Les Croupiers Running club

If you’re thinking of entering a mountain marathon for 2010 (and why wouldn’t you?) here’s a list of the most well known ones with dates (where known by me). Plenty of folks in the club have now run a MM so ask around for more information or ask me. I’m an amateur, but there are some highly experienced mountain ‘men’ in the club like Jules, Nick and Caroline. Remember that actual event locations are not revealed until closer to the date of the event, although some are traditionally held in a certain part of the country (e.g. the Saunders is held in the Lake District, and the Mourne is always in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland). If you need practice with a map and compass then try a few local orienteering events organized by the South Wales Orienteering Club (SWOC) – highly recommended. Ask Caroline or Nick for details.

Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (LAMM) (Scotland, 12/13 June 2010)

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon (SLMM) (Lake District, 3/4 July 2010)

Mourne Mountain Marathon (MMM) (Northern Ireland, September 2010)

Rab Mountain Marathon (RMM) (Northern England, 25/26 September 2010)

Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) (30/31 October 2010)

In several issues of ACE I have celebrated the virtues of off-road events without referring exclusively to well-established cross country and multi-terrain races. Don’t forget that we have the wonderful Brecon Beacons on our doorstep where many events take place for cycling, walking, fell running and orienteering. It doesn’t matter that some events are untimed; it’s a chance to experience the great outdoors in all weathers, learn new skills and improve fitness. The five events below have been mentioned before in issues of ACE, but I just wanted to remind you about them. Give one or two of them a go, if you haven’t already. You won’t be disappointed.

Caerphilly Summits Challenge: 3 July 2010

Organized by the Long Distance Walkers Association, this is becoming quite popular with Les Croupiers runners. You can choose from 11, 21 and 31 miles and you can tell from the name where the routes generally go. I would recommend the 21 miles rather than the longest course. This year the start was from Machen. 

Talybont Trial: 9 October 2010

Like the Sleepwalker Marathon, this route starts from Talybont-on-Usk, only this time in daylight! The full course is 20 miles with 4,500 feet of ascent. There’s a shorter 10 mile option. Although not an especially demanding route, at least physically, in poor weather the navigation can be quite demanding. Don’t attempt this one if your navigation skills need brushing up. The Chartists’ Cave can be quite hard to find when the mist is down.

Be fast. Be safe.