Weather plays a huge part on our mood as well as our desire to get out the door and go for a run! March was a soggy month, but with some impeccable timing the sun came out for the first Fell Running Development day of Spring.
We always start the day with a cuppa and some introductions, setting the tone for the day and reassuring people that these days aren’t about running distance or “beasting yourself”. It is about sharing running and life experiences that have got you to where you are, your strengths and weaknesses and what you would like to get from the day.
First outdoor session of the day brought the challenges of boggy and muddy fields, but the group took it in their stride - literally - with some descending practice above Llangorse Lake.
Starting on the more gradual, grassy gradient gave a chance to put into practice their technique and try some new things knowing that a fall wouldn’t lead to much more than just a wet and muddy bum!
Descending is always something that people mention they wish they were a bit better at or “had more confidence to go faster” or maybe they would like to be able to approach a rocky descent without having to come to a complete stand still.
Thinking about your body position, keeping your head and eyes up and looking ahead and using momentum as your friend, are just a few things that can help you start to feel more competent and confident on your descents.
We then moved our practice to a more technical slope that involved route selection, differences in ground conditions and changes in gradient.
Practice on different terrains and gradients are the best way to build your confidence. The more we do, the better we get with descending. Important to remember though that from day to day our confidence wavers and as with all things in life, don't ever think you can just stop, take a breath and take in the views.
Talking about the origins of fell running and some of the fantastic achievements that paved the way for the sport today is something that we like to talk about. As well we look at Women's journey through the sport of running, within many of our lifetimes we have seen women make waves and make way for all us to be able to run as we do and line up at races on a much more level (maybe not in the fells!) running field.
What can be of help with confidence for getting out on the trails and fells is having some of the basic kit to keep you safe. Starting as simple as a water/windproof jacket, some grippy trainers, a soft bottle for some water and a small running pack, bum bag or vest to pop it all in! Approaching Spring it’s easy to forget about some of the other bits of kit but always good to be prepared and lightweight waterproof trousers, a Buff (other tubulars are available!) and some gloves or mitts can really help to keep you warm, dry and smiling.
The last part of the day always involves a run up a big hill! Putting into practice the workshops and conversations of the day we headed out on a 5km loop up to the top of Mynddu Llangorse.
Fantastic views, big smiles and chats about why being outdoors and moving through space under your own steam can bring so much joy.
If you have always wanted to try fell running, but are unsure where to start, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities with -
The Outdoor Partnership - Enhances lives through outdoor activities. Supporting people of Wales and across the rest of the UK to take up outdoor activities as a life-long pursuit.
Element Active - Element Philosophy: Explore more • Value our outdoor world • Inspire active days and wilder ways • Create the space for human connections. Offering quality courses and adventures based in nature.
Dryad - Dryad is an outdoor sportswear company based in Wales that we set up in 2019. We want Dryad to be a transparent, community-driven company with integrity.
