Former Penrith man Michael Kenyon felt the need for speed as he finished second and, along with Montane Lakeland 50 winner Jarleth McKenna, broke the course record in last weekend’s gruelling race.
Michael, aged 33, whose athletics journey started as a youngster with town-based Eden Runners Juniors, lined up with many hundreds of others last weekend for a tough and internationally renowned two-pronged Lakeland event which was themed on blockbuster movie Top Gun.
Entrants competed over either 50 miles or a 100-mile course.
The latter Lakeland 100 “ultra tour of the Lake District” starts and finishes in Coniston. It encompasses all areas of the Lakeland fells, includes around 6,300m of ascent and consists almost entirely of public bridleways and footpaths.
Competitors have 40 hours to complete a tough route with the climbing, descent, rugged terrain and tricky navigation resulting in a 40 to 50 per cent drop-out rate.
The Lakeland 50, meanwhile, is dubbed “one of the greatest trail challenges in Europe, perhaps the world”. It is run over the second half of the 100 course, starts within the Dalemain estate near Penrith, ends in Coniston and has a 24-hour time limit.
Eden-based endurance athlete Kim Collison, of Borrowdale Fell Runners, was third overall in the Lakeland 100 and second in his MV40 age category in a time of 19hr 22min 48sec. Mark Darbyshire, also MV40, was first across the finish line in 18.45.19.
Kim, of Mungrisdale, has a string of impressive performances and course records to his name and is a past Lakeland 50 winner, in 2014, when he was crowned British trail running champion. He has represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at world trail championships on two occasions, winning a team bronze in 2015.
He was aiming to complete the loop, having failed in 2013 and last year at Ambleside. “I really hoped if I managed to do this I would get on the podium and get the experience I missed when I won the 50-mile race in 2014,” wrote Kim on Facebook.
He missed the podium ceremony having had to return home for work.
“I wanted to see if I could work my way through the field throughout the race for a sub 21-hour time,” he said.
Kim started in relaxed fashion, eventually found himself in the lead group and made a decision to go with the pace.
There was also an excellent performance in last weekend’s Lakeland 100 by Eden Runners’ James Chapman, who was fifth overall in a time of 21.08.09 as entrants battled torrential downpours along the way.
In the Lakeland 50, Michael’s finishing time as he came home in second spot was 7hr 30min 11sec. Both he and race winner Jarlath (7.17.49), of Tyne Bridge Harriers, broke the course record, which had previously stood at 7.34.07.
Michael, who is married with a young family, runs for Dronfield Running Club, near Sheffield. He is a past pupil at Penrith’s Beaconside School and Ullswater Community College.
“I knew of the event for years, but was recommended to go for it by the race director of the Dig Deep 50 last year, Lee Kemp, after I won the Dig Deep 50 race,” Michael told the Herald. “He recommended it as it would be one of the best races in the country in terms of good competition for myself, ie plenty of strong runners.
“The event itself is like a festival — very positive and friendly. Music, good food and drink, speakers, etc. It’s all Top Gun themed. The race briefing, given by the race director, is very entertaining and finished off with the priest from Kentmere church giving a prayer.
“The route was great, amazing scenery, big ascents and descents with terrain from technical to fast and smooth.
“All the way round there was great support, from the checkpoints and when running through the towns and villages. For example we were cheered all the way through Ambleside and Kentmere and many other smaller villages. The weather was good. It started off (on Saturday morning) raining and finished in glorious sunshine.
“The race was fast this year with myself and Jarleth breaking the previous course record, and third place (Dan Thacker, 7.34.18) coming very close to breaking it as well.
“I have never done an event like it. It’s big, with 2,200 runners, but still felt very friendly.”
Kath Laithwaite, from Rosgill, near Shap, completed the Lakeland 50 in 16.16.25, but helped another runner, Rachael Hopton, from Lincolnshire, who was struggling towards the end. Kath stayed with her to see her home and dry. She also raised £500 for Penrith mountain rescue team through her efforts.
