KIMM Originals Sought

Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (KIMM) founder Mike Parsons is on a mission to find 'The Originals', runners who've competed in or been involved with organising 20 or more KIMM events over the years and if that's you, he wants to give you a fleece.

'It's our way of saying thank you for your commitment,' says Mike, who now runs the Original Mountain Marathon Company and estimates that there are around 80 eligibles out there.

If you sign up for the OMM 20-Year Club, you'll be presented with a special embroidered fleece by the winners of the first ever two-day KIMM event back in 1968, Ted Dance and Bob Astles before this year's OMM in October. If you can't make the event, the fleece will be posted out to you.

So, if you're a 20-plus KIMM competitor, just get yourself along to the 20 Year Club section of the OMM web site, take a look at the existing stories and add your own. If you know someone with a lot of KIMMs under their belt, please send them a link to this article or the OMM forum.

It's remarkable that the KIMM's been going for so long and indeed is still going in its new guise as The Original Mountain Marathon. At the heart of it, says Mike, is the fact that the event has always been one 'for mountain runners by mountain runners', which is why being part of the organisation is also being recognised by the 20 Year Club.

Still Going Strong

And the KIMM is still thriving now under the Original Mountain Marathon banner - the name change being down to the recent upheaval at Karrimor.

This year's 39th event - sponsored by Vango - takes place in October at Galloway Forest Park, a location with the toughest reputation of all the past venues.

You can find full details of the event and what it entails at www.theomm.com which is also the online home of the OMM kit range.