Fell/Trail Running

[Nymzee]

I hate running, like properly hate it. Hurts my knees, bores me to death & I swear I run funny. However... I do actually enjoy the feeling after my run which has made me think maybe it’s just running round my local streets/parks that I hate so much.

Just wondering if anyone on here does/did trail/fell running and has some tips in getting into it? I’m not fit at all so wondering if it’s say safer practicing just in the park before I hit the trails.

Also looking for any recommended runs/tips/equipment for this. I live just next to the Lake District so I’m spoiled for choice but I don’t want to be pounding round Grizedale forest and end up kneeing a kid in the face.

I like to splurge cash (‘all gear no idea’ kinda guy) so will be getting some trail shoes this weekend I think. Looking at a pair of either the On Cloudverse, Saucony Peregrine ISO or Inov-8 ROCLITE 275. I know when it comes to running spending more on quality pays off in the end unlike some sports.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

I'm more of a jogger than a runner (just go out to get the legs conditioned for cyclocross), so don't really know what I'm talking about - but it seems to me that running is all about avoiding / mitigating / managing injury. It's imperative to start slow and build up - ie don't just buy some trail shoes and go tan it round Grizedale. Good news here is that you're not fit, so there's far less risk of overdoing things. You will build your fitness as your running improves.

Counter to that cautious approach, though, is that running also needs a decent dose of MTFU - if you stop running over every niggly ache and pain then you'll never make any progress [legendary fell runner Iron Joss Naylor said this]. So you've got quite a difficult balance to strike - basically you need to get to know the difference between pain and real pain. This is a hard distinction to draw, and probably the reason why all runners carry injuries.

Feet in the clouds is a good read for some inspiration for fell running in the Lakes.

 

[COYBL25]

I hate running, like properly hate it. Hurts my knees, bores me to death & I swear I run funny. However... I do actually enjoy the feeling after my run which has made me think maybe it’s just running round my local streets/parks that I hate so much.

Just wondering if anyone on here does/did trail/fell running and has some tips in getting into it? I’m not fit at all so wondering if it’s say safer practicing just in the park before I hit the trails.

Also looking for any recommended runs/tips/equipment for this. I live just next to the Lake District so I’m spoiled for choice but I don’t want to be pounding round Grizedale forest and end up kneeing a kid in the face.

I like to splurge cash (‘all gear no idea’ kinda guy) so will be getting some trail shoes this weekend I think. Looking at a pair of either the On Cloudverse, Saucony Peregrine ISO or Inov-8 ROCLITE 275. I know when it comes to running spending more on quality pays off in the end unlike some sports.

I`m a big trail runner / hill runner mate and currently training for my fourth race of the year, which is at the end of the month - Snowdon.

My advice to starting off, is to start off slowly, otherwise you`ll end up with a load of muscle injuries, as you`ll be using a lot of muscles that you`ve never used before.

I`ll deal with kit first :

Getting your shoes right is the most important thing out of everything.

I currently train with four pairs of shoes and have two pairs of race shoes ( one for muddy / one for harder ground )

As with all brands of shoes they size different.

Example - Hoka are a size too small, so you have to go a size up from your regular size, plus your feet swell and you may have a pair of thick muddy socks on too, so reagrdless of the brand always go up at least half a size.


You`ll need at least two pairs of shoes - One for muddy and one for dry.

The muddy shoes will be less cushioned, as the mud / soft ground does the cushioining and they`ll have more grip too. Muddy shoes tend to run flatter too.

Inov8 are the dogs bollocks for muddy and I can highly recommend the - 275 Mudclaw, go half a size up from your regular size.

I use Hoka Speedgoat 2 for my go to hard ground shoes, they`re ugly as sin, but they`re ultra cushioned and absorb so much impact it`s untrue.

The rest of your kit doesn`t really need to be that specialist and you can get away with regular running gear.

Starting off :

Don`t go mad and keep away from the fells to start with. Find somewhere nearby that`s undulating and run on that for about a month, whilst your body gets use to running up and down. Start off with a couple of miles and run at a pace that`s comfortable enough to talk to someone.

