Fell Running, the category of running that can only take place on the Fells (read, Hills and Mountains) in the North of England. completely changed my attitude towards running when I first encountered it during a trip to the Lake District in 2014. Until that point I ran to race others (and myself), chased distances, and times (my Dad’s PB’s) and generally found running to be a pretty miserable practice. And then along came Fell Running where being out on the Hills, stopping to take in the views, dipping in rivers and waterfalls and stopping to take breaks whilst chomping down on Eccles cakes to ‘re-fuel’ completely changed my perspective on running. For the first time I could run for reasons beyond achievement. It wasn’t about distances or times. It was enjoyable and way beyond. That was such a wild change of view for me.

I’ve realised I like the genuineness of Fell Running. The humility of the people I keep meeting. Fell Running is everything I want and hope a sub-culture can be. Fine standing folk whose legacies are as much about the people they are, as the races they’ve won.

Ellis Bland is one such runner who falls into the category of Fell Runner.