New Lakes Event Launches!

There's a new and exciting challenge for walkers and runners in the offing with the running of the first ever Lakeland 100 'Ultra Tour of the Lake District' on 8-10 August, 2008.

The event is going to be run entirely over Lake District footpaths and bridleways and is based on the incredibly successful Tour de Mont Blanc event which attracts thousands of participants every year.

Not a bad backdrop for a long walk... - Striding Edge from Mark Walker.

There are actually two different distance options. The 100-mile event requires participants to cover 100 miles of trails within a time window of 40 hours and could, says organiser Marc Laithwaite, be the toughest footrace in the UK.

Alongside the 100-mile event though, is the still tough, but more attainable 50-mile Lakeland 50 with the distance to be completed within 24 hours. It should, be far more doable by keen weekend walkers looking for a test of their endurance and the cut-off times are less exacting.

'The 100 miles route is likely to attract a group of experienced runners and walkers,' says Laithwaite. 'But we fully believe that any 'weekend walkers' can step up to the challenge of 50 miles in 24 hours and they can enter as an individual competitor or with friends as a team.'

There are checkpoints with time cut-offs along the way and support from sponsors. The 100-mile route starts and finishes in Coniston, while the 50-milers kicks off in the northern Lakes and finishes at the same point as the 100-mile event back in Coniston.

We reckon it looks like a great event amidst stunning scenery with the 50-miler in particular being a tough but do-able challenge for keen walkers. In fact we're hoping to arrange for an OM members' team, so watch this space...

Meanwhile, you can find out more about the Lakeland 100 and Lakeland 50 and enter online at www.lakeland100.com.