Stanage Edge is a popular place for climbing. Source: Flickr by Darren Copley.

• Derwent Edge
• Stanage Edge
• Burbage Edge North
• Burbage Edge South
• Froggatt
• Curbar
• Baslow Edge
• Gardoms
• Birchens

Since the event is being held in the Peak District, most of the terrain is rough moorland. There is about 900 metres of ascent for walkers, runners and climbers and about with 1600 metres of ascent and descent for mountain bikers.

Nine Edges Race 2010

The 2010 Nine Edges race will take place on 25th September and will be the fifth event to take place. There is an entrance fee of £20 and competitors are also encouraged to raise money for Edale Mountain Rescue. For entry forms visit www.nineedges.co.uk.

On the day walkers and climbers start first, any time between 7.30am and 9.00am. Mountain bikers are next to get going between 9.00am and 10.00am. Finally the runners start en masse at 10am.

The outdoor gear requirement for the nine edges race is as follows:

• Waterproof jacket & leg cover
• Hat & gloves
• Emergency Whistle
• Polythene survival bag (not a blanket) or emergency shelter
• Enough food and drink for the duration of the race
• Map and compass suitable for navigating the course

If you are hiking it is sensible to wear walking boots, however these are not listed as a requirement on the nine edges race website.

Nine Edges Endurance Race Prizes

This event is intended as a personal test of endurance, particularly for walkers, climbers and bikers. However the event is also a fell race and so prize winners (runners only) will be announced at the Robin Hood pub that afternoon.

There is also a prize for the person who raises the most sponsorship, plus everyone who raises more than £500 in sponsorship will receive one day of outdoor instruction (hiking, climbing, abseiling, navigation techniques – your choice!) in the Peak District from a qualified instructor for free.

If you do not fancy competing, the Edale Mountain Rescue team needs volunteers to help marshal the Nine Edges Endurance Race.

Burbage Edge is one of the Nine Edges. Source: Flickr by Darren Copley.

Scotland Coast to Coast

Taking place on the 18th and 19th of September 2010, the Nokia Coast to Coast journey starts off on the North Sea, crossing Scotland along the sides of Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy before finishing up on the Isle of Glencoe and Ballachulish.

The starting point of the race is Nairn, north east of Inverness. The stages are as follows:

Imagine a route that traverses one of the most famous mountain landscapes in the world by bike, foot and boat; a journey that covers just over 100 miles, including a marathon-worth on foot; a journey that takes in some of the most iconic locations and amazing views in the Scottish Highlands: Loch Ness, the Great Glen, Ben Nevis and Glen Coe.

This is a challenge open to all adventurers. Some will come to win; some purely to finish; many just to take part. All will leave having enjoyed being active with friends in this spectacular setting. Nokia Coast to Coast is a truly defining journey through the mystery and lore of this ancient landscape.
THE CHALLENGE IS SET. CAN YOU CROSS SCOTLAND IN A WEEKEND?

Nokia Adventure Race Categories

There are three adventure racing categories, which are Challenger, Racer and Expert.

The Challenger event takes place over two days. It is for pairs or solos and aimed at anyone with a reasonable fitness level, whether or not they have previously taken part in an adventure race.

Racers must cover the 109 mile coast to coast route in a single day (13 hours to be precise!) For pairs or solos, Racers must be confident at on and off-road cycling and a tough runner, although no advanced skills in kayaking are required.

Experts must also complete the coast to coast course in one day. The Expert category is for solos only. It includes an extra dose of kayaking in Loch Ness and participants must be experienced kayakers. You will need to bring your own support team with a vehicle too.

Challengers and Racers must use the same bike for both on and off-road cycling events. Mountain bikes or hybrids are most suitable, but road bikes are not recommended. Experts can use more than one bike, but must also have their own kayak.

If you can’t make the Nokia Coast to Coast to Adventure Race, you could try the iROC race starting 28th May or the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon on 12/13th June 2010.

Adventure Racing Inspiration

Adventure racing requires a high level of fitness and good ability across a range of disciplines. Getting out and training for these events is essential. Having a goal to work towards definitely helps but if you are having trouble motivating yourself take a look at our mountain marathon training tips.

If our tips don’t help you could consult the world’s most successful adventure racer. For inspiration, advice and to find out what it takes to become a six times world champion adventure racer, have a read of our interview with Ian Adamson. As well as winning the Raid Gauloises, Primal Quest and Eco-Challenge adventure races, among others, Ian Adamson is also three times world champion endurance kayaker, paddling 262 miles in 24 hours!

