Cementing Relations within a Sporting Field: Fell Running in the English Lake District and the Acquisition of Existential Capital

Fell running in the English Lake District fosters a unique form of social bonding through 'existential capital,' a concept that captures the visceral pleasures and shared passions derived from mastering physically demanding, topographically challenging landscapes. This study challenges conventional field analysis by focusing on what is shared rather than contested within sporting communities, revealing how embodied techniques—requiring sustained effort, vigilance, and environmental knowledge—create intense sociality among runners. Ethnographic research highlights the aesthetic and physical rewards of fell running as a means of defining collective identity, offering a nuanced perspective on how sports fields develop passionate, passionately defined identities.

Nettleton, S. (2013). Cementing Relations within a Sporting Field: Fell Running in the English Lake District and the Acquisition of Existential Capital. Cultural Sociology, 7(2), 196–210. https://doi.org/10.1177/1749975512473749