Ultimate Trails 100k

Been really busy so far this year working on a few new projects. I'm working as the Course Director on a very exciting new event, Ultimate Trails 100k, which will be held on the 14th September. The event is the brainchild of Graham Patten of Lakeland Trails fame and promises to be a fantastic weekend of trail running in the Lakes.

The route is quite simply stunning, 100k in one day, taking in 6 mountain passes with almost 14,000 feet of ascent; it delivers views well worth the pain in your quads...There's also a 50k option to get you in the mood,  which covers the last section of the 100k route, although don't be fooled by the shorter distance as the last 50k is the toughest!

This past week was a tough one in the office as the lovely, very funny and quite potty Mr Patten and I covered the whole 100k route over 3 days fine tuning the route and working out the bad weather options. What a fantastic 3 days of running, laughing, race tales and loud singing in the fells; Graham taught me the 'Mickey Mouse Yomp' and I taught Graham the 'Pom Pom' song - you probably needed to be there!

The race website is now live at www.ultimatetrails.com with the route being released any day, but here's a few tasters...

As it was my birthday this Saturday, Dave and I went for a run out on The Grand Tour of Skiddaw route. Another fabulous day with 8 hours of running bringing my weekly mileage to 95 miles on the fells with 21440 ft of ascent. Thanks to Marcus Scotney, who not only runs for GB but is a dab hand at sports massage, I've had no calf twinges so looks like some proper training can begin!

The Grand Tour of Skiddaw

Exciting stuff - I've been working on this new event for a while now, wanting to organise an ultra race in the beautiful Northern Lakes. We've recently moved to this part of the Lakes and have been exploring the trails and fells, and pubs. Caldbeck Common feels really remote and has some stunning views, although you're only about 30 mins from Keswick.

So, The Grand Tour of Skiddaw (named by The Fairy) took shape last November. The race website is now live at www.pureoutdoorsevents.co.uk with the online entries open HERE.

The race starts and finishes at Lime House School near Dalston, which has loads of parking, and camping available on the school field. There's a huge school hall for Registration, Kit Check, Prize Presentation etc and catering/showers/loos on site. The race will take place on Saturday 24th/Sunday 25th August, with camping available all weekend, Friday - Sunday. As it's a Bank Holiday the runners can stay over till Monday for an extra £5, and bust some moves at the Post Race Party on Sunday night!

I realise that there's another small ultra going on that weekend somewhere in Europe, but well, not everyone will get in, and we had to fit around the Summer School at Lime House!

Wintery route, it'll be lovely and sunny in August, honest.

The route will be unmarked so will require a basic level of navigation although the runners will be given a written route description, marked map and the route will be available to download as a gpx file. There'll be 3 checkpoints with snacks/drinks on the route at Caldbeck, Latrigg car park and again at Caldbeck, and hot food at the Finish. The runners will be able to leave dropbags at the Start which will be taken to Latrigg for any 'special' emergency foods/plasters/favourite teddy...

Spotted this whilst out on the route writing the route notes the other day, ummm, 'continue straight on past the bear, quiet'

So, really looking forward to this event, it has the potential to be a great weekend in the Lakes; 44 miles of beautiful trails, working out the route (I love that bit), climb up the mighty Skiddaw at the approx halfway point (just for a laugh), party and beer - coming to join us?!