Nokia Coast to Coast Adventure Race passes through Scotland's famous Loch Ness. Source Flickr by conner395.

Ian Adamson: Adventure Racer and Kayaker

In 2004 Ian broke the Guinness world record for endurance kayaking. To achieve this he spent 24 hours kayaking along the Yukon River in Canada. He racked up an impressive 262 miles, smashing his previous world records of 217 miles and 203 miles from 1998 and 1997. That’s 400,000 paddle strokes! Endurance kayaking is not just a case of settling down to a steady pace along the course of the river. “You need to find the fastest current, which means your net speed is slower, but your distance covered is greater.” Ian wrote in an interesting article for Paddler Magazine. Using a GPS is essential for maximising the benefit of this strategy, however it does not help prevent you getting sore buttocks, which is a common ailment in endurance kayaking.

In the interview below Ian tells us about his achievements, his plans for the future and his route to becoming an endurance athlete, as well as providing some tips for anyone wanting compete at a higher level.

If you enjoy reading about adventure racers, our interviews with The North Face sponsored Endurance Runner Sam Thompson and World Champion Orienteer Graham Gristwood also make a good read!

Ian Adamson Interview

CheapTents.com: What inspired you to get into Adventure Racing?

Ian Adamson: My parents were my initial inspiration to start exploring, although I have always had an in built drive for adventure. One thing that drove my folks nuts was my habit of disappearing for most of a day from a very young age. When I was 8 I had an 8 ft plywood sailing dingy which I would take on long (6-8 hour) journey’s in Sydney harbor. We lived up one of the rivers and I would sail down into the harbor, dodging the ferry’s and container ships. By the time I was 14 I had a lazer (14 ft fiberglass sail boat) and was heading out into the ocean. This came to a head on day when I was run down by a large racing yacht.

At 17 I backpacked around Britain and Europe on a rail pass, and at 18 took a year off after high school and sailed a 36 ft wooden yacht 6,000 miles up and down the great barrier reef. I then walked most of the way across China and Tibet when I was 20 (1986), and them made my way through south Asia, north Africa and eventually to Britain.

Our family spent a lot of time backpacking and hiking, so map and
compass was familiar to me before I could read.

I’ve always raced anything and everything, including track and cross
country, swimming, Nordic skiing and road cycling from elementary
school, then kayaking, orienteering, triathlon and adventure racing
since 1984.

CheapTents.com: What has been your biggest sporting achievement?

Ian Adamson: Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the ESPN X-Games were super cool, although I’m most proud of my Guinness World Record in kayaking (262 miles in 24 hours.) The one I remember most was my 7th and final world championship win in Sweden in 2006. We had a close to perfect race in fantastic weather and on a brilliant course. It was good enough for me to retire and call it good.

CheapTents.com: What is you biggest weakness?

Ian Adamson: Ice cream, chocolate and red wine! If you mean athletically, I was probably worst on my feet, which is paradoxical since I was a handy middle distance runner at school and have decent PRs in 10K through 50 miles.

CheapTents.com: When did you feel like you ‘made it’ as an Adventure Racer?

Ian Adamson: After winning Eco-Challenge, X-Games, Raid Gauloises and Southern Traverse (which morphed into the Adventure Race World Championships.) This was 1998 and we were making good money with sponsorship from Salomon and prize money. “We” being Team Eco-Internet which Robert Nagle and I co-founded in 1995, and later Salomon and then Nike.

CheapTents.com: Do you feel like you’ve satisfied your goals?

Ian Adamson: Absolutely yes. I went way further and way longer than I would have thought possible. This is really due to my exceptional teammates and sponsors, too many to mention. OK, I do want to throw in John Howard, Keith & Andrea Murray, Steve Gurney, Danelle Ballangee, Mike Kloser, Michael Tobin and Monique Merrill as well as the cast of rotating teammates we were fortunate to bring on the team over the years.

CheapTents.com: What do you find most challenging about training?

Ian Adamson: These days making the time is the kicker since I have a more than full time job as Dir or Research and Education at Newton Running.

CheapTents.com: What has been your worst injury from outdoors sports and how did it happen?

Ian Adamson: Probably the brain damage from lack of sleep over the years. I’ve not had a significant traumatic injury, so acquired diseases (such as Leptospirosis from Borneo), and sleep damage are the big ones. I mostly don’t remember because sleep deprivation destroys your memory.

CheapTents.com: What will be your most challenging event for next year?

Ian Adamson: I was asked to run Badwater so I’m going from office chair potato to running fried potato in six months. So far so good, I’m up to 45 miles on my long run since new years.

