MY FIRST FELL RACE | This sport is MAD

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Last weekend I took part in my first ever fell race, The Blorenge. At just 5.5.km or so, I didn't expect it to be super difficult, but oh mannnnn I was wrong!! I've always had the utmost respect and admiration for fell runners, and since racing this, that respect has doubled. It's hard work!!
Despite nearly dying a few times, it was probably the funnest race I've ever done, and I'd recommend it to anyone!
If you're interested in fell racing and you're based in Bristol or nearby, check out the Welsh Fell Runners' Association for more races, or this website: sites.google.com/site/welshfe... And if you'd like to learn more about the history of fell running, Feet in the Clouds is a great book/audiobook.
I hope to see some of you at the next one!
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[@brianlam257]

That's one crazy route!!! That weather, the wind, the slope...

[@hamba1998]

In my opinion this might have been one of your best videos, you just look like you are having so much fun!! I can't tell whether you've made me very excited for my trip to Snowdonia in May, or absolutely terrified - probably a combination of both 😂

[@MichaelODonoghueMOD]

Fell running is pretty big in Northern Ireland. It's nice to have the Mourne Mountains so close to us and so many races. I'd love to travel to Wales and try more of the mountain races there

[@amelia.jane1235]

I don’t know how you managed to run and film that. You are seriously a superstar ⭐️

[@FloraBeverley]

Haha thank you! It wasn't my best filming for sure 😅

[@ciara8122]

Loved this video Flora!! So inspiring

[@Metall-fe2sm]

This video is just what i needed to see. I'm trying to work on my running form and i've naturally got a higher cadence but stride length is where the work is required. Thank you so much, you always give the best advice at TRC 🥰

[@samscorgie3484]

This video was just pure joy and fun to watch, I can’t believe how fast it looks like you go in your videos!! I worked for my run today, thank you for making these :)

[@FloraBeverley]

Aw yay thank you!! I had so much fun in this race 😍 haha it does look fast but it's not very fast really 🙈 just a lot of flailing!

[@smy76]

Great video! Looked so much fun and flipping hard.

[@Kelly_Ben]

That looked like SO MUCH FUN!!! It looks like you've found a new type of running to love! This video just confirms that if I lived across the pond, I'd be a fell runner!

[@FloraBeverley]

I LOVED it! Omg if you ever come and visit you should totally do a race! I think in the US and Europe there are VKs but you don't get the joy of the mud or throwing yourself down the hill afterwards 😅

[@veronicamilroy]

This looks like an absolute blast!!! Just binge-watched your videos, and your infectious enthusiasm never fails to bring a smile to my face. You may have even convinced me to give running another go after years of thinking I hate it :P

[@FloraBeverley]

Awwww this makes me so happy!! Yesss go do it! Book something fun 😍

[@manuel_877]

Good afternoon Flora and all the runners. Interesting video and very hard race. Here is my like. Don't worry Flora, you will do it better the next fell race. A nice week for everyone. 🌞🏃‍♀️⛰🏃‍♂️

[@ndwebb]

I've been a subscriber since the Bristol 10k but found this one particularly useful. There is a fell race in the village I grew up in and while I've not done fell running before, I want to try that one. Your video help demystify the fell running genre!

[@gwilymeades]

That was freaking awesome! It must require intense focus not to stumble! It would for me anyway...maybe I'll do one some day. You've definitely made it look like a lot of fun.

[@JGS2295]

hah you're so great! Always full of energy and positivity. I'm watching this while cross-training a chronic hip flexor injury on the bike and am jealous! Can't wait to get back out running :D

[@FloraBeverley]

Oof hope you get better soon!

[@TheWelshtart]

Well done! I'm glad you liked The Blorrenge, no easy climb, but well worth the effort. Fell running as well as cross country have always been my favourite and there are some cracking races organised by The Welsh Fell Runners Association so folk will be spoilt for choice and they are such good value for money, always a great welcome within a friendly bunch. 👍

[@SamHerbert50]

That looked the most fun ever!!!

