11 years on the Lakeland Trails
Fresh from taking part in Lakeland Trails in Keswick, our Race Director reflects on his 11 years on the Lakeland Trails...
There’s something special about the Lakeland Trails’ events and they are hugely important to so many people. They helped me get my life back on track over 10 years ago, and, of course, remain hugely important to this day.
I took part in my first Lakeland Trails event in Keswick in 2013. I’d moved back to Cumbria the previous year to settle down with my then girlfriend and start what I thought was my dream job. As so often is the case, things didn’t go to plan! Newly single, I joined my local running club, St Bees Triers, as way of finding friends and also as a distraction from a challenging new job.
I’d always been in the cross country team at school so entering a trail run in the Lake District seemed like an obvious challenge. It still makes me smile when I see the photo of me on the course, under-trained, over-dressed but enjoying the freedom running on the trails brings. I’d not run so far for many years and the distant sound of Batala Lancaster as I approached Latrigg was most-welcoming.
Inspired by this first event, a few weeks later I marshalled at Helvellyn on what turned out to be a horrifically wet day – so much so that my offer of being in the remotest part of the course didn’t transpire as the 15k course was shortened!
Marshalling and running at the same event became the norm until I took responsibility for course and marshal managing. I’d quit the nightmare job and was looking for a challenge, gradually taking on more responsibility before my ear was bent by Lakeland Trails’ founder, Graham Patten. He’d started the events in 2004 with 80 runners, a far cry from the 1000+ we see at the events these days. He was looking to take a step back and it didn’t take long for me to say ‘yes’.
Lakeland Trails had been created to bring inclusive, family-friendly fun and excitement to running – a contrast to the perceived elitism of fell races where you’d just turn up, run and then that was you done. It probably explains why we get such a good mix of runners and why people take part because they don’t feel pressured into running all the way.
It was an easy choice really. From a job-perspective, I wasn’t being challenged in my current role and I saw it as a great opportunity to utilise my skills…and I got along great with all of the Crew. They do such a fantastic job, and we were pushing the envelope more and more with our informal bake offs at the events (perhaps it’s something we should bring back).
Of course, the main reason for saying yes was the events themselves. What better way to payback everything Lakeland Trails had done for me by enabling the events to continue to inspire, enthuse and provided all of the health benefits for the thousands of runners taking part each year?
The first Lakeland Trails’ events were game changers back in 2004 and even after 20 years, they remain the most popular series of events in the Lake District. Why’s that? Yes, the stunning routes play a huge part but it’s all of the people involved that sets us apart.
Feedback we regularly get is how wonderful our marshals are – always cheery, always supportive and out in all weathers to keep the runners safe.
We attract some of the leading trail runners - Damian Hall, holder of many endurance fastest known times, is a regular attendee, for example, and we always have a sharp end of elite athletes taking part.
It’s great having them along to the events but it’s equally important that we make trail running fun and accessible for everyone. After all, someone’s got to finish last and, as one of our regulars, Scottish Lassie Jane Malcolm once told me, “We’re not here to be fast, we’re here because we want to have fun!” My response, “That’s exactly why we love having you at the Lakeland Trails!”
It's a huge responsibility putting the events and I’m delighted that our new Event Manager, Dan Duxbury, is already doing such a fantastic job. So much so, I was able to get back to where I started my Lakeland Trails’ journey – back on the Lakeland Trails in Keswick to experience what it is that made me fall in love with the events. I can’t wait to do it again!