Lakeland Trails™™ 08

"In one word - brilliant! Second year running this race, and it just gets better! Superbly organised by Graham & Claire, a testing course (especially for someone from the flatlands of Peterborough!), brilliant terrain, and mud! Loved it, and hope to be back next year." Aged Alan

 

"In a word - superb! Left me breathless, in more ways than one. This race will take some beating!" Mike the Tortoise

 

"Fantastic event run in magnificent scenery. This is the kind of event that reminds me why I run. Wonderful, friendly atmosphere, challenging without being brutal, incredible scenery and superb organisation. Particular thanks to the marshals, braving the drizzle to cheer us on." Dave Claret

 

"Glorious setting, beautiful scenery, fantastic route, every one welcome" Jud Hirst

 

"Lakeland Trails™ continue setting the benchmark for other trail races. Another first class event in the Lakeland Trails™ series. Possibly the easiest of the series but it still provides a challenge. This event had something for everyone. Races catering for all abilities/members of the family and plenty of entertainment to keep everybody amused. Organisation was superb and the marshalls did an excellent job of providing encouragement in the drizzle. Well done Graham and Claire. Looking forward to the next one." Phil Nightingale

 

"Excellent. Gradual uphills on varied terrain to very fast final third." Curious

 

"What goes up must come down!  After the climb, and oh what a climb the downhill is great and you go as fast as your body can deal with gravity. See you next year." Churters

 

"Tough going, but well worth it. Really enjoyed this race. The climbs are long, the descents are fast & teeth rattling, the bog was very wet & very muddy! Definite shoe loss potential if your laces aren't tight enough. I loved it and have already signed up for the Ullswater race in November. To quote my homeboy James Neild below, it's 'super duper'. Will definitely do again." Kevin Melling

 

"Excellent course, well organised race My favourite of the series so far - a well thought-out course with no bottlenecks and very enjoyable running all the way round. Thanks for a really enjoyable day." Marcus Crompton

 

"Challenging with superb views - but watch out for trenchfoot!" Peter Newstead

 

"Great event. Another fantastic event. It was my first time on the Derwent course and I was surprised just how fast it was. This felt like the easiest of the series to me. Thanks to all the organisers; it must take a massive effort to continually turn out these superb events." Norley Steve

 

"Looking forward to next year already" Tea Lady

 

"Thoroughly enjoyed it, looking forward to Coniston and Ullswater" Ian Hughes

 

"Another superbly organised race in the fantastic Lakes! Travelled across for this event early on a wet Saturday morning at the end of a long, difficult and stressful week at work. Result? Work cares banished as I lapped up the atmosphere of this truly gorgeous event! It's runs like this that keep me running. Uplifting, life-affirming. Devotees of the Lakeland series will need no further persuading because they've already been converted. If you are reading this as an unbeliever, sign up next year and make sure you do this race and the other 3. I've done them all for the first time this year, and am thrilled to have done so. They've got pretty much evertything: stunning scenery, great camaraderie and slick organisation. Oh yes, and on this occasion, some of the country's top trail/fell/cross country runners also participating. What other sport can offer you the chance to compete in the same event with that sports elite? 90 minutes with Beckham et al? Face Shane Warne at Lord's? Nah, don't think so. The organisers deserve praise for attracting such talent, and this should help get these events even firmer on the map than they already are. Well done. Counting off the days to Coniston." Simon Smith

 

"Super duper. Thought the climb would never stop,once it did-hold onto your hats!!.top race,well done to everyone who did it,see you next year compadres." James Neild

 

"First fell race. Lovely scenery, great atmosphere. Lots more fun than road!" Helen Rollins

 

"Lovely varied course, great organisation once again Great running conditions, fast first and last 3k, only one hill (OK, so it was 4k long) and even the infamous bogs weren't too bad - spot on!" Paul Chrisp

 

"These Trailfox races are brilliant - all credit to the organisers!" Martin Hibbert

 

"Who cares about rain when you've got races like this." Kwaka

 

"Fantastic race. Excellent organisation and very friendly." J Greenwood

 

"Everything we've come to expect of the Lakeland Trails™ Series - great scenery, top organisation, music and a bar at the end. Everything you could wish for. Arguably, in my opinion, the best race in the Series. It doesn't have the mammoth climbs of some of the others but, under clear skies, it is possibly the most scenic and its certainly the most 'runnable' throughout. Easy level start, long steady climb, splash through the bogs, climb some more, level stretch while you admire the view and look across the valley at the upward route, few slippery rocks to negotiate then a final flying descent back into Keswick and the 'village fete' prior to watching the kids races. All in all a great day out. Doubtless there will be a few individuals niggling about the fact that the route is longer than the 14k advertised. Personally, I couldn't care less - I run the route not the distance and PBs are pretty meaningless when comparing courses in Trail Running anyway. Well done again to Graham and Claire - see you for the party in Coniston." Cumbria Andy

 

"Tough race with something for everyone - nice and challenging Nice easy start to get you going followed by a gentle climb. The bog was the main problem and made it difficult to keep running. Nice break in the middle looking accross the valley at all the 'ants' going up the other side. Once all the climb was out of the way the views opened up although the speed of descent meant you really needed to concentrate on your feet rather than the views. This was controlled freefall - fantastic. Living round here I know the scenery is phenominal (when there is no cloud cover)but a clear sunny day wouldn't have helped race conditions. You need the water & mud! Thanks to the organisers who did a great job. Can't wait for Coniston and the whole series next year. When you live here it's easy to take the scenery for granted. These events remind you that you have some of the best training terrain in the country - and the weather only adds to the challenge." Johnc5