CheapTents.com: Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

Ian Adamson: Doing pretty much what I’m doing now. Working at Newton Running and directing/producing events. I’m currently in Haikou, Hainan working as the swim course director for Ironman China.

CheapTents.com: What are your main ambitions?

Ian Adamson: Pay off my house and spend more time with my partner Leah doing fun and pampered adventures. We aim to sail somewhere tropical each year, or cycle overseas (she has family in Spain and mine is in Australia.)

CheapTents.com: For other budding outdoor sports enthusiasts, what tips can you provide to help other compete at a higher level?

Ian Adamson:

1. Have fun with whatever you do.
2. Work on your weaknesses and maintain your strengths.
3. Stay hydrated.
4. Eat healthily (complete protein, complex carbs, fresh fruits and
   vegetables) immediately after exercise.
5. Nap if possible after eating after exercise – this helps repair and
   tissue building immensely.
6. Don’t overtrain, but definitely don’t undertrain.

CheapTents.com: What are your favourite bits of gear, and why?

Ian Adamson: I love topographical maps, especially marine charts. The aesthetic and function of a good map is hard to beat, and you can plan, dream and then execute with map in hand.

CheapTents.com: Any people or sponsors that you’d like thank?

Ian Adamson: Rail Riders Adventure Clothing was one of our first sponsors back in 1995, and John d’Arbeloff (owner) is still a friend and sponsor. He is providing my apparel for Badwater. Another long time and current sponsor is Princeton Tec, who were one of the first headlamp manufacturers and continue to push the edge of what is possible in lighting technology. I’ve used and still use their lights for everything from scuba diving to high mountain climbing. I’ve made some great friends over the years, including Kim and Coup at GoLite, and Murphy Reinshcriber who was my first sports agent and opened the door for me in event production. Robert Nagle of course, who is an exceptional teammate, leader and friend.

CheapTents.com: Anything else you would like to say?

Ian Adamson: Love what you do and do what you love. Pretty much anything is possible if you have a goal and a modicum of determination. I’ve had a full career as an athlete, a career as a bio-mechanical engineer, event producer, writer and now my new one at Newton Running.

CheapTents.com:

Thanks for answering our questions Ian! A most enjoyable read.

As well as being an awesome adventure racer, Ian Adamson is a motivational speaker and also organises the 24 hour triathlon event.

Rail Raiders have produced this fun video highlighting Ian’s achievements. It shows him participating in range of adventure sports as well as playing the flute!

Ian Adamson International Adventure Racing Successes

• Eco-Challenge – 1st 2001, 2000 and 1996, 2nd 2002 and 1997, 3rd 1995
• Primal Quest – 1st 2006, 2004, 2003, 3rd 2002
• AR World Championships – 1st 2006, 2004, 2nd 2005, 3rd 2001
• Southern Traverse – 1st 1996, 2nd 2005 and 1998, 3rd 2000
• Raid the North Extreme – 1st 2004, 2001 and 1999
• Raid World Championships – 1st 2004 and 1998, 2nd 2005
• Raid World Cup – 1st USA 2003, 2nd USA 2005, 2004 and 2000
• Extreme Adv. Hidalgo – 1st 2002
• Balance Bar – 1st OR 2003, 2nd CO 2003
• Hi Tec – 1st NY 1999, 3rd LA 2001
• ESPN X-Games – 1st 1997, 2nd 1996, 3rd 1995
• Adventure Xtreme, CO – 1st 2003, 2nd 2001, 3rd 2002

Eco-Challenge

The Eco-Challenge was an endurance adventure race competed by teams of four. It was an annual event held in the USA from 1995 until 2002. The race included mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camelback riding, whitewater canoeing, sea kayaking and scuba diving.

Primal Quest

Primal Quest takes place in the Badlands of South Dakota, USA. It is team based adventure racing expedition. The four person teams must run, ride and kayak a 600 mile course through remote wilderness.

ESPN X-Games

The ESPN X-Games (Extreme Games) event take place in the USA every year and includes extreme sports such Skateboarding, BMX, Moto-X as well as Street and Rally Car Racing. The Winter X-Games includes skiing, snowmobiling and snowboarding.

Badwater Ultramarathon

The world’s toughest foot race!

The Badwater Ultramarathon is the most demanding and extreme running race on the planet. Taking place every July, in temperatures up to 55°C, adventure runners compete in a 135 mile non-stop run, from Death Valley to Mount Witney, California.

Ironman Triathlon Bolton

“Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life” Ironman registered trademark.