[@markyoung6978]

Now that looks like fun!

[@beccaalice1514]

that looked so fun! defo a perfect way of training the legs for the longer distance hilly ultras :) I'll have a look into fell running for sure!

[@FloraBeverley]

Yes defo, perfect when you need to get in some more elevation 🙌

[@eddiegaul1903]

I can imagine how sore you are. Definitely out of your typical element. Those kinds of races are fun to do once in a while but they can be humbling. It's been a while since I've done any race like that (I am typically a road runner) Thanks for taking us along!

[@FloraBeverley]

Yes definitely, I was sore for days afterwards! Hoping to do more soon. I feel like if I can do fell running I can do anything! 😅

[@thatgirlthatgrows]

This looked like so much fun!!

[@jennysmith8835]

That was brilliant coverage and your enthusiasm and joy, so uplifting, glad you survived !!!!!😊

[@FloraBeverley]

Thank you!! I'm glad I survived too, thoguh I could barely walk for 3 days afterwards 😂

[@jennysmith8835]

@@FloraBeverley so you were definitely right not adding on a run afterwards, 😊

[@lisanicholls1549]

That was a great race Flora and lovely to see you again. I echo everything you said and screamed! In fact me and Barbara screamed and whooped all the way down. I wonder if we should have a new meaning to FUN in the English dictionary though? We really enjoyed our first Fell too and we’ll be back. 😅

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahaha amazing!! So lovely to see you too and well done! It was such a fun race 😍

[@peterjohnson653]

A brilliant introduction to fell running, Flora. I bet your quads were stiff afterwards! I find that walking downstairs is agony until Thursday if I do a Sunday fell race. I was worried for you on the descents when I saw your shoes. I love Hokas for hardpack trails but they are useless for proper fell racing. Something like Inov-8 Mudclaws or X-Talons make all the difference for speed and safety. Blorenge is a short race but there are plenty of fell races covering, say, eight to 20 or more miles. As you demonstrated so well, fell racing is cheap, friendly and thrilling - for all abilities and ages. But you certainly know you’ve had a tough workout over the next few days …

[@FloraBeverley]

Haha yes, I can still barely walk. Sunday I managed 8 miles of trails, but Monday I honestly could barely stand upright 😂 yes I was having exactly this conversation today! Hokas are best for European trails I think, I'll have to try innov8 if I'm going to do more of this!

[@NeaRunsUltras]

I so nearly went to that race last weekend but ended up following my plan and taking the weekend off 😅 - looks like it was amazing fun though so now I’m a bit sad I missed it 😢 so nice to see people getting really stuck in to fell races and enjoying them like that :)

[@FloraBeverley]

Ah no way! There's another on the 17th December that looks like it could be good fun/equally painful 😅 see you there?

[@AMostlyFunctionalJess]

'most of them are shorter' oh you sweet summer child, there is much to learn 💙 Looks like it was a great introduction! Races vary a lot in length and elevation gain, some village fete races can be as short as 3km and others can be 30km+, with some being short sharp ones, some being fast, runnable ones and other being er...long...sharp? ones. In the English and British champs races you see some insane levels of skill. People storming up near vertical ascents and then practically rolling down the declines. Plenty of fantastic races out there to try and always so cheap as well!

[@FloraBeverley]

Haha oops - so far I've only seen the winter race series where none of them are very long at all, more like vertical cross country races. When I think of trail running I think of ultras, but I realise there are some long fell races too! The second day of the Highland ultra that I did last year was basically a fell marathon 🫠

[@AMostlyFunctionalJess]

There's a huge variety! The FRA website has all the races that have been granted an FRA race licence listed. There's pretty much a race every weekend through most of the year here in the Peak District with some weekday evening races in the spring, summer and early autumn.

