Lakeland 100 expert Paul Wilson predicts ‘absolutely brilliant’ race amid ‘stacked’ field’ and ‘perfect running conditions’

Paul Wilson is a vastly experienced ultra runner and a Montane Lakeland 50 and 100 veteran, having completed the flagship 100-mile race five times.

Among an array of ultras and running challenges, he has finished the Spine Race twice, represented the England & UK Backyard Ultra team and became only the second person to complete the 116-mile, 47,000ft total ascent Steve Parr Round in less than 48 hours.

Wilson also offers ultra running coaching through Summit Ultra, and while he won’t be at the Lakeland 50 and 100 this year, several of his clients will be in action.

“Stacked field”

Although last year’s Lakeland 100 women’s winner Emma Stuart isn’t running this weekend, the female field field for the top race features a number of talented athletes.

Speaking to RUN247, Wilson picked out some of the leading contenders for both the men’s and women’s editions, echoing Beth Pascall by picking out 2021 Hardrock 100 podium finisher Ryan Smith as one to watch along with Andy Berry following his Lake District 24-hour Fell Challenge record in May.

“The Lakeland 100 is a stacked field,” he said. “The women’s is probably more stacked than the men.

“You’ve got Sabrina Verjee, Elaine Bisson, Anna Troup, Laura Swanton-Rouvelin – they’re just the ones I’ve picked out from the entry list without a deeper look through it.

“I would say Sabrina is probably on for the win.

“The men’s 100 is going to be an exciting race. You’ve got Kim Collison and Ryan Smith, an American runner who is over here, he’s a pretty handy lad.

“Jarlath McKenna, who won the British title at the Anglo Celtic Plate in Northern Ireland in April, he’s a hot favourite.

“A top runner at the minute, who’s on fire, is Andy Berry. He hasn’t ran the 100 before, but he’s another hot favourite. If he has a good race, he’ll be hard to beat.

“The 100 should be absolutely brilliant, it will be interesting dot watching. And then the 50, there’s loads of people in that.

“I’ve got quite a few athletes that I coach who are running. I’m going to be dot watching quite intently.

“Conditions are looking favourable, I think it’s about 15, 16 degrees in Ambleside. That’s perfect running conditions in the Lakes.”

Wet weather irrelevant

The Lake District has been experiencing frequent rainfall in recent days, and the Lakeland 50 and 100 is likely to be a damp affair.

Given the leading Lakeland 100 runners are all accustomed to running the most toughest UK ultras, Wilson says the wet weather will be of little concern.

“It’s maybe going to rain, but that won’t bother them, the top runners,” he stated. “Sabrina Verjee, Elaine Bisson, Anna Troup, these lot have all done the Spine Race.

“They’re used to running in adverse weather conditions, Kim Collison, Andy Berry, the weather’s not going to affect them, they’ll just plough on.”

However, Wilson also highlighted that less experienced runners should be wary of the conditions and potential issues it can cause during long-distance trail running.

“If they don’t look after themselves, it can cause chafing,” he noted. “I’ve got a few runners running and it’s all about taking care of yourself.

“If you get a hot spot or blisters, make sure you get Vaseline on, sort anything out early and then it won’t become an issue for you later on.”

“Festival atmosphere”

Wilson concluded by hailing the Lakeland 50 and 100 as an event, having witnessed much of its growth over the past 13 years.

“The Lakeland 50 and 100, for a long time it has been ‘the’ running festival in Britain,” he added. “It’s just like a festival atmosphere in Coniston. It’s absolutely brilliant.

“For anyone who hasn’t done it, it is a must-do race.