Top athletes can compete the course in just over 8 hours, however to finish the race, participants must complete all three sections within 15 hours. All finishers are entitled to call themselves an Ironman!

The Ironman Triathlon Swimming Stage is 2.4 miles. Photo by: Bakke-Svensson/Ironman.

The Liverpool Triathlon is an Olympic distance event, that is a swim of 1.5km, bike ride of 40km and a run of 10km. I completed it in just over 2 hours and 33 minutes, putting me in the top 27% of competitors. Its a good background but I’ll need to step up a gear or two if I am to complete Ironman, which is being held in Bolton on the 1st of August 2010. There will be a lot of training for me over the next 8 months, but by signing up for other events along the way I will be able to build up my stamina with no excuses for ducking out of the training.

What with the Christmas plus the snow and ice, my training volume has been lower than I would have liked. I’ve only been doing about 3 hours a week. I’ll need to be doing 8 or 9 hours a week if I’m to become an Ironman! My training will include running or cycling 13 miles to work. In addition to that I’ll be doing other personal challenges. For example, on my day off last Friday I rode 50 miles on the bike then ran a half marathon. This was quite a testing, but I got through it ok. Swimming is will be the toughest part of the challenge for me. The training is addictive so I should be able to keep it up.

The Lovell Telescope is a familiar landmark on the Cheshire plains. Source Flickr by cloudsoup.

Following on from the Jodrell Bank Sportive, is the Verenti Cheshire Cat Cyclosportive. This will take place on 28th of March and will be a slightly tougher challenge for me. This bike ride is going to be 100 miles long, 20 more than the Jodrell Bank Sportive. There will be a steep climb or two and plenty of undulating country lanes!

As well as keeping up with the Ironman training, I’ll be posting updates about my progress here on the CheapTents.com blog.

Households in rural Africa spend an average of 26% of their time fetching water.

It is hard to imagine spending all that time and effort collecting clean water when all we have to do is turn on a tap…even if it means walking across a campsite! When we go hiking and wild camping we must take our on water with us, or use purification tablets or a water filter. But let’s face it we would not want to have to carry or find and purify our water all the time! We thought that we should learn more, so we asked Abe Clark to tell us about the water crisis and about his running challenge…

Abe Clark “Running Water” Interview

CheapTents.com: What inspired you to get into running?

Abe Clark: Running was a hobby always encouraged by my parents. In the summer of 4th grade they said they would give me $10 if I logged 100 miles that summer. It was easy money in my 10 year old mind. The next two years my mom would pick me up from the small Lutheran school I went to and drive me 15 miles to the public school where my older brother was on the new high school cross country team that retired Coach Bill Greiten had started. He had coached many years previously and was filled with running knowledge. I got my fill of inspiration jogging next to Coach Greiten after the varsity team left us in the dust.
My older brother, Ben, who is now in the Marine Corps, started running in junior high. He broke the Gillett Junior High School mile record and it became my goal to break his mark of 5:18. Four years later I ended up tying the record with my teammate, Jason Soper, setting the mark at 5:07.9. It only stood three years before my younger brother, Josh, smashed it by running a 4:56. What started as friendly brotherly competition became a life time hobby and I have been hooked ever since.

CheapTents.com: What is the furthest distance that you have covered in any running event to date?

Abe Clark: After cross-country season my freshman year at UW Green Bay I really started to run a lot. Part of it was that I had an hour between classes instead of going to my dorm room I would just go running. After a winter and spring of running 80 to 115 mile per week I entered my first marathon pretty much on a whim. Three days before the race, when I was considering it, I ran 20 miles just to make sure I could make it that far. At the age of 19 I ended up running a 2:36 marathon. Since then I have run numerous 20 to 30 mile training runs. I am currently logging at least three 20 milers a week and one 30 miler in my preparation for the 2850 mile run.

CheapTents.com: What is your biggest weakness?

Abe Clark: I always have to remind my self to live in the present. I am a dreamer or what I like to call a “realist dreamer” I am constantly planning and preparing myself for big future plans and often the little every day things of the present get ignored or neglected.
As far as running goes I never had a “kick” I am sure I will have many more weaknesses to report after the run across America.

CheapTents.com: What do you find most challenging about training?

Abe Clark: Living in Wisconsin it is definitely the cold winters. In the fall, the leaf covered trails and the weather beg you to come run. Then it turns freezing cold and you have to stick to the snowy roads. I think it takes three times the mental mind power to put on the running shoes. It is also challenging to keep a high level of motivation and consistency. Two to five hour runs is a bit long to fit in on the lunch hour.

