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Fell Running
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Is there anywhere I can get more info ?
The magazines are packed full of contributed articles that are much more interesting than the boring repetitive stuff that you get in some running magazines. And there's hardly any adverts in them.
Moorman, I think you should practise with map & compass first, you need the first principles before making the most of a GPS (recognising as a bloke you'll be dying to get your hands on such a gadget). If you're unsure you could practise on the routes you already know, just to see how the contours etc on the map and compass bearings relate to what you recognise. (sometimes still have to check the difference between footpath and parish boundaries!)
You're welcome to my GPS anyhow, still in its box and likely to stay there, just another thing to carry. I have several copies of the OS maps for each section of the Lakes, take the most battered version in bad weather, or photocopy/laminate section I need. Feel pretty lost without the them I must admit, except on my most local routes.
I recently got a new Lowe Alpine Peak Runner bum bag, it's excellent and very comfortable, drinks compartments either side which can be secured without bouncing. I can get windproof top, spare thermal, food, map, small 1st aid kit into it, if it's dry I can strap the map to the outside where it's easy to access. I always take drink as many routes there's no water and I drink a lot whilst running.
If you use a backpack it's harder to get stuff in and out as you're moving along, I would suggest you only need one of these for carrying more than a day's worth of kit.
I wore fell shoes (Walshes)for the first time and was very disappointed with them. I kept twisting over as the ground was so very uneven at times and didn't feel they gave any support at all. Maybe, the ground was too hard for them today and I should save them for winter wet off road runs, what do others find?
Well done on the Beast anyway!
Support (and cushioning) is probably the last thing that you want in an off-road shoe because you need the flexibility to be able to use your feet on the terrain. You also need to be very close to the ground in order to reduce the risk of turning an ankle.
What you need to do is build up the strength in your ankles by practising in them beforehand. I remember the first time I ran off-road my ankles were aching and were quite red with broken capiliaries. It'll only take a few runs though before you've gain the strength that you're missing at the moment.
Once you get used to Walshes though, you won't want to wear anything else - I even have an old pair that I now use as road shoes.
Good luck on the navigation weekend, and future fell running.
I have always found that fell races are well marshalled. On the higher reaches of Cader Idris the marshalls were from the local mountain rescue team, and so well experienced in maountainous areas.
Long story, no real lesson to be learnt from it, just bored in the office and no one else is interested in my running tales anymore.
Yawn
MT