Lakeland Trails 2011

33 watchers

Bebbybackrabs Nov 2011 8:52pm, 27 Nov 2011 14 posts	0 Bebbybackrabs Thanks, I like the look of it, and the timing of it means I've got enough time to put some training in. Do you have any idea of the elevation and number of hills?
CumbriAndy Nov 2011 9:31pm, 27 Nov 2011 599 posts	0 CumbriAndy To be honest - I'd be nervous about recommending it as a first marathon and would actively counsel against it for anybody not used to running off-road. I'd hope somebody has a route somewhere from July that they can post on here. To give an idea of difficulty, my best road marathon time is a fraction over 3:30 - at the point I had to stop at Coniston in the summer, due to an unscheduled encounter with the scenery, I was looking at 4:30. There were also a good number of Lakeland Trails novices moaning beforehand about the apparent shortage of water stations (only four and a need to carry your own) and some surprised afterwards by the challenging nature of the terrain. The fact that it was blisteringly hot didn't help matters and I imagine it would be a different beast entirely in a typical Lake District summer. All that having been said - it is a lovely route in a great location. The organisation will be excellent and the atmosphere surrounding the event and in the village second to none. If you enter then you will receive no end of encouragement on here and I find it hard to believe that anybody wouldn't enjoy it if they approached it from a point of knowledge - I'd strongly recommend doing one or more of the shorter events beforehand by way of build up.
IanS Nov 2011 9:36pm, 27 Nov 2011 1,203 posts	0 IanS The route is something like this: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/routes-edit.php?id=526610 The ascent/descent is about 780m (ish) so maybe 2200-2400 feet? Like Andy I came in about an hour over my road marathon time so you're not going to be getting a PB, but the route is pretty stunning, the support is great and you're running with a great bunch of people
RooA Nov 2011 9:38pm, 27 Nov 2011 17,074 posts	0 RooA I did it as my first marathon and found it alright, lovely in fact, but I walked all the uphills. Mind you I'd done bog all training really so I'm not typical.
Stepford Wife Nov 2011 9:40pm, 27 Nov 2011 16,356 posts	0 Stepford Wife No, Roo, you aren't and that is the wonder of it all
IanS Nov 2011 9:44pm, 27 Nov 2011 1,204 posts	0 IanS Oh, and I forgot to say the marshals are brilliant too
Stepford Wife Nov 2011 9:46pm, 27 Nov 2011 16,357 posts	0 Stepford Wife Even if we have to patch the runners up as they make friends with the scenery.....
Bebbybackrabs Nov 2011 9:53pm, 27 Nov 2011 15 posts	0 Bebbybackrabs Thanks for the info, I race off road and take part in cross country in the winter (done one today), and have also done a 15 mile off road race, so feel okay with that part of it. I wanted a marathon that was scenic, wasn't mass participation, and I could enjoy, but wasn't expecting it to be a breeze, so it ticked all the boxes for that. Taking on board the valuable comments on time taken for the race, will probably enter, and add an hour on to my original expected finish time, and tailor a training plan around that. Thanks for the valuable feedback. Next task, buy a Fetch vest!
Kev Scone Nov 2011 10:15pm, 29 Nov 2011 7,635 posts	0 Kev Scone can't wait for next years series, and taking Betty Bongo on tour
redeaston Dec 2011 9:37pm, 11 Dec 2011 171 posts	0 redeaston I have just entered the spring series.