Lakeland_50_and_100_July

Introduction

The Lakeland 100 'Ultra Tour of the Lake District' is the most spectacular long distance trail race which has ever taken place within the UK. The circular route encompasses the whole of the lakeland fells and consists almost entirely of public bridleways and footpaths.

It starts at Coniston and goes in a clockwise tour via Seathwaite, Eskdale, Wasdale, Buttermere, Braithwaite, Blencathra, Dockray, Dalemain, Howtown, Mardale Head, Kentmere, Ambleside, Chapel Stile and Tilberthwaite back to Coniston. It includes over 6,000M of ascent; not quite as much as Everest but not far short! The target is to complete it in under 40 hours.

Lesser mortals can do the second half which is known as the Lakeland 50 with a mere 3,000M of climbing and a whole day to do it in.

Hardley runner, Sue Sleath, did the 50 in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 she built on her 2009 experience and was second lady and 18th overall of near 300 finishers in the excellent time of 10hrs 41 mins. Sue is going to run the 100 in July 2011 and, inspired by her example, a group of Hardley members and friends will be doing the 50. If you would like to join us you will be very welcome.

For more background information please see the Lakeland 100 website

Training

We are going to be on our feet a long time and it is going to be hilly. So it will be helpful to do some events that combine the two. Suggestions inlcude

Stonehenge Stomp Sun 30 Jan - This is an LDWA event. You can do 10, 20, 30 or 40K and there are excellent views and bacon butties

Meon Valley Plod - Sun 27 Feb. A new route this year, allegedly 20 miles with some beautiful countryside including Butser Hill

The Grizzly - Sun 13 March. Twentyish muddy, hilly, boggy, beachy miles of the multiest-terrain running experience. Entries are now full but if you can find someone who is not able to use theirs then there is a transfer rule which will help you.

The Giant's Daughter Sun 3 April- Another LDWA event and highly recommended. 20 or 30M routes and suitable for runners or walkers. Filling up fast so get your entry in.

Lakes Reccy - 9-13 April - see below

New Forest LDWA Marathon - Sun 10 April. Clashes with our reccy but if you can't make it to that then this one is recommended

Three Forts Marathon - Sun 1 May. Known as 'The Tough One', with 27 miles of mixed terrain and climbs of 3450 feet.

There is also a Half Marathon and two walks; a 10 mile walk to Chanctonbury Ring and a 5 mile walk to Cissbury Ring

Marlborough Downs Challenge - Sat 14 May - 33 and 20 mile trail runs or a 20 mile walk. Time limit 8.5 hours.

Midsummer Munro - Sat 18 June. A half marathon with 3000 feet of climbing up and around Box Hill. Expensive to enter but good value. A run for very hearty man fellows and lady fellows, mostly on rough tracks, and including superb views over the North Downs

Purbeck Plod - Sun 26 June. Another walking event with runners welcome

Swanage Half - Sat 16 July - A nice hilly half to help with your taper

Lakeland 50 and 100 - 29/30/31 July

Route

You can see more about the route and some pictures of our reccys.

Reccys

Sue did a reccy in April last year with Martin Loveless and Jeremy Barber. Jeremy made another visit with Dave Turnbull in September. The outcome is that we reckon the 50 is do-able. It is not going to be easy though as this blog explains

We are going to repeat the reccy in April this year and anyone who would like to join us is very welcome. Overall cost last year was about £225 per head including food, travel and accommodation.

Hardley Runners Lakeland Reccy Trip, April 2011

The Lakes 100 is an ultra race held in July and requires entrants to complete the 100 mile round course in 40 hours. There is also an ‘easier’ 50 mile option to be completed in 24 hours.

A group of us are proposing to follow the same course route as the 100 but to take a more leisurely 3 days (to avoid the need for night travel) and to break the route down to segments so that anybody can do all or part of the route, dependant upon number of people going and transport. Each segment of the course will be between 4 and 9 miles with each day having around 6 segments so the opportunity is for runners of all abilities to do daily walk/runs in great surroundings, choosing the segments/distance to suit, and without having to complete the whole route.

Exact daily starts / finishes have yet to be finalised, depending on accommodation, but below shows the timetable followed in 2010 on a similar trip.

Day 1 route will start from Ambleside, follow the Langdale valley to Coniston, onto Eskdale and finish at Wast Water.

Day 2 will start from Wast Water, travel through Buttermere, Braithwaite and Keswick before finishing around Dockray / Dalemain (west of Ullswater).

Day 3 starts at Dockray / Dalemain, follows the northern half of Ulswater before heading through to Howtown, Kentmere and finally finishing back at Ambleside

Overnight stays will either be bed and breakfast accommodation or youth hostels, around Ambleside for the first and last night, Wast Water for night 2 and Patterdale or Glenriding or Pooley Bridge for night 3.

Rates for youth hostels start at around £15 and you can include full breakfast for around £5 more.

Travel up to the Lakes will be on Saturday 9th April and return Wednesday 13th April.

If anybody is interested or would like any further details then please contact Martin Loveless, Jeremy Barber or Sue Sleath