Lake District Sports - Fell Running  Race Categories

Courses are categorized by the amount of ascent and distance.

Ascent Categories

Category A

at least 250 ft (76.2 m) of ascent per mile (1.6 km)

should not have more than 20% of the race distance on road

should be at least one mile in length

Category B

at least 125 ft (38.1 m) of ascent per mile (1.6 km)

should not have more than 30% of the race distance on road

Category C

at least 100 ft (30.5 m) of ascent per mile (1.6 km)

should not have more than 40% of the race distance on road

should contain some genuine fell terrain

Distance Categories

Category L

for Long - over 12 miles (19.3 km)

Category M

for Medium - over 6 miles (9.6 km)

Category S

for Short - less than 6 miles (9.6 km)

Additional Categories

Category O

also known as a Long O event

checkpoints are revealed to each competitor when they come up to a “staggered” start

entry by choosing an orienteering type class, such as a Score-O event and often as a team of two (pairs)

Category MM

events also known as Mountain Marathons and Mountain Trials

similar to Category O, always long, in wild, mountainous country with entry as pairs

Three example "classic A" races

• Wasdale Fell Race AL 21 miles (33.8 km) 9,000 ft (2743.2 m) male record 3 hrs 21 min W Bland 1982, female record 4 hrs 22 min M Todd 1997
• Ben Nevis Race AM 10 miles (16.1 km) 4,400 ft (1341.1 m) male record 1 hr 25 min K Stuart 1984 female record P Haworth 1984
• Blisco Dash AS 5 miles (8.1 km) 2,000 ft (609.6 m) record 36 min J Maitland 1987