SINFIN RUNNING CLUB

FELL

KIT, MAPS & FRA INFO

Fell Running Kit List

All club members taking part in a fell race should be aware of the following list of mandatory kit for all; Class B Long and Class A Medium & Long races. While most races in our area (and our championship), will not specify carrying all this equipment (particularly in summer), the organisers of all races reserve the right to mandate kit (and in some cases are forced to by changes in the weather). Our advice therefore is to take the following list of equipment with you to every race. Failure to do so may exclude you from racing and the organiser’s decision is final:

Full waterproof body cover (taped seams with integrated hood), hat, gloves, food, drink, compass, whistle, a printed map of the route, some I.D. (use Parkrun) and any other equipment specified by the organiser (such as an extra base layer etc).

Sinfin Running Club member taking part in the Kinder Downfall fell race

All these items can be found at very competitive prices at Go Outdoors in Derby or from Decathlon next to Ikea (nr Nottingham), or from their website: Decathlon Homepage If you need any help or advice, just ask any of the fell-runners at the club.

Maps

When race organisers stipulate that full FRA mandatory kit is required – you must have a map of the route to pass kit check and be allowed to race. In cases where we know in advance that full kit must be carried (generally longer or winter races), the best option is to print the race map and keep it inside a waterproof covering (such as a clear sandwich bag). Don’t worry if you don’t have access to a printer yourself,
someone in the club will be able to print a map for you.

Very occasionally though, due to bad weather, the race organiser can decide on the day of the race that all competitors need to carry kit. To make sure you are not caught out by such a situation and are still allowed to race, we recommend you purchase the following two Ordnance Survey maps and keep them with the rest of your mandatory kit that you take with you to all races:

OS Explorer Leisure - OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
OS Explorer Leisure - OL24 - The Peak District, White Peak

These two maps cover the whole of the Peak District and the vast majority of races that we will do in our club fell race championships. Whilst a little bulky, they will allow you to pass kit check and race. These maps are widely available and relatively inexpensive. It can be worth shopping around to find the best price. Look in local charity shops if you want a real bargain. For further information about maps please speak to Stephen J.

A map and compass are only useful if you know how to use them. If you would like to learn more about map reading and navigation, please speak to Simon B.

Hypothermia and Hyperthermia

Remember hypothermia can kill, please read the following: FRA Hypothermia Advice: How to avoid it and what to do if you get it

The FRA is also keen to ensure competitors do not overheat. Please be sure to look through the information on their website.

The following video demonstrates some lightweight emergency equipment and how it can help you retain heat if you become injured or immobilised in wet, windy or cold conditions & how quickly hypothermia can set in if you are left exposed to the elements:

Fell Runners Association

Like most competitive outward-bound pursuits there is a governing body that oversees Fell Running in England, the Fell Runners Association (FRA): FRA Homepage. Their primary goal is to provide fairness and safety. To this end Sinfin Running Club has a designated FRA ambassador and encourages all interested members to join the FRA. Benefits include; race entry discounts, a quarterly full-colour magazine, annual fixtures handbook and a national championships for the very keen!

Race classification information (length and amount of climb), is posted below but for all other information relating to the pursuit, the FRA's FAQ section is very useful: FRA Frequently Asked Questions

Race Categorisation (course difficulty)

A fell race is one run on fell, hill or mountain terrain and shall be categorised as follows:

Race Climb:
Category “A”

Should average not less than 50 metres climb per kilometre
Should not have more than 20% of the race distance on road
Should be at least 1.5 kilometres in length

Category “B”

Should average not less than 25 metres climb per kilometre
Should not have more than 30% of the race distance on road

Category “C”

Should average not less than 20 metres climb per kilometre
Should not have more than 40% of the race distance on road
Should contain some genuine fell terrain

Race Length:

Category “L” (long) race is 20 kilometres or over
Category “M” (medium) race is over 10 km but less than 20 km
Category “S” (short) race is 10 kilometres or less