CheapTents.com: What has been your worst injury from outdoor sports and how did it happen?

Abe Clark: I have been very blessed with a basically injury free running career, knock on wood. While living on a sailboat and cruising the great lakes this past summer I had my fair share of cuts and close calls but otherwise I have been quite healthy.

CheapTents.com: In February 2010 you will be running 2,860 miles across the United States. What has made you decide to take up this challenge?

Abe Clark: I am very drawn to adventure and the feeling of living in complete freedom. When the idea of running across America made its way into my mind four years ago. It seemed like everything was pushing me towards this moment. The two things that pushed me over the edge may sound a bit strange because they don’t have anything to do with running. 1) fixing up an old sailboat, living on it and sailing Lake Michigan all summer with no prior knowledge of sailing. This gave me a lot of confidence in my self and my dreams. A lot can be accomplished when you follow a dream 100%. The other major thing that inspired me to attempt the run was a speaker I heard at a Christian camp I worked at called Fort Wilderness. The message was on Gods will for your life and the speaker (Michael Lane) made it crystal clear. God works through your passions. This knowledge in combination with one of my favourite bible verses (Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.) made me an extremely motivated. I am so excited to use this strength that I have been empowered by. I plan to keep taking one step of faith at a time. There is an amazing comfort when you finally let go of your own life and agenda and just let God use you.

Abe Clark will be running 2,860 Miles Across the USA!

CheapTents.com: What is the Water Crisis?

Abe Clark: Here are a few of the facts that really stood out to me!
- 884 Million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world’s population. (WHO-UNICEF)
- 1.8 Million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day. (UNDP) That is like blowing up an American pre-school classroom every 6 seconds.
Learn more facts at http://www.water.cc/living-water/resources/

CheapTents.com: How does Living Water International help to provide people with clean drinking water?

Abe Clark: Living Water International projects provide safe water and hygiene education at an average cost of $1= water for 1 person for 1 year; so $25 provides clean drinking water for someone for a generation. LWI’s approach is to train, equip, and consult nationals. This ensures that the energy and resources contributed by volunteers and donors result in sustainable, participatory water systems that meet the long-term needs of communities. Their priorities are appropriate technology, community involvement, maintenance and sustainability, and to be a Christian witness. LWI faith in Jesus is the reason they do what they do. Jesus tells us to think more highly of others than ourselves; he calls us to love those on society’s margins, and to see the image of God in the poorest of the poor.

CheapTents.com: How long will it take you to run 2,860 miles across the United States?

Abe Clark: The plan is 140 days long from February 15th to July 4th that averages out to 20.4 miles a day including the 14 days off. I will in speak in churches along the way spreading word of the need for clean water in underdeveloped countries.

View Larger Map

CheapTents.com: Why did you choose the particular route from Dana Point, California, to Atlantic City, New Jersey?

Abe Clark: The biggest reason for starting in Dana Point which is south of LA was because I wanted to be in the warmer climates for the first part of the run. I also have family I knew I could stay with the days before the run and to send me off. Once I get through New Mexico it will start to turn to spring and the route will take me on a north east direction. To be honest there is no real reason for ending in Atlantic City besides the name sounded like a fitting city to end in. I really wanted to run through Washington DC for the political possibilities then just get close to New York City.

CheapTents.com: What are your favourite bits of gear, and why?

Abe Clark: I have a Recon 3 sleeping bag that my parents gave me for Christmas a few years ago that is awesome! Other then that I keep it pretty much on the cheap side. Kohl’s running shoes and Wal-Mart tents. I think it would be great to get some good gear for the run since there will definitely be days and nights where there is no one around and I will need supplies to be able to survive.

CheapTents.com: Any thing else you would like to say?

Abe Clark: I think that a lot of people look at this as just a run but I think if I look at it as a run I will fail. This run is so long that it will become a life style not an event. The Water Crisis is unimaginable and when I think about running across America it is also inconceivable. The good news is that taking one step at a time can solve them both. Please join my site and follow me on my journey across America and the quest for clean water and adventure. You can also donate to LWI from my site, my goal is to raise $100,000 if we succeed we will literally change to lives of 10,000 people! If you would like to buy Running Water apparel where the proceeds will go to supporting the run its self, visit www.cafepress.com/runningwater. I will have frequent blog updates as well as a weekly video update posted to my web site www.runningwater.ning.com

Let the adventure begin!

Happy Running

Abe Clark

CheapTents.com:

Thank you Abe for taking the time to answer our questions. Good luck with the run!