[@nicmarlow6388]

Saw the link for this earlier and saved it to watch tonight. Got home from work and husband went "ohhh Flora the Explorer has a new video out!" 🤣🤣 God this looked brutal though, so much fun and really nice to see lots of women involved too! How you went through that pitch black tunnel still running I'll never know, i'd have fallen over for sure! Well done for your amazing efforts as always x

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahah it was bonkers but so much fun!! 😍 give it a go sometimes!

[@joturchet]

Oh! Watching you do that downhill made me laugh! 😁 Looked like it was good fun, despite the downhill stress! Well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahaha it was so much fun!! Hilariously difficult.

[@TkONe22]

what wild conditions hahaha. such cool races by you. only have road races by me usually

[@mistymountains360]

Well that was a good find for me , loved that .. must've actually as I subscribed before it finished.. well done you 👏 👍 😀

[@FloraBeverley]

Haha awesome, thank you! Welcome to the channel! 🤗

[@jaseinclee]

Well done on your first fell race Flora! Looked really cold and windy

[@FloraBeverley]

It definitely was! So much fun though

[@OliverMay1]

Never tried fell running before, but heck that looked amazing fun! I will definitely have to give it a try 🙂

[@FloraBeverley]

It was epic 😍😍😍

[@boytes55]

That looks like loads of fun!

[@FloraBeverley]

It was epicccc

[@ajsleith]

I love the price and casual nature of fell running. You should also give orienteering a go, the Bristol Orienteering Klub are fantastic!

[@FloraBeverley]

I'm definitely not the best at orienteering, but I love the idea of it! 🤗 maybe I'll try for a youtube vid!

[@johndunn3675]

Rather you than me. Was in the area the week before, based in Gilwern on the canal. The weather was dreadful but managed a couple of runs along the canal and cycle track and up to the spectacular Llangattock escarpment. And so easy to get to from Bristol/Bath.

[@FloraBeverley]

Haha it was so much fun! Great area too 😍

[@katiechristianson1775]

😅 you looked like you were speeding up the video bouncing down the hill. Love the shuffle 🥴🤣

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahaha yeah my legs almost didn't go fast enough to keep up! 😅

[@NealHockley]

Ace, fair play filming that while running. Next time come to north Wales, our races are even better ;-)

[@FloraBeverley]

Haha I will be! I'm doing UTS50! 🥲

[@emilygreeneyes]

I love how you were just running and screaming for at least half the race, that is exactly what I would have been doing to! Looks fun & absolutely crazy. I've not done a fell race but will definitely look them up now. I was wondering what running shoes you were wearing for it?

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahaha yeah but the end I was hurting from smiling so much 😂 it was just bonkers!! Totally recommend. I wore the mafate speed 4 but tbh something with bigger lugs like innov8 would probably have been more suitable to the mud 🙈

[@matthewbarks2015]

Brilliant video Flora! I’ve got the White Peak and Dark Peak fell running series close to me and have often thought about having a go. It’s all the safety kit that the organisers insist on that puts me off. I noticed in your video that some people were carrying stuff where as others weren’t…..I’m wondering if that was a distance thing. I know a couple of fell runners who do the 2 series I mentioned and they’ve both said your kit is inspected before you start.

[@neilcoe1214]

It depends on the race length, terrain and the weather. There is a kit list, (waterproofs, hat, gloves, map, compass, whistle, emergency food) which you should bring to every race, but it's not always required. Some long races insist on full kit whatever the weather, some short races, in good weather where it's easy to recover an injured runner might not require any kit. Best to contact the individual race organiser for details of their specific requirements.

