in a chilly wind – but it’s not a lot of good if it’s raining hard.
For very wet conditions you'll need a waterproof. There isn't a lot of point using an expensive Gore-tex winter walking waterproof for a fell race. For those that have run on the hills in bad weather, you will know that there is no garment that will keep you dry as when you sweat the moisture will just end up getting you wet from the inside. So called breathable fabrics do cut down on moisture trapped inside but for most runners they make little difference when running hard in a race.The purpose of a shell type windproof garment is to cut down on wind chill - It’s all about being as comfortable as you can when wet.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that for a short fell race like Craig Yr Allt you won’t need the full kit. The RO may demand it if the weather is bad and you may well end up being glad you wore it! It’s very easy to become hypothermic if you need to slow down or walk for some reason. Hypothermia kills more people in the hills than anything else.
WFRA races are categorised in terms of their technical difficulty with Category ‘A’ being the highest technical grade requiring previous fellrunning experience and a good level of fitness as the race is likely to cross high, exposed and possibly remote mountain terrain where ‘sound mountain judgement’ will be required.
- Category A: average not less than 50 metres of climb per kilometre
- Category B: average not less than 25 metres of climb per kilometre
- Category C: average not less than 20 metres of climb per kilometre
Also in terms of length:
- L (long): Race is 20 kilometres or over
- M (medium): Race is over 10 kilometres but less than 20
- S (short): Race is 10 kilometres or less
Some additional safety information can be displayed:
- ER = Fell running experience required – usually significant levels of experience.
- NS = Navigational Skills required – these are traditional skills using map and compass. The use of electronic devices for navigation purposes is strongly discouraged as it is against the ethos of the sport. Such devices are prohibited by many race organisers
- LK = Local Knowledge an advantage
- PM = Partially Marked
Eg: Tour of Torpantau AM, ER/NS/LK - fell racing experience required, navigational skills needed and worth doing a recce beforehand.
A Welsh Fell Runners Association (WFRA) fell race is one registered by the WFRA.
Factors including weather and terrain mean that fell racing takes place in a hazardous environment. Competitors must have appropriate experience in the conditions that may be encountered so that they can manage their own safety.
The Race Organiser (RO) has a duty of care to competitors but competitors must accept that race monitoring arrangements, e.g. marshals and checkpoint recording are primarily designed to ensure ‘fair competition’ and must not be considered a ‘safety net’.
A competitor enters a race on the understanding that they are responsible for their own safety. The competitor must obey all instructions from the RO and officials and must equip and conduct themself accordingly.
The WFRA’s Requirements for Fell Races comprises:
- Safety rules for competitors
- A set of requirements, including rules for competition, which Race Organisers are required to uphold (these are described in the Race Organisers' Handbook)
Breach of a rule by a competitor may result in disqualification from future WFRA (and FRA licensed) races for a period determined by the WFRA Committee.
RO’s are required to organise their races in accordance with the WFRA’s requirements. If requirements are not met, the WFRA may withdraw insurance cover for a particular race or impose other sanctions.
As a condition for entering any WFRA race, the competitor shall:
- comply with these safety rules and any additional race specific safety rules imposed by the Race Organiser (RO).
- follow the procedures described by the RO if they fail to start or if they abandon the race.
- obey all instructions from race officials.
- be aware of the serious disabling consequences of hypothermia, dehydration and heat exhaustion and act appropriately during the race.
- carry sufficient kit, e.g. full body and leg cover which gives protection from the effects of wind chill and safety equipment, (including food and drink) throughout the race to be able to navigate and provide protection from hypothermia, or dehydration and heat in the worst foreseeable weather conditions during the race, noting that rescue could take a long time.
- take note of the length and severity of the race and local weather forecast for the day and judge their capabilities accordingly.
- consider how any health impairments may jeopardise their safety or of others and act accordingly.
- take specific note of RO’s information on the nature of the terrain on the race route, checkpoints to be visited or course to be followed and any restrictions to route choice.