If you enjoyed reading this interview, you will surely like our interviews with ultra-marathon runner Sam Thompson and world champion orienteer Graham Gristwood!

Mourne way marathon runners - image by Whisper Twomey

The 2010 Mourne Way Marathon is set to take place on Saturday 12 June 2010. After the sucess of last years event it is once again set to attract runners from Ireland, the UK and Europe to compete in what is fast becoming the most talked about off road marathon in Ireland.

In an added twist to this years event there will be the “Mourne Way Ultra Marathon” – a back to back marathon event which will see runners run off road across 52 miles (84km) of the best scenery that Northern Ireland has to offer in an “out and back” format.

There will also be a marathon, half marathon, 10k and 26 mile challenge walk events on the day.

The main event will see competitors race the 26 miles of the Mourne Way from Newcastle to Rostrevor, Co Down. This route is a linear route, almost entirely off road, traversing the foothills of the Mourne Mountains passing Tollymore Forest, Fofanny Dam, Spelga Dam, Leitrim Lodge and Yellow Water before arriving at the finish in Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor.

All routes will be fully waymarked – therefore navigation skills will not be a requirement for this event.

View Larger Map

Kit List for the Mourne Way Marathon

mourne way marathon river crossing - image by Trey Wheeler

• Running shoes (trail runners or ordinary runners) or Walking Boots

The items listed below are OPTIONAL items for the 10K Run / Walk

• Hydration pack or bottle (to hold at least 1 litre)
• Energy snacks
• Windproof top
• Hat or Buff®

Remember if you are planning on taking part it is essential that you undertake a training programme beforehand to ensure the day is as memorable as possible and not a nightmare if you’re having a hard time keeping motivated have a look here for Mountain marathon training tips.

Entries for the event are now open and all details can be found at www.mournewaymarathon.com

Climbing a hill in the Mourne way marathon - image by Trey Wheeler

Entries Open for LAMM 2010

Entries are now open for the 2010 annual, two day mountain orienteering event, known as the LAMM: Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon.

Held every year in Scotland since 1994, LAMM is a trail running and orienteering event for pairs, with overnight camping at a remote location. To ensure fair competition and add an air of mystery the location is always kept secret until the last minute!

LAMM 2010 is to be held on Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th June 2010. The cost is £80 per team. In addition you must have a Sports Ident card. To enter the 2010 LAMM event and buy a Sports Ident card, click here.

Martin Stone and all at the LAMM team recommend entering the mountain marathon as soon as possible to avoid disappointment:

We have another great area lined up in one of the classic mountain areas of the Scottish Highlands with a scattering of big hills. Our planner this year is Andy Spenceley, who planned the excellent routes at Inchnadamph 2006, Glenfinnan 2008 and was our controller at Kintail 2009. Competition for places in the LAMM is now very keen and the event is always oversubscribed.

To cater for differing abilities there are several different courses: Elite, A, B, C, D and score course.

• Score course – Saturday 7 hours, Sunday 6 hours
• Elite and A courses will be similar to previous events
• B course will be positioned mid-way between 2008 B & C courses
• C course will be positioned mid-way between 2008 C & D courses
• D course will be positioned mid-way between 2008 D & Novice courses, with less technical controls than the other courses.

The score course is limited to the number of hours shown above, and competitors choose which orienteering controls to collect.

Lowe Alpine Outdoor Gear

Unsurprisingly, the main sponsor of the LAMM event is outdoor gear manufacturer Lowe Alpine, whose gear highly regarded by adventure racers, hill and mountain runners and participants of many other outdoor sports. If you need any trail running gear, a rucksack, waterproofs, thermal wear or any other outdoor kit, it can be found at CheapTents.com!

Although the event takes place in June, event organisers warn competitors not to be complacent about the weather and how serious the Scottish Mountains can be. Taking enough trail running outdoor gear is vital, since the freezing level can be at between 800 and 1000 m, even in the summer. It can still snow!

Please bring a selection of heavier garments to the event so that you can choose appropriate clothing/tent before you start. Please don’t make the same mistakes as in 2004 and come to the LAMM with only Summer equipment.

Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon 2009 – Kintail

The 2010 LAMM Mountain Marathon will follow a similar format to previous years events, with big mountains being the order of the day. The 2009 event took place in Kintail, starting at Morvich, Shiel Bridge, on the main A87 road between and Kyle of Lochalsh and Invergarry. The mountains known as the five sisters of Kintail are a famous landmark in the area. Those in the elite section had the pleasure of orienteering checkpoints at either end and either side of the five sisters!

The Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon 2009 took place around the Five Sisters of Kintail. Source: Flickr by Graham Lewis (Grinner).

Around 1000 competitors took part in the mountain marathon, which took place in the mountains north of Glen Shiel. Many of the hills there are very steep with lots of rock, so there was more climbing than usual, however the courses were made a little shorter to compensate. There was even an orienteering checkpoint at the summit of a Munro.

The prize for the leading Elite team was more punishment: a free entry to the Swedish Bjorkliden Arctic Mountain Marathon (BAMM), inlcuding flights and accommodation. This was won by Andy Symonds and Jethro Lennox.

The Adbu Dhabi Adventure Race, climbing in the desert.

Winter is upon us now in the UK. There was a frost this morning and there has been snow on some our higher peaks for some time now. Its time to put on lots of layers and maybe get out our winter accessories. You can’t beat hiking on a sunny winters day, seeing the snow in the trees and on the ground. The fresh, cold air invigorates your face, making your nose go cold. Best of all there is a log fire and a pint of real ale with your name on it, waiting in the country pub at the end of the walk. So why anyone would want to go to Abu Dhabi to take part in a gruelling adventure triathlon across the desert is beyond me…:-)

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge

The adventure racing triathlon starts today, the 4th, and runs until the 9th of December. The action will start off in Abu Dhabi and take place in the surrounding sea and desert. Teams of varying abilities take part from all over the world, including from the UK. There are 40 adventure racing teams altogether, both males and females, representing 20 nationalities. Whilst many world class top athletes take part, less well known athletes are encouraged too. The race organisers even pay the entry fees and flight costs for a few teams with no previous international adventure racing experience.

The innovative nature of this demanding sporting and cultural odyssey, with its unique emphasis on fairness, accessibility and camaraderie, represents adventure racing’s most exciting opportunity to race against the world’s most international field.

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 2009 Itinerary

Each days racing starts and ends at the same place for every team. The Adventure Race itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Introduction – Quadrathlon. Abu Dhabi, Corniche Beach to Lulu Island and back. A 30 km warm up event featuring biking, running and kayaking, followed by 900 m swim “in case you overheat”.
Day 1: Main event – Sea Kayaking. A 33 km paddle to a small island north of Saadiyat Island. The night will be spent bivouacing on the island.

Day 2: Sea Kayaking. Starting at 6:30 there is a choice of two sea kayaking routes back to Corniche beach. The route choice is either 50 km or 80 km. Bus transportation takes the teams to their overnight desert bivouac at Liwa Dunes, Rub Al Kahli.

Day 3 & 4: Trekking. Again competitor’s have a choice of distance for this next stage. It’s either 70 km or 120 km, but at either distance, the trek through the desert will be a tough challenge, before collapsing exhausted at the end of the day at another desert bivouac.

Day 5: Mountain Biking. There are two mountain bike stages. The first is 33 km to the Qasr Al Sarab. The second is 55 km along a desert trail. Bus transportation takes the adventure racers to the nights bivouac location at Jebel Hafeet, near Al Ain city.

Day 6: Trekking, Mountain Biking and Running. The 21 km trek takes the adventure athletes on an ascent of 700m up the Jebel Hafeet mountain and includes an element of climbing with ropes. From there its a 37 km mountain bike ride into the city of Al Ain Oasis. The last section of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 2009 is a 3.2km run to the finish line, at the Al Ain Museum.

Where would you rather be? Biking, running, kayaking and swimming in the scorching hot desert sun or going for a bracing hike in the snow in the UK? Let us know…click on the comments link at the bottom of this post!

The 700 m ascent of Jebel Hafeet Mountain. Photo credit Monica Dalmasso.

If the hot desert environment of Abu Dhabi takes your fancy, you might also be interested in hiking in Afghanistan or taking part in the Marathon Des Sables adventure desert race in the Sahara.

10 Interesting Facts about Abu Dhabi

1. Abu Dhabi is located on the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi is one of the seven United Arab Emirates (See map below.)
2. The main hub of the city of Abu Dhabi is located on a island, 250 m from the mainland.
3. In 2006 the population of Abu Dhabi emirate was just under 1.5 million people.
4. The majority of the inhabitants are expatriate workers and it is relatively tolerant of different religions.
5. Alcohol can be purchased in bars and restaurants within four or five star hotels.
6. Abu Dhabi is twinned with Bethlehem, Brisbane, Houston, Madrid and Minsk.
7. Abu Dhabi is one of the locations where the Red Bull International Air Race where is held.
8. There are frequent sandstorms in the summer months and the temperature often exceeds 35°C.
9. The city of Al Ain is a desert oasis, located 93 miles (150 km) from Abu Dhabi, it is a favourite resort destination for people from the capital.
10. Each Abu Dhabi resident uses 550 litres of water per day on average.

