Mountain marathons

Since 1968, mountain marathons have been a regular fixture in the world of trail and fell running. They are utterly unique (and bonkers) in blending the marathon distance with fell running terrain and the adventure racing concept of carrying your equipment with you. Sound interesting?

The organisers and participants of these marathons, like most of the fell running community, take particular delight in what are, frankly, minging conditions. There is nothing more appealing than trudging through the "rain and the clag and the bog", as put by the team behind the Original Mountain Marathon. Reaching the finish line with a smile on your face in spite of those obstacles is what it's all about.

Before signing up to a mountain marathon, make sure that your orienteering skills are up to scratch. They usually involve a heavy element of navigation, plotting a course from checkpoint to checkpoint before descending on either the overnight camp or the finish line. One of our team failed to complete the 50th edition of the OMM after becoming lost in poor visibility above Langdale in Cumbria, so take our cue and brush up on your compass skills!

A mountain marathon is a completely unique experience in the world of running - use this page to find an upcoming event and get signed to see what it's all about!