British ultrarunner Damian Hall will fulfil a career ambition this weekend as he finally gets the opportunity to line up for the gruelling, yet spectacular, Lakeland 100.
Regarded as the UK’s premier trail event, the ‘Ultra Tour of the Lake District’ has been on Hall’s wishlist ever since he took up the sport of professional running more than a decade ago.
With a circular 100-mile route encompassing the whole of the Lakeland fells, the course includes around 6,300 metres of ascent and consists almost entirely of public bridleways and footpaths.
Having focused very much on achieving success at UTMB and Tor des Géants during the majority of his career, Hall always felt that a Lakeland 100 bid might be a little too risky… until now.
‘All I can do is my best’
Posting on his Instagram account, he said: “Race week! All the good nerves ahead of @lakeland_50_100 on Friday. When I was getting into the sport, circa 2013, Lakeland 100 (L100) was the Big One domestically. And to many of us, it still is.
“I ran L50 11 years ago, when I was still a newbie, and it was a hill area bellyflop. But I was blown away by the atmosphere of the event.
“I want to run the UK’s top 100s while I can still be semi-competitive (The other two main milers have high-carbon sponsors, so I won’t be doing them for now). Eight summers were given up to UTMB or the Tor, which made doing L100 unwise. But finally, it fits. All I can do is my best.”
He goes on to express delight that the course is likely to be boggy and that he cannot wait to arrive in the Lake District and kick off the weekend with his customary pre-race cup of tea.
Tough day out
Weaving its way through stunning valleys and picturesque fells, the trail starts and finishes in Coniston, taking in the likes of Dunnerdale fells, Eskdale, Wasdale, Buttermere, Keswick, Haweswater, Kentmere, Ambleside and Elterwater along the way.
With a competitor completion rate of between 40% and 50%, the race is regarded as one of the toughest on the racing calendar, with organisers boasting that a Lakeland 100 finisher’s medal is ‘likely to be the most treasured of possessions’.
Starting at 6pm on Friday evening, experienced and elite athletes are expected to cross the finish line between 19 and 20 hours later. The 40-hour cut-off for completion is at 10am on Sunday, as competitors are challenged by not only a tricky climb and descent, but also faced with rugged terrain, darkness and tricky navigation.
For more information on the Lakeland 100, click HERE.