Run somewhere that`s scenic, as it takes your mind off what you`re doing.

Don`t worry about times, that comes later.


There`s loads more I could tell you, but that`s enough to start you off.

Keep me posted.

 

[COYBL25]

I'm more of a jogger than a runner (just go out to get the legs conditioned for cyclocross), so don't really know what I'm talking about - but it seems to me that running is all about avoiding / mitigating / managing injury. It's imperative to start slow and build up - ie don't just buy some trail shoes and go tan it round Grizedale. Good news here is that you're not fit, so there's far less risk of overdoing things. You will build your fitness as your running improves.

Counter to that cautious approach, though, is that running also needs a decent dose of MTFU - if you stop running over every niggly ache and pain then you'll never make any progress [legendary fell runner Iron Joss Naylor said this]. So you've got quite a difficult balance to strike - basically you need to get to know the difference between pain and real pain. This is a hard distinction to draw, and probably the reason why all runners carry injuries.

Feet in the clouds is a good read for some inspiration for fell running in the Lakes.

You`re spot on with the injuries thing there mate, as I`m never ever without a minor strain or stiffness somewhere.

It`s knowing your body well enough, to recognise when the strain is about to become something else.

Age plays a big part in this too !

 

[Black Belt Jones]

You`re spot on with the injuries thing there mate, as I`m never ever without a minor strain or stiffness somewhere.

It`s knowing your body well enough, to recognise when the strain is about to become something else.

Age plays a big part in this too !

All worth it though I bet to be able to run over mountains.

Coming from cycling where I am fit, an injury is in the post for me if I started running more seriously. Aerobic fitness is there but legs nowhere near conditioned, would end up going too hard. Heard cyclists say that if you're taking up running and are doing a pace where you're out of breath, then you are going miles too hard. Need a couple of months steady like you say.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Used to cycle with Billy Bland after he had to give up the running, great guy and full of tips.

Skiddaw round is a good (if long) loop. Start at the carpark at the bottom of Latrigg then across the shoulder of Skiddaw and round the back of it on the commons, drop down into Bassenthwaite village and through dodd wood and the footpaths there back to Keswick.

Or "the mankiller" which was my old route when I was young. Just blast all the way from Dodd Wood car park up to the top of the valley, then try not to faceplant on the way down. Catbells up and down is good too.

 

[Nymzee]

I`m a big trail runner / hill runner mate and currently training for my fourth race of the year, which is at the end of the month - Snowdon.

My advice to starting off, is to start off slowly, otherwise you`ll end up with a load of muscle injuries, as you`ll be using a lot of muscles that you`ve never used before.

I`ll deal with kit first :

Getting your shoes right is the most important thing out of everything.

I currently train with four pairs of shoes and have two pairs of race shoes ( one for muddy / one for harder ground )

As with all brands of shoes they size different.

Example - Hoka are a size too small, so you have to go a size up from your regular size, plus your feet swell and you may have a pair of thick muddy socks on too, so reagrdless of the brand always go up at least half a size.


You`ll need at least two pairs of shoes - One for muddy and one for dry.

The muddy shoes will be less cushioned, as the mud / soft ground does the cushioining and they`ll have more grip too. Muddy shoes tend to run flatter too.

Inov8 are the dogs bollocks for muddy and I can highly recommend the - 275 Mudclaw, go half a size up from your regular size.

I use Hoka Speedgoat 2 for my go to hard ground shoes, they`re ugly as sin, but they`re ultra cushioned and absorb so much impact it`s untrue.

The rest of your kit doesn`t really need to be that specialist and you can get away with regular running gear.

Starting off :

Don`t go mad and keep away from the fells to start with. Find somewhere nearby that`s undulating and run on that for about a month, whilst your body gets use to running up and down. Start off with a couple of miles and run at a pace that`s comfortable enough to talk to someone.

Run somewhere that`s scenic, as it takes your mind off what you`re doing.

Don`t worry about times, that comes later.


There`s loads more I could tell you, but that`s enough to start you off.

Keep me posted.