[@FloraBeverley]

What we found is that we were told to bring everything on the mandatory kit to the race, but then at registration they say what they require on the day. I brought a pack with everything in but then left all but the windproof in the car 😊

[@fatrunner]

Looks amazing and chip buttys at the end!!! Only problem for me is I live in the south east so all the races are 100s of miles away. 😔

[@FloraBeverley]

Ahhhh shame! Yes I don't imagine you have many hills... but lovely flat trails! 😍

[@markcameron3]

Great video, you should come to the skirrid one in a few weeks

[@FloraBeverley]

It's in the diary! Haven't booked it yet but will go if I can get some friends together 🤗

[@skibbedypappow4579]

Definately check out some LakeLand Trails fell runs. Really great 5-10k runs for beginners and some harder 15k runs and half marathons and I think actually they do Ultras aswell but it’s a great community of runners and every event is so well organised and friendly. Always a brilliant experience I try to go to as many of them as I can

[@dstarley]

Hahaha love it. Come do a fell race on Dartmoor?? 😇

[@FloraBeverley]

Ooooh I didn't know they did them there! I will for sure, I love the moors 😍

[@typicality]

Ha just wait till you're doing that climb at the end of Llanbedr to Blaenavon in March! It's even more of a pig then! ;-) I started with the Fan Y Big Fell Race a number of years ago now and haven't looked back. It's a truly wonderful sport with such amazing and friendly characters! I do find though that the real fun comes when you learn to navigate and can develop the confidence to take on all sorts of challenging races in some of the UK's most wonderful and wild places! Maybe see you at a race soon?! Perhaps the Cardington Cracker this weekend?!

[@typicality]

Also: do sign up and support the WFRA. A years membership is only £10 and it will certainly help to keep developing the sport!

[@FloraBeverley]

Oooh amazing, I'll take a look! Yes will definitely sign up. Hoping to be at Skirrid, but this weekend I'm doing mapledurham 10!

[@typicality]

@@FloraBeverley ooh the Skirrid is fantastic! Sadly I’m away for that one so will miss it this year. Put your brave pants on and see how quickly you can bundle down the steep bit! It’s awesome

[@StuRuns]

You were lucky it was foggy! The first time doing this was the first time I've been genuinely scared in a race. Skirrid next?

[@KathaRIna-bn2vc]

Yeah, I thought so, too! That was steep 😬

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahaha reminded me of the sides of Helvellyn 😂 wasn't too scary except dropping down off the top, which I didn't film but the ground just disappeared! 🙈

[@Quintinia]

lmao that looks like pure misery 🤣🤣🤣 but I'm glad you enjoyed it and didn't fall and die!

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahaha it was epiccccc - by the time you're knackered from the uphill, you go back down and you're done! 🙈

[@davidglass5742]

Uphill as fast as you can. Downhill as fast as you dare. That's fell running. Graduated to it from hillwalking. Broke my ankle on top of Slieve Meelbeg one snowy day in 2016. After I got the cast off my physio who was a top fell runner advised me that running over rough ground would be better than all the exercises she prescribed. Got myself a pair of Inov8 Mudclaws and have not looked back

[@MAXIMOUTDOORS]

Glad you enjoyed it. I nabbed a nice 7th place that day. 💪 Kind of cheating though as i live a mile from the carpark and its my local mountain 😂 are you doing the skirrid race on the 17th?

[@FloraBeverley]

Epic!! That's so cool, my friend Tony is a very good runner but didn't come anywhere near that, which shows how tough it is! Well done 👏🏼 I'm not sure yet but it's in the diary! I hope so

[@iforpowell7390]

Someone has changed the race again. 20 years back you just went stright up to the top of the really steep bit then went straight back down the same way. Now they let your legs recover by letting you do that flatter running to the trig point on the big new path. Still a good intorduction to fell running and you want find many steeper climbs.

[@Alfredo-lr9of]

👏👏👏💪

[@AdamNodwell]

WELCOME!

[@peterlewis3540]

My first fell race, was the 1995 Welsh 1000s. I survived it, never having run such a long distance, on very rough terrain, against the clock I was tired, but in a i can walk sort of way. My last fell race, was the 2017 Peris Horseshoe, by far the toughest race ive ever taken part in. When your so tired, that you lack the strength and energy to push the clutch pedal of your car, to drive home. That's tiredness on a different level.

