If you are new to the club and fell running in particular…here is a guide to what people may be talking about.

Fell running – A type of off-road running that takes place in upland country, typically over rough terrain like hills, mountains, and moorlands. It’s popular in the UK, especially in regions like the Lake District, the Pennines, and Scotland, but it’s also practised in other mountainous or hilly areas around the world.

Kit or ‘full kit’ To be allowed to race you will be asked to bring – full waterproof body cover, map, compass, whistle, hat and gloves, and emergency food.

‘Flagged’ Some races, usually shorter ones have small flags that mark the route. In other races runners are self reliant on their map to navigate the checkpoints.

FRA – the ‘governing body’ for fell running, most races are conducted under its rules and insurance etc. Helm is affiliated to the FRA, and many members are also individual members of the FRA, which sometimes gives priority entry to certain races and discounts. The races are mostly organised by Fell running clubs, and take place most weekends Mar-Nov, and some Wednesday evenings in the summer. They are listed in the fellrunner.org.uk website.

BOFRA (British open fell running association) An organisation that coordinates many smaller races, usually longstanding races which often run out of fairs sports meetings. Often very accessible flagged races for adults and especially junior runners through the season. bofra.org.uk/

Helm Hill Winter League – a series of 10 races we organise in Jan, Feb, and March, similar in ethos to BOFRA races.

English and British Championship races. A set of races in which both individual and club teams compete throughout the season. Usually the best 3 results of 4, for the English. and 2 for the British. the races will be short (up to 5ml), medium (5 – 10) and (10 -20). As a club we always focus on these races, (there are prizes and glory for all M/F open and vet categories). We want as many to be involved as possible, and often hire a bus and  coordinate transport for a grand day out. Despite the ‘elite’ title, these are well organised races which is a good way to race over unfamiliar terrain.

The Hodgson Brothers Mountain relay Based in Patterdale early October, this is considered by many the highlight of the season. There are 4 legs over mountain terrain, where you run as a pair. Helm usually have 3 teams, M, F and Mixed. The teams are made up for the 12 proven fastest available M and F runners.

The British Hill Fell Relays Usually 2 weeks after the above, but we can take more teams. A team of 6, 4 legs,2 individual, 2 paired one of the paired legs is a navigation leg. Teams are in all the M/F categories.

Lakeland Classics – a series of longer races that runners compete in for a nice mug.

Mountain Marathons – there are a number of these such as SLMM or the OMM – multi day navigational challenges with an overnight camp and sketchy weather.

WMRA – World Mountain Running Association organises races around the world – Seniors and juniors compete, with national selection coordinated by the FRA and British Athletics and Home nations bodies. Selection criteria varies, but normally based on performance in pre-determined races.

UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) is the flagship event of the UTMB World Series, a global circuit of trail and ultra-distance races culminating in the legendary races around Mont Blanc in the French Alps