Kit & safety
FELL RUNNING MOUNTAIN SAFETY
We really want to help educate every child in our care to carry the safe minimum on the fells, so they have a good safety margin, in event of an emergency, or poor weather.
All children will need decent grippy fell shoes (see section below) and must bring a bumbag containing a waterproof jacket, hat and gloves! (waterproof trousers are also recommended). A head torch will be needed from late October through to March. Please note that this essential safety kit is obligatory for every training session, every single week. NO kit = NO run!
Below is a photo of the ideal contents of a bum bag for children.
Contents – ask your coaches for advice on any of the kit required
1) Bum bag – featured is a Pete Bland c.2 litre bum bag for kids
2) Waterproof jacket – ensure it has taped seams and a hood
3) Hat – either a) Buff type or b) Beanie hat for warmth
4) Gloves – lightweight fleece / powerstretch style gloves
5) Whistle – not obligatory, but great in event of an emergency
6) Medical – carry any required medication (e.g. asthma inhaler)
7) Phone – if child has a phone, wrap in sandwich bag to keep dry
8) Head torch – needed early Oct to end March, as often in dark
Drinks & snacks – Not featured in the list above are any drinks or snacks, as these generally aren’t needed in a one hour session, though you may wish to brink your child a water bottle at the end of the training, so they can rehydrate. Snacks may be a choking hazard, so are best avoided during training sessions. Also try and avoid eating too much before training, so as not to get a stitch or have stomach aches.
Fell running shoes
We want juniors fell running to be as inclusive as possible, and to remove barriers to entry to this amazing sport, however decent grippy fell running shoes are an absolute must, for safety. Below is a photo of a range of off road running shoes, the 2 on the left are more suited to ultra-trail running as they are very cushioned and less grips due to running on hard surfaces. The middle 2 shoes are pure trail running shoes, with stable sole units, but lesser grip. The 2 shoes on the right are pure fell running shoes, with minimal cushioning, and great grips. It’s this latter style you need!
Photo below of shoe uppers.
Photo below of the same shoe soles and grips.
It’s really important for your child’s safety that they run in proper fell shoes. Their school PE shoes will probably look something like the 2 shoes in the middle above, and don’t offer then enough grip on the fells. We do have a selection of hand-me-down fell shoes for those who want to swap as their feet grow, so ask your coaches if you need a pair. There’s also many parents selling shoes off that their child has outgrown, on the Juniors parents WhatsApp group.
Safety is our top priority, and we have to be strict, to say that if someone arrives for training in unsuitable footwear, they can’t run that week. Please don’t put your child’s safety at risk, or to expose our coaches to dealing with an incident, by letting your child come without fell running shoes!
Education about safety in the fells
Every couple of years we organise a visit to our local mountain rescue team base (LAMRT), on a non juniors training night, for the juniors to learn about what to do in an emergency, how to call for assistance, and how to be better prepared in the fells. The message from the mountain rescue team, is to #BeAdventureSmart, and to ask yourselves 3 simple questions before heading out into the fells…
-
Have you checked the weather forecast?
-
Have you got the right equipment?
-
Have you got suitable skills?
These 3 questions are exactly what this page is all about. All the coaches adapt plans each week to the weather and conditions, we are slightly obsessive about ensuring the juniors all carry the correct minimum safety kit, and the skills we teach are fell running, but also about basic navigation skills, route awareness, group safety, resilience in poor weather, and looking after each other.
The photos above were taken on our last visit to LAMRT. For more details about what the team does, please visit their website www.lamrt.org.uk
In an emergency on the fells
- Dial 999
- Ask for the police
- Then ask for mountain rescue
The call handler will then ask you questions, often following a script. Be prepared to answer the following questions (and more), and then be ready for a c.1 hour wait for mountain rescue to arrive – it’s why carrying spare clothing is essential, even for fell runners.
- What’s your location? Download free OS App to provide exact grid reference
- How many are in the group, and what equipment do they have?
- What’s the condition of the casualty, and what occurred?
- How long ago did the incident occur, and what have you done to assist?
- What is the weather on the fell? Wind, rain, snow, cloud, etc.
