MOUNTAIN, FELL & TRAIL RUNNING
INTRODUCTION
How do you differentiate between the three disciplines?
TRAIL RUNNING
Consists of running on any unpaved surface, i.e. a sandy beach, defined gravel or forestry paths, with checkpoints. Events are run on clearly marked race routes.
MOUNTAIN RUNNING
Takes place, you guessed it, in the mountains on marked race routes where hardly any navigation is required. Race Routes will have significant elevation gain and will be either an up and down or an uphill only event.
FELL RUNNING
Consists of running up and down hills whilst navigating between various checkpoints, often there is no set race route and runners must navigate themselves via a map and compass from start to finish, is often pathless and much more daring than either trail or mountain running.
Mountain, Trail and Fell running has become a much more popular form of pastime as people seek out the great outdoors. Mountain and Trail Running has now amalgamated on a National and World level. The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) https://wmra.ch/are the main body, worldwide for promoting and deciding international event dates and venues. Welsh Athletics https://www.welshathletics.org/are mainly involved with Mountain and Trail Running. The Fell Runners Association (FRA)https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/manage the Fell Running side of things, including the British Fell Running Championships under the jurisdiction of the GB Mountain Running Advisory Group (MRAG) The Welsh Fell Runners Association (WFRA) https://www.wfra.org.uk/, is an independent, not for profit organisation who support grassroots fell racing in Wales and the borders and have their own WFRA Championships including North & South Wales series.
At a regional level, there is an annual fell running championship race and an annual trail running championship race. Details of these can be found on the Championships and Events page.