Cheers mate, all good help, I’ll be going for more of an “all-rounder” shoe first just because of the expense and how often I switch to new hobbies. I did look at the Mudclaw but thought they’d be no use when the weather hasn’t been so bad. I’ve read lots of sizing so it’s a shame I don’t live by any shops that stock them to try but can also return/reorder shoes.

There’s lots of flat woodland nearby I’ve been looking at running along; mix of paths and soft ground but no elevation so can jog it. I’m not one for overdoing it anyway as like I said fitness is really poor now (about 3 miles is my limit after my first run last weekend).

@Black Belt Jones - Thanks for the info. I won’t push myself too hard as like said above this will use parts of my body I didn’t know I had so would likely succumb to an early injury. I do like to test myself if I feel it’s safe though.

 

[Nymzee]

Oh just to add - not that it’s important - but I’m only just turning 28 shortly so my body can still take a beating like the kids.

 

[COYBL25]

Cheers mate, all good help, I’ll be going for more of an “all-rounder” shoe first just because of the expense and how often I switch to new hobbies. I did look at the Mudclaw but thought they’d be no use when the weather hasn’t been so bad. I’ve read lots of sizing so it’s a shame I don’t live by any shops that stock them to try but can also return/reorder shoes.

There’s lots of flat woodland nearby I’ve been looking at running along; mix of paths and soft ground but no elevation so can jog it. I’m not one for overdoing it anyway as like I said fitness is really poor now (about 3 miles is my limit after my first run last weekend).

@Black Belt Jones - Thanks for the info. I won’t push myself too hard as like said above this will use parts of my body I didn’t know I had so would likely succumb to an early injury. I do like to test myself if I feel it’s safe though.

Starting off in the woods is perfect, as there’ll be a mix of terrains and it’ll be undulating rather than full on hilly,

A really good pair of all rounders are the Inov8 Parkclaw.

Not great in the mud, but can handle everything else.

Super comfy and a wide fit, so your toes aren’t bunched together - go up half a size.

Another great shoe is the Salomon Speedcross.

All of the cheap ones are Chinese fakes, so don’t be tempted !

 

[COYBL25]

Used to cycle with Billy Bland after he had to give up the running, great guy and full of tips.

Skiddaw round is a good (if long) loop. Start at the carpark at the bottom of Latrigg then across the shoulder of Skiddaw and round the back of it on the commons, drop down into Bassenthwaite village and through dodd wood and the footpaths there back to Keswick.

Or "the mankiller" which was my old route when I was young. Just blast all the way from Dodd Wood car park up to the top of the valley, then try not to faceplant on the way down. Catbells up and down is good too.

Billy Bland is a legend and I run on a pair of his old skool Walshes for my muddy training runs !

 

[Zezti]

I've tried getting into running as well but I'm so out of shape I barely last 10 minutes and feel dead after. Have been thinking of trying cycling (not on roads) instead.

 

[coollino]

Recently woke up with a lump on my knee, thought it was an insect bite, went for a 15k run, came back and it swelled up loads and was an injury from my previous run so that was great.

So yea, don't run on an injury. took about 4 weeks to recover.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Starting off in the woods is perfect, as there’ll be a mix of terrains and it’ll be undulating rather than full on hilly,

A really good pair of all rounders are the Inov8 Parkclaw.

Not great in the mud, but can handle everything else.

Super comfy and a wide fit, so your toes aren’t bunched together - go up half a size.

Another great shoe is the Salomon Speedcross.

All of the cheap ones are Chinese fakes, so don’t be tempted !

I always had a pair of Walshes… and that were that.

 

[coollino]

I've tried getting into running as well but I'm so out of shape I barely last 10 minutes and feel dead after. Have been thinking of trying cycling (not on roads) instead.

I do both, if you want to lose weight then running is MUCH better. You do get better at running faster than you think. Do 5km, three times a week for a month and you will notice a massive difference.

 

[Disgruntledgoat]

Billy Bland is a legend and I run on a pair of his old skool Walshes for my muddy training runs !

Top guy. The only man I met who wore out Border Collies. He was some cyclist in his 60s too, did the Marmotte with him one year.