Lakes Sky Ultra

If you’re looking for a serious challenge, this is it. Inspired by the great sky races of Europe, Lakes Sky Ultra™ is one of the most technically demanding course-marked race’s the Lake District has ever seen. Entries are vetted to ensure that only the most experienced runners will tackle this ultra-distance route, taking in Swirral Edge and other extremely technical terrain, demanding that the runners have superb mountain skills.

50km+ of Lake District paths, trails and rock with 4’000m+ ascent will test your endurance to the limit – but stamina alone won’t get you to the finish line.

You’ll need a good head for heights and nerves of steel: you’re going to traverse three of the most amazing ridge-lines in the Lake District: The bone shaking and very wild ridge of Long Stile Edge and the very alpine and rocky scramble of Striding and Swirral Edges. We’re talking serious ascent with some distance thrown in and previous race/mountain experience is a must.

We packed all the best central and eastern-Lake District mountain running trails we know into this course: you’ll go up and over High Street, Longstile Edge, pass Haweswater and Smallwater, Thornthwaite Crag, Theshthwaite Mouth, Stoney Cove Pike, St Raven’s Edge, Red Screes, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn with some of the most remote valleys in the area dropped in for good measure. It’s an epic day out to say the least.

And just as you think you can make the whole distance we’ve added some new KoM Super Stages in to spice it all up. This year we will be combining the times for a real up-hill extravaganza, so remember to train ‘hill reps’ galore. It’s a race within a race, and the prizes will go to the runners who can dig the deepest in the final flight to the finish.

(credit: race organiser)