Run Wild at ShAFF
6th Mar 2014
There are seven inspiring running films and three great talks/workshops on off-road running at this year’s Sheffield Adventure Film Festival. A suggested donation of £1 from every ticket sold will go to Sheffield Hospitals Charity to help raise £5,000 to buy a blood fridge to support the Northern General Hospital’s Major Trauma Centre.
Trail Running magazine editor Claire Maxted and adventure sports writer and endurance athlete Nik Cook, are on the ShAFF judging panel and will be presenting the film sessions.
Claire Maxted says: "I always get excited when judging time for Shaff comes up, as with all the films, the running ones are always of a tremendously high quality, are always inspirational and the best have the power to make you laugh or cry, and stick in your mind forever.”
“If you're a runner, you'll undoubtedly come away with renewed energy for your sport and a new trail or race you'd love to try, and if you're not a runner, I bet you'll want to give it a go! See you there!"
Fellow judge Nik Cook, author of Marathon Training - Getting to the Start Line Strong & Injury Free, says, "The films and talks at ShAFF this year demonstrate why running is such a brilliant sport. Be inspired by elite athletes like Kilian Jornet, Anton Krupicka, Anna Frost, Rickey Gates and Sarah Ridgway and epic journeys like The Penguin Runner. Sit back and enjoy the astonishingly frank confessions of The Runners and let Professor Bernd Heinrich, who is still going strong at 73, remind you Why We Run.”
“You can also take advantage of expert advice in our lectures and workshops with ultra runners Marcus Scotney and Stuart Walker and GB mountain runner Emma Clayton. Plus Steve Chilton will entertain you with his free talk about the history of fell-running.”
Festival Director Matt Heason said: “If you need any kit, look no further. Local running store Accelerate will be at the Workstation all weekend alongside the team from their new Accelerate Performance Centre. You can also test your map reading skills against the best in the region at the Yorkshire Sprint Orienteering Championships with South Yorkshire Orienteers at Parkwood Springs on Saturday or have a go at the ShAFF introductory course.”
“And if you’re inspired by ShAFF, why not sign up for the new Sheffield Trail-Rush (27th July), part of a new race series brought to you by Shane Ohly at Ourea Events, organisers of The Dragon's Back 5 day Welsh mountain ultra. The film of the event by Sheffield producer Rich Heap scooped ShAFF Best Running Film Award last year.”
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WHAT’S ON FOR RUNNERS
RUN FILMS SESSION: SAT 4 April 12.30 + repeated SUN 6 April 15.00
City Trail: If you're an off-road runner who lives in a town and you're looking for some inspiration, look no further. Trail runners Anna Frost and Rickey Gates head out the door through the city streets of San Francisco to discover the city's hidden trails. Duration: 2 minutes
In The High Country: Ultra runner Anton Krupicka reflects on the impact of growing up on the plains as compared to the grandeur of running in the mountains. In The High Country is a beautiful, thoughtful impressionistic mountain running film: a visual essay about a life in the mountains featuring some of some of the steepest running you'll ever see up 1000ft flat irons in the Rockies. Duration: 34 minutes
Sarah Ridgway - a Mountain Runner: "I don't think I could live anywhere flat". Welsh international mountain runner, Sarah Ridgway, reflects on the importance of running in her life. Directed by Peak District based adventure sports photographer and filmmaker, Lukasz Warzecha and Wojtek Kozakiewicz who have also produced the ShAFF 2014 Trailer. Also featuring Bella the Dog. Duration: 3 minutes
The Penguin Runner: South African scuba instructor Dave Chamberlain has run over 15,000km in the last three years through Namibia, South Africa, Canada and Argentina to raise awareness for various conservation groups. In October 2013, he departed Walvis Bay, Namibia running 2,700km on a liquid-only diet and running with a pram containing his tent and sleeping bag. Dave entered Port Elizabeth, South Africa after four continuous months of running. This run was to raise awareness of the African Penguin - which is threatened with extinction. Duration: 21 minutes
The Runners: Runners from all walks of life are challenged with brazen questions as they pound the tarmac through London parks in this original, beautifully observed short documentary by London filmmakers Banyak Films. They share their most intimate secrets and make astonishingly frank confessions about aging, sex, depression and dementia. A real slice of life with a hefty dose of humour. We loved it. Duration: 11 minutes
Time Out (Kilian's Quest): Ultra mountain runner Kilian Jornet making running up mountains and over glaciers look effortless. Duration: 2 minutes
Why We Run: 73 year old Professor Bernd Heinrich, runner biologist, naturalist and best-selling author asks why we run: "It's unadorned and simple, not a game. You can do it any time, any place, no matter where I was I could always run. It's close to what other animals do. Running is all about movement and movement is the essence of life". A beautifully shot examination of the physical and psychological drive to run. Inspiring to watch someone still enjoying running in their 70s. Duration: 5 minutes
RUN TALKS / WORKSHOPS
Ultra-Running Workshop, 13.00-15.00 Sun 6 April
With a mix of experience across ultra racing and multi day challenges, Marcus Scotney and Stuart Walker will explore what it takes to enter into the world of Ultra Running and beyond. Their experience will highlight the challenges of how to train for your first Ultra Marathon and then the steps required to raise your came to enable you to finish stronger. Their insights will help you explore the kit you required, how to stay mentally tough and what to eat. Such matters as pacing, making the most of food stations and also how to best use the help of your support crew will also be covered.
Emma Clayton Lecture, 17.30 Sun 6 April
In 2012 Emma came to every mountain runners attention following her selection to race for Great Britain at the World Mountain Running World Championships. She finished 2nd, winning silver. Emma is supported by Salomon, lives in Leeds and works in Bradford as a school teacher, having started running at the age of 12. Emma was a 3-time under 23 English and British Fell Champion before taking the decision to concentrate on the mountain races of Europe in 2011. In her first full season focusing on the mountains, Emma finished 3rd in the WMRA European Grand Prix Series and represented Team GB at the European and World Championships where she finished 10th in both races.
Steve Chilton Talk, 15.30 Sun 6 April (Free talk in café)
"It’s A Hill, Get Over It – Fellrunning’s History and Characters" - a free, illustrated talk by experienced runner and novice author, Steve Chilton, about how he came to write a history of fellrunning at this late stage in his life. Steve's illustrated talk will also reveal some of the detail of the early days of the sport, of the professional/amateur divide, of betting scandals, unusual training techniques, and incidents from the early history of ‘wild running’.
ACCELERATE PERFORMANCE CENTRE MINI-WORKSHOPS (FREE), SATURDAY 5th APRIL
Those knowledgeable folk from the Accelerate Performance Centre are offering a number of free to attend Running Workshops. Geared to towards runners of all abilities, each Workshop aims to introduce new ideas to help with racing, training and technique. Free in the Workstation.
11.00 – Introduction to Good Running Form
14.00 - HR Training (lactate test)
16:00 - Gait analysis / run technique
Press release: Thursday 6 March 2014.
Contact: Lissa Cook lissa@heason.net
