After attending the
launch of this year’s Lakeland Trails races back in January, where they announced their new partnership with
inov-8, we were excited about doing some of the races. We headed up to Staveley, inov-8’s back yard, to experience some of that famous Lakeland Trails atmosphere.
There are many brilliant things about Lakeland Trails races. After running the 10k at Staveley I’ve narrowed it down to a top 5.
1. These races are tough but they’re marked and marshalled, so it kind of gives you all the fun of the fells but without the terror of self-navigation or the ignominy of crossing bogs and hurtling through vegetation to try to get back on the route. Trail running but a bit more interesting than most trails!
The start and Staveley and the final descent (images Lakeland Trails and Pete Aylward)
2. All of the locations for these races are stunningly beautiful. Cartmel, Coniston, Keswick, Helvellyn, Ullswater, Staveley - all carefully chosen to show off the best of the Lakes. You won’t find an easy run at any of them but you will see some of the finest scenery in the UK.
3. There’s something for every single runner at these events. This year they introduced the new ‘Kentmere Sport Trail’, a 5k introductory distance that absolutely anybody could have a go at (with a very generous cut-off of 1hr 45 mins). At the other end they had a 17k, which you could do as a no pressure ‘challenge’, which started an hour earlier than the other option, the ‘race’ version. At the sharp end you had top athletes like Ben Abdelnoor and Sarah McCormack winning the 10k.
Ben Abdelnoor and Sarah McCormack (images Pete Aylward)
4. If you often drag a non-running spouse or unwilling children to your running events, only to find yourself in hock to them for weeks afterwards (‘well, we did stand around for hours in the cold waiting for you at that race…’) this is the event to change all that. Lakeland Trails specialise in family fun, with stalls, a bar, Fun Trails for under 12s and, my personal favourite Lakeland Trails innovation, Apres Trails! Apres Trails is live music, dancing, drinking and general jollity, the perfect way to end a race. Think of Lakeland Trails as more of a day out than a race.
5. Last but by no means least the atmosphere at Lakeland Trails races is just fantastic. I tend to think most runners are very friendly but there does seem to be a particularly special atmosphere at these races. Runners were very courteous at letting you past in narrow sections and when I opened a gate and held it open for the next couple of runners in the last half mile one of them refused to finish in front of me because I’d spent time opening the gate for him! The marshals and race organisers were just so supportive and friendly and I even made new friends in the toilet queue. It’s a smiley kind of atmosphere at Lakeland Trails.
Well, one of these runners is smiling... (image Pete Aylward)
The next Lakeland Trails race is at Coniston on 4th June (marathon, half marathon and 10k distances) and they run into the Autumn. If you haven’t tried one yet I highly recommend it! You can find all the information about them here:
www.lakelandtrails.org
Kirsty Reade
I’d describe myself as borderline obsessed with running, racing, reading about running, and watching others run so hopefully I’m fairly typical of Run247’s visitors. I tend to do longer races, particularly off-road marathons and ultras, but am pretty much a fan of any distance. I'm passionate about helping runners of all levels to improve through running communities I'm involved in, such as Underground Ultra and Free Range Runners.
