50K Trail Ultra Marathon

What’s Included

• Free photograph
• Electronic chip timing
• Event t-shirt (unless you choose to donate cost of T Shirt to our Catbells Conservation project with Fix the Fells)
• Access to 5 feed stations on the route
• Hydration will be provided.
• Your sports entry includes access to Big Top Live Music, daytime Tent Talks, and all activities ALL WEEKEND (Friday to Sunday)

Race Location

The Festival Village is located adjacent to The Theatre By The Lake close to Derwentwater. The start line is in the heart of the Festival Village. 

Address: Lakeside
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 5DJ

Timing & Cut Offs

The race starts from Crow Park at 06:00

There are 5 checkpoints (CP’s) around the course, for timing/safety purposes, which all competitors must visit & dib in at with their ‘timing card’, failure to do this will mean disqualification from the race & putting the whole event at risk. Please don’t forget, this is for your safety. At these CP’s there will be feed stations where you can fuel up with water, juice & some food. 2 marshals will be present at each CP.

There are cut off’s at the following CP’s:

• Honister Slate Mines CP (09:45 – 3 hours and 45 minutes after the start and 18km in distance)
• Crummock Water CP (12:00 – 6 hours after the start and 28km in distance)

This gives you ample time to get to each of these CP’s. In order to make the cut offs you need to move at an average of 5.5km per hour over the varied terrain of the race. This is a fast walk!

If you are outside the generous cut off we are afraid you will be pulled from the race, so please make sure you are ready for this distance and ascent.

If you are timed out, we can’t lay on the provision of transport to take you back to the race HQ, you must make your own way back to the events centre & hand in your ‘Timing Card’, failure to do this could result in the MRT’s being called out to search for you, so please make sure you do this.

There is a bus service running at regular intervals from both the Honister Slate Mines and Crummock Water, should you not make the cut offs.

Kit list

You must comply with the kit list below and carry this with you on the day of the race.*

• WATERPROOF whole body cover (i.e. covering the torso from head to ankles)
• Other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions including, as a minimum, hat and gloves but also e.g. a light long sleeved base layer
• Map & Compass and/or GPS type equipment is perfectly acceptable
• Whistle
• Emergency food (minimum of a bar/gel, must be still in your possession at the finish, if you have needed to eat it then you will be disqualified).
• Mobile phone fully charged (If this is your GPS device we advise you turn it to Airplane Mode, so to save the battery)
• First aid kit to include: blister plasters/1 large sterile wound dressing and tape to secure dressing
• 0.5L fluid
• £10 (emergency bus fare if needed)

*The race director and KMF reserve the right to ask you to carry more clothing on the day of the race, depending on the weather conditions. This will be detailed to you via email in the run up to the race.

Kit Checks:
We may decide to kit check on the day & if you are then found to not have the minimum kit requirements, we reserve the right to pull you from the race. Please understand this is from a safety point of view only.

Bad Weather Course:
Should we have serious weather conditions on the day we will be opting for a bad weather course, this will be advised upon on the day of the event. We do not take this decision lightly!

Previous Results

2022 Results

2021 Results

2019 Results

2018 Results

2017 Results

Distance: 51km
Ascent: 1995m
Course Record: Winning Time in 2016 – 4:36:19 – Donald Campbell

Route

The 50km route starts from inside Crow Park, heading down the east side of Derwentwater and coming back on itself on the trail next to the ‘Borrowdale Road’. Crossing the road the course runs through Castle Head Woods to head up the fell to the NE corner of Great Wood. Mountain trails then take you above Walla & Falcon Crags and into the hidden valley of Watendlath, which has some amazing single track to float along.

At the head of the valley you ‘grind it’ out over Grange Fell and descend the fast and technical track to the Rosthwaite Institute & your 1st Feed Station (CP 1) of the day. Watered and fed you will then head West up the track running parallel with the Honister Pass road to your 2nd Feed Station (CP 2) at the Honister Slate Mines. Now you follow the old miners track up and over the fell, passing Dubs Quarry round the back of Fleetwith Pike and into the stunning Buttermere Valley by an extremely technical track which descends steeply. The route now takes you around the southern shore of Buttermere and then Crummock Water to the 3rd Feed Station (CP 3) of the day at the foot of the lake on the western most tip.

Next follow wonderful single tracks through European feeling woodlands on the lake-shore to run back up the north side to the next hidden gem of a valley, Rannerdale which is famed for its Blue Bells. From here it’s up and over the pass at the head of the valley and then round the extremely remote single track hugging Whiteless Pike, Addocombe Beck and then through Salibeck pass. Dropping quickly down the technical and rocky track you end up in the Newlands Valley and the 4th Feed Station (CP 4) before you head towards Little Town on the country roads, before heading back onto the miners tracks and down the Newlands Valley arriving at the 5th Feed Station of the day at Hawes End (not a timed CP).

From here you’re on the final leg and you run along tranquil woodland trails until Portinscale village is reached, crossing the suspension bridge to head back into Keswick via the ‘Bob Graham Round’ finish. Once on the streets of Keswick you will be directed by marshals to the final sections of the race and the home straight passing through the boat yard and to your glory finish back in Crow Park at the Event site.

The route is a perfect training run/race for the Scafell Sky Race or the UTLD Lakeland 50 both held in July.

CONTINGENCY PLAN

It is possible that events and courses at KMF may need to be amended at short notice due to weather issues, water levels, road conditions or roadworks.

By nature, many of these factors are not possible to know well in advance. For each event there are a number of alternative options available which can be implemented at short notice. The organisers and race directors will always have athlete and spectator safety as the highest priority, and within that context will seek to provide the best possible experience.

All sporting events would be impacted if the Festival Village has to be closed. In this instance, as long as circumstances allow, all starts and finishes would be relocated to Lake Road and Lakeside Car Park and the events operated as smoothly as possible. 

A bad weather route will be published closer to the Festival, to be used if the course needs to be adjusted.

Athlete guide

Your athlete guide has now been emailed to you, and is also available to download here.

KMF2024 adidas TERREX Trail Runs Athlete Guide

Please make sure you read this prior to coming to the event, it will answer most if not all of your questions.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male and Female Overall and Male and Female Junior. We will also award 1st Place Male and Female prizes for Senior, V40, V50, & V60+.

UTMB Index Races and Points 2024

We want to clarify what the recent changes to the UTMB race set up means for the adidas Terrex KMF 50Km trail and what UTMB Index Races and Points mean to you, why you need them and what they will help you achieve if you have your sights set on either a ‘Race by UTMB’ or the actual UTMB itself.

The UTMB Index provides the performance level of each runner, by assessing the performance level of each trail runner for each of the 4 UTMB World Series race categories: 20K,50K,100k and 100M. Trail runners are also given a General UTMB Index calculated by combining results from all race categories.

It’s important to note a valid UTMB Index is mandatory to enter the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery. If you already have a UTMB Index you can find it Here

How do I get a valid UTMB Index?

A valid UTMB Index is achieved by completing at least one race of the UTMB World Series or a UTMB