Lake
District trail running week
2024
Week
of classic trail running in
the UK Lake District 
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Course
overview
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Trail
running is seeing a huge growth of people
getting into this amazing sport. We
have been offering Alpine trail running
camps for several years in the summer
months, and due to client demand we
started to offer these UK courses based
in the Lake District too. |
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These
weeks are based in the English Lake
District in Cumbria, as there are hundreds
of kilometers of trails to choose from,
and a huge variety of terrain to run
on. We offer a great balance of running,
coaching, and trail running advice,
preparation and top tips. |
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These
training camps are open to anyone, but
we suggest that you will get the most
out of them if you are happy running
up to 10km, or even a half marathon.
If you are in any doubt as to if they
will suit, then get in touch to get
advice from one of the coaches. |
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As
well as enjoying a great week of trail
running of c. 15 - 20km a day, we aim
to teach you the key safety skills for
route planning and mountain running,
with a focus put on the selection of
equipment and how to develop your training
plans for trail running. |
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Don't
worry if you have never run on mountain
trails before, as you will pick up the
skills quickly with expert coaching
and guidance. All you need is to be
fit for regular running, to have a sense
of humour, and to love the outdoors.
We will teach you all the skills you
need. |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Lake District Course
Information Booklet, course specific
kit list and invoice. |
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Kit for mountain running
When you book on this trip you'll be set a detailed equipment list. Have a good read through it, as despite the relatively low altitude of the Lake District fells, the weather and conditions can sometimes be challenging. The best investment you'll make will be a decent pair of fell running shoes (e.g. Inov8 Mudclaw / Salomon Fellraiser), for good grip and to keep you low to the ground to reduce the risks of turning an ankle. The fells generally provide good cushioning for your feet, so the priority is traction and stability. Always take a waterproof running jacket, as even on the good days, it can be useful against any wind, and as a warm layer. Taking any running poles is completely optional, but if you do take some, the instructor will teach you how to use them efficiently. We've produced a whole page specifically about mountain running kit, so to view it click here. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The
Lake District is blessed with hundreds of kilometers
of trails over all types of terrain, from forest
tracks to high peaks and mountain passes, and so
the itinerary can be flexed on any day to take account
of weather conditions, to ensure that you sample
the best on offer. The itinerary below is to provide
you with a taster of what you could achieve, and
isn't fixed in stone. After each day in the itinerary
is an outline of the key teaching focus points for
every day, so you get a real idea of what you can
learn about. As far as the distances run each day,
we advertise c. 15 - 20km each day, though try andd
select routes to cater for people to opt out of
sections if they would like an easier day. We aren't
expecting you to be mountain running machines, just
a great spirit of loving the mountains, and wanting
to give it a go. Speed is nothing. Enjoyment is
everything! Many clients come back year after year
to repeat this trail running camp, but they need
never repeat a trail they have run before.
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Sunday
Travel to Windermere to arrive for the 17:00
check-in and course safety and itinerary briefings.
There is time for kit checks or rental of
equipment (see inclusions below for what you
are provided as part of the course price).
Briefings are over by 18:00 and the Lake District
hosts accompany the group to pre-dinner drinks.
Some clients opt to travel out a day or two
early to get their hill legs back and to explore
the area. Night in Windermere. |
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Monday
A
classic warm up trail run in the Lake District,
such as the horseshoe of the Coniston fells
over Wetherlam, Swirl How and the Old Man
of Coniston. The key focus of the day is to
develop different
running techniques for varied terrain types. Night in Windermere.
Equipment and clothing choice and its selection
- footwear, poles, bags, compression kit.
 Highlight
- run the amazing trail along the shoulder
of Coniston Old Man to the summit. |
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Tuesday
Today
the focus is on key mountain skills for trail
running, and so the day is spent mountain
walking / running , with a focus on navigation
techniques and acclimatisation issues. Typically
this is a fairly long hill day in the Eastern
Fells above Kirkstone. Night in Windermere.
Mountain navigation for running routes, using
GPS, maps & compass - NNAS syllabus.
Highlight
- gaining autonomy skills hiking and running
in unspoiled stunning scenery. |
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Wednesday
We
aim for a slightly longer run today, to build
on the skills learned so far. An example might
be to run over the Lion and Lamb above Grasmere,
as these gain access to amazing trail running
terrain on the fells behind, and you can run
a good circuit. Night in Windermere.