View Larger Map

Thanks to Kraig Becker at the Adventure Blog for bringing the Abu Dhabi Adventure Race event to my attention.

Carl Loftus practising adventure running at the Winter Hill Fell Race.

We are always interested to hear from people of are taking on an outdoor related challenge to raise money for their favourite cause. We were recently contacted by tri-athlete Carl Loftus, of Warrington Tri Club, who is planning to do a bit of adventure running…

Running The Standstone Trail

The sandstone trail in Cheshire stretches from Whitchurch to Frodsham and takes in 34 miles of stunning scenery including Beeston Castle, Rawhead, Delamere and finally the Mersey view at Frodsham. And I’m going to run it all in one day!

Warrington Triathlon Club

The reason behind this is to raise money for a new junior section of Warrington Triathlon Club. The club started in 2004 and has steadily grown over the years, with club members representing Great Britain in the world championships for the last four years, we’ve also had regional champions and recently one of the club’s coaches was voted North West coach of the year. Last year we held our first open race, The Northwich Aquathlon. This was primarily a junior race, catering for ages 7 to adults. With almost one hundred competitors the event was considered a great success, and it was this enthusiasm from the participants that convinced us that the club should have our own junior section.

To get things off to a good start for the junior club we will need some financial backing and in order to do this Warrington Tri Club are going to be holding a few fund raising events. One of these will be my attempt to run the length of the sandstone trail. Having completed the Sandstone trail race a number of times, which, at 17 miles is only half of the distance, I have always fancied having a go at doing the whole thing. The incentive to raise money for the junior club is just the push that I’ll need.

Trail Running: Carl Loftus from Warrington Tri Club.

I came to the triathlon club in 2006 with a background in running and have done some landmark races including the London Marathon twice. Although this is a road race I have always been attracted to the off road side of things and have often found myself scrambling up hills or wallowing in mud on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I have been building up for this race by entering a few long fell races including the Windgather fell race, and the Winter Hill race, but none of them are as long as this!

Due to the race being so long I will probably have other club members running with me for sections along the way and hopefully they will bring extra supplies to keep me going throughout. I hope to complete the full length of the trail in around six hours but this is really an estimate, as I have never run this far before. The weather will probably play a big part in the run too as I will be attempting it at the end of February 2010. So mud and rain will probably play a large part in the post event discussions and whether people are going to be running it with me.

Can you help?

Running the 34 mile off-road Sandstone Trail is certainly going to be tough challenge! If you are interested in sponsoring or supporting Carl in his fund raising efforts, please contact him at Warrington Tri Club: warringtontri@yahoo.co.uk

World Champion Orienteer Graham Gristwood will be representing the UK. In an interview with CheapTents.com in March this year, he told us that

In 2009 there will be 3 major championships, starting off with the Nordic Championships in June, which are being held in Finland. That will be a really tough competition taking on the scandinavians on on their own patch.

Salo is located on the coast of south west Finland, about 110 km west of Helsinki. The terrain around Salo is well known for its good for orienteering, comprising of forest land with bare rock, moderate slopes and some marshes. There will be long distance and middle distance races as well as relays.

There will also be an urban area 12 -15 minute sprint in the centre of the town Salo.

The distances for each of the long, medium and relay races varies according groupings of M21, W21, M20 and W20. The longest of the races, i.e. the M21 long distance race is 15.2 km with a climb of 520 m, it has 29 controls and will take approximately 85 minutes to complete. The middle distance races have a distance of between 3 and 6 km, depending upon the group, whereas the range for each leg of the relay is from about 4 to 6 km with total climbs from 95 to 140 m. Further details can be found on the official Nordic Orienteering Championships website, www.noc2009.fi

The main orienteering events are scheduled to take place as follows:

Friday 05.06.2009
- Model event, Long and Middle distance and Relay
Saturday 06.06.2009
- Long distance (NOC 2009) and public event day 1
Sunday 07.06.2009
- Relay (NOC 2009) and public event day 2
Monday 08.06.2009
- Model events: Middle distance and Sprint
Tuesday 09.06.2009
- Middle distance (NOC2009 & WCup Event 1)
Wednesday 10.06.2009
- Sprint, Qualification and Final (NOC2009 & WCup, Event 2)

General information about this exciting outdoor sport can be found in our introduction to orienteering.