- have the skills, experience and equipment required to comply with the RO’s navigation and safety requirements, having assessed conditions on the day noting that the use of GPS devices for navigational purposes is prohibited.
- take reasonable care not to create hazards that may cause harm to other people and support anyone in need of assistance, even if it means abandoning their race.
The use of GPS devices for navigational purposes is not commensurate with the ethos of our sport. The use of such devices is no different from flagging the whole route of any race for someone using such a device. GPS track use takes away a fundamental element of our sport – that of route choice and finding your own way using mountain-craft, (as well as map and compass).
Fellrunning is a simple sport - you have some hills and some checkpoints to visit. You use your skill and fitness to get between these points as fast as possible. Sometimes the RO flags it if they want you to go a certain way, or gives specific instructions. Other than that, it is up to the runner - that is fellrunning.
The widespread use of GPS devices for navigational purposes threatens the fundamentals of our sport.
At WFRA registered races, you are allowed to:
- wear a watch/ carry a device with GPS functionality
- record your route using such a device
- have distance travelled displayed
- use an altimeter
In an emergency: You are, of course, allowed to use a GPS device to navigate yourself to safety, but must declare yourself as a ‘non-competitive’ participant at the finish.
You are not allowed to:
- follow a pre-loaded GPS (‘breadcrumb’) route
- use a GPS device which displays a map or load checkpoints onto the GPS device.
Please see the following summarised safety requirements for competitors noting that:
- The Race Organiser (RO) has a duty of care to competitors but competitors must accept that race monitoring arrangements, e.g. marshals and checkpoint recording are primarily designed to ensure ‘fair competition’ and must not be considered a ‘safety net’.
- No individual has an absolute right to enter a WFRA registered race - all competitors must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the RO that they have an appropriate level of skills and experience to complete the race safely and in a reasonable time, and of course have the appropriate kit/ equipment. ROs have been instructed to decline entry to those who cannot meet this requirement.
- A competitor enters a race on the understanding that they are responsible for their own safety. The competitor must obey all instructions from the RO and officials and must equip and conduct themself accordingly.
- Whilst fell racing is clearly a competitive sport, it remains essential that all competitors treat others, whether they be other competitors, marshals, race volunteers and members of the public with courtesy and due respect. Competitors are expected to go to the aid of any individual in distress, even if this means forfeiting their race.
- All competitors are expected to treat the countryside, property and livestock with respect. For the avoidance of doubt, it is contrary to the sport for any competitor to cross and/ or damage any wall or fence except by means of a stile, gate or other reasonable crossing point (unless explicitly advised by the RO).
- A deliberate or accidental breach of any rule or failure to follow an instruction from a Race Organiser may result in a competitor being disqualified from future WFRA (and FRA licensed) races for a period determined by the WFRA Committee (or a disciplinary panel convened by it).
The WFRA aims to ensure a welcoming and equal space for everyone involved in the sport of fell running. All WFRA members, and all who participate in WFRA events must abide by the WFRA Code of Conduct. This includes:
- Taking primary responsibility for their own safety, upholding the values of fair and sporting competition, complying with the race Safety Requirements, and treating the countryside with respect.
- Avoiding abusive, racist or inappropriately sexual language or behaviour, and challenging inappropriate language or behaviour by others.
- Behaving with respect, dignity, and courtesy to others, including fellow competitors, marshals and officials.
- Avoiding inappropriate physical contact with other runners.
- Maintaining high standards of behaviour on WFRA and related media. If you're uncertain whether something is appropriate - don't post it.
In the event of an incident occurring during a race, for example an accident, damage to property, an injury or indeed anything which concerns you, please report this to the Race Organiser or other race official either on the day or as soon as practicable afterwards. The rule of thumb is, the more serious the incident, the more promptly it should be reported. In certain circumstances such incidents may need to be reported to the police, another emergency service or relevant authority.