[@FloraBeverley]

Both sound epic! I love that tiredness - means you get a proper, well deserved rest afterwards 😍

[@peterlewis3540]

@@FloraBeverley The Welsh 1000s, course changed a few years ago, with the discovery that Glyder Fawr just touched the 1000m contour. At a distance of around 23miles, its an achievable race to take part in, as you can start early, allowing the less fit or experienced runner, to complete the course in the allotted time. Still tired, but the time allotted to finish the race, is generous, and within the capabilities of most reasonably fit runners. The Pedol Peris or Peris Horseshoe on the other hand, is a shorter distance of nearly 18 miles, but the race goes through some of the toughest terrain in Snowdonia. to give you an idea of its tough nature, when you have completed the first half of the race, as far as Pen Y Pass youth hostel, you then have to complete half a Snowdon Horseshoe, and even then theres a sting in the tail, coming off Snowdon and heading to the summit of Moel Cynhorion, next to the Snowdon ranger route. Just a savagely tough race, no time to really settle into a rhythm, you go off with the rest of the runners, and just try and finish. If you have run a road marathon, and you know the fatigue associated with finishing such a race, the Peris Horseshoe is almost like asking a marathon finisher, to run a further 10k to half marathon distance, whilst desperately tired, on very challenging terrain, usually in poor weather. Unless you've taken part in the Peris, mere words cannot really describe how challenging it is., A bit like an Ultra Distance event, but at a faster pace.

[@peterlewis3540]

@@FloraBeverley Thank You for the message Ive taken part in over forty road marathons, setting my pb of 2-48 in London, back in 1992. The tiredness finishing these marathons, is nothing compared to completing the Peris Horseshoe. I can remember the fatigue was on another level. When crossing the main road opposite the Royal Victoria hotel in llanberis, opposite the finishing line, if a car had been coming towards me, i would not have had the strength to get out of its way. Its an extreme sort of tiredness, you know you have pushed your body beyond its limits. The china mug, you get for completing the race, its a precious thing.

[@marymcaneney3219]

Hi Flora! Which trail shoes do you wear please? thanks!!

[@reluctantfellrunner]

It's a mad sport. Well done and best wishes.

[@FloraBeverley]

Thank you! You lot are a different breed!

[@bennevis21]

Ben Nevis hill race next September😁

[@FloraBeverley]

'Hill' 😂

[@sarahswims]

Fell running - a combination of exhilaration and "I'm about to die'.

[@FloraBeverley]

😂😂😂 pretty much sums it up

[@jungtao]

Yikes the incline grade. U were not joking. Any idea where the name “fell” race came from?

[@FloraBeverley]

I know!! 50% at times 😩 well, they're traditionally on the fells in the Lake District, which are hills. Apparently the word is Old Norse! (I had to Google it 😅)

[@hamwhacker]

Another great inspiring video!!! At 8:28 you mention the South West Coast path but this goes on a lot longer? But the SWCP is 600 miles long? What did you mean 😃 Haven’t done fell running yet. But last time we went up Old Man Coniston in the mist, we were overtaken by fell runners. Couldn’t believe it…crazy fit people ⭐️⭐️

[@FloraBeverley]

Oh haha what I mean is that this elevation gain was 500m, but that's like 3x up golden cap - on the SWCP there are no 40-50% inclines that last for 500m.

[@hamwhacker]

@@FloraBeverley wow didn’t know that. Thanks 😀

[@subapeter]

Ah, good, escalating towards peak madness of doing some Orienteering :)

[@FloraBeverley]

Hahah i think that might be a step too far for me!

[@gwynpalf6734]

Blorenge is good but Cwm Nantygroes is far superior and just around the mountain from the Blorenge. One of the first in the year btw.

[@rudolphleroux47]

.....and then she FELL in the race. I guess that's the reason they call it a FELL RACE!!😂

[@FloraBeverley]

I am 99% sure no one has ever made this joke before

[@FloraBeverley]

I am 99% sure no one has ever made this joke before 😉

[@jeremyvangheem3765]

You only "FELL" once...😂😂😂

[@FloraBeverley]

Very good 🙈