I turned 52 back in early December 2024 and, having notched up a fair number of fell races in the first half of 2025, sometime over summer began wondering if 52 races in a year was possible. One for each week of the year, for each year of my life, for each card in a pack. I kept on track with 12 races in July and August, until my 35^th race since the birthday at Burnsall at the end of August. 17 more to do in 3 months.

Perhaps fortunately, some reality dawned to bring this mild diversion to a close. I missed a number of possible races over the August bank holiday week with a family holiday to Suffolk. A nagging sore heel demanded a few weeks’ rest. And the number of races in the calendar dropped off to weekends only, so a further 17 proved beyond reasonable logistics.

A quick fellrunner’s recalculation revealed 42 races in a year as a new realistic target, one for each of the peaks on the Bob Graham Round, as well as being the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. I finally limped over the metaphorical finishing line on 8 November at Harriers v Cyclists.

Such mental time-fillers make you wonder what it’s all about anyway, is it a Munro Bagging-style collecting game or do we just race for the fun of it? Obviously, it’s the latter, and I really couldn’t care less how many races I do, as long as it’s as many as possible 😀. Fell races are (for me) the most fun way of going for a run, due to their intensity, engaging courses, pre- and post-race banter, daft prizes, cake, and much more.

So really, this is just an opportunity to say a big thanks to everyone who puts on fell races, in other words those who create and make our sport, purely voluntarily. Race organisers and their clubs, course flaggers, registration/results desk guys, marshals out on the course (aka the hi-viz heroes), cake bakers, prize donaters and more. With an honourable mention to all photographers, video makers, kit providers, spectators and fellow runners who complement the whole. It’s a great community to be part of.

Below are the 42 races I’ve done since 5 December 2024, the majority short and in the Pennines, so just a snapshot of the whole scene. Particular mentions in my case to Wharfedale Harriers (who’ve had a hand in at least a dozen), the summit marshals at The Stoop and Coledale Horseshoe (for braving particularly extreme weather), Ted’s Runners + Riders (for the best post-race spread), Penistone AC (for the daftest prize, a courgette), the Woodentops for photographing so many (including Cowling Gala below), Olga and all the other video-makers, plus our guru Darren of course for inventing this whole fishwicking genre. But actually to everyone involved in them all, and indeed any other past or future race; hopefully see you at another one soon.

Just don’t expect me to organise one myself. Not yet, anyway….