Fell running

Fell running, also sometimes known as hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off-road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty. The name arises from the origins of the English sport on the fells of northern Britain, especially those in the Lake District. It has elements of trail running, cross country and mountain running, but is also distinct from those disciplines. Fell races are organised on the premise that contenders possess mountain navigation skills and carry adequate survival equipment as prescribed by the organiser. The ethos of fell-running is based on self-sufficiency in terms of equipment, food and skills in sharp contrast to adventure racing. Fell runners who become immobile due to injury or exhaustion are extremely vulnerable to hypothermia; consequently, building up experience and dynamic risk assessment are both important principles for fell runners more akin to mountaineering than allied athletic activities. Fell running has common characteristics with cross-country running, but is distinguished by steeper gradients and upland country. It is sometimes considered a form of mountain running, but without the smoother trails and predetermined routes often associated with mountain running.