Focus on injury avoidance, and common first
aid scenarios planning, stretching, triage.
Highlight
- run up to, and even scramble to the top
of, the Lion rock far above Grasmere. |
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Thursday
Often
a day running on sections of the Lakeland
100 mile trail race route. This day will provide
you really different views of the central
fells. You will be fully involved in the day's
route planning and you can work on your pacing
and race timing skills today.
Night in Windermere.
Focus on pacing, timings, effects of gradient,
and terrain factors - personal plans.
Highlight
- experience running on a section of the Lakeland
100 trail race route! |
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Friday
A
longer trail run, up to a half marathon in
length, to really put all the elements together
that you have learnt over the week. Typically
the route taken would run over several higher
fell tops, and could include Helvellyn, Blencathra,
or the Langdale Pikes. Night in Windermere.
The icing on the cake after all the efforts
for the week - run a half mountain marathon.
Highlight
- completing a half marathon across the mountains
on rough mountain trails. |
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Saturday
After
you check out of your accommodation, there
is an optional debrief in the office. If you
are travelling by train, there is one departure
an hour from Windermere. Depart for home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow
itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather
and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we
are forced to alter the plans. If this is
the case, suitable alternatives are offered.
Please use this outline itinerary as a guide
to the types of route / activity that you
will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course |
5
full days UIMLA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total,
Sunday-Saturday |
£499 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Inclusions:
1) UIMLA guide for five days, 2) Lake District
course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment
discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Road transport
in Lake District to running venues each day,
7) Logistics support and provision of group
safety equipment. |
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| Exclusions: 1) Travel to & from Windermere for the course, 2) Accommodation
in Windermere area, though we can assist with
finding / booking accommodation to suit all
budgets (from £30pppn in twin room B&B),
3) Bar / food bills & tips, laundry, telephone
calls,
4) Road transport outside the National Park
(not usually required). |
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| Notes:
The course is guaranteed to operate with just
three or more people, up to a maximum of six
people per leader. There is a discount of
£100 per person for two people booking
together (i.e. £399 each, so £798
in total). |
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Current
course availability
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| Location
data for this trip |
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meeting point for these courses is at our office in Windermere
in the Lake District National Park. There is easy access
by car, and the train station is just 150m from the office
door. From here there are a huge variety of trails to
run on and mountain terrain to opt for, so we can cater
for all weather and conditions. We genuinely believe that
the Lake District is second to none with the quality and
quantity of amazing fell and trail running opportunities.
The UK hills are famed for often providing four seasons
in one day, and that is what makes the fell running such
a unique and rewarding challenge. Don't forget that it
helps to have a great selection of pubs in the Lake Dictrict
to enjoy a beer and natter in after the run! |
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| Free
resources |
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FREE
Podcast
Getting into trail running...
Trail
running is a fastgrowing sport, and
this podcast explains what it involves,
how to get into it, and also goes through
all of the equipment that is required. |
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FREE
Resource - Fell &
Trail running kit list...
If you are planning on attending one
of our trail running courses, you can
see a kit check list of the clothing
and equipment that we recommend you
take. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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| Why
choose our trips? |
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The
photo above sums it up. All of these finisher jackets
of the UTMB race series belong to our head running
leader. We genuinely think that there is no other
operator out there who is more credible! |
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We
don't offer talks from 'celebrity' runners, or go
in for the chardonnay in a hot tub 'lifestyle',
or quasi-scientific courses. Ours are run by people
who do it, not talk the talk. |
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The
effect on our prices is that we can offer you great
value. We genuinely believe that you'll spend more
time actually running and in the mountains on our
courses, than with anyone else. |
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Anyone
who is leading you will be a finisher of one of
the iconic trail races, such as the Ultra Trail
du Mont Blanc, Tor du Geants or Leadville or WS100. |
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| Essential reading and tips |
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This guidebook has 40 routes in the Lake District, and with free GPX (GPS) files to help navigation. Lots of top tips, and run lengths from an hour or two, right up to 30 mile race routes. Signed copy. BUY NOW |
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| This book was written by award-winning author Kingsley Jones, who is also one of our lead UIMLA running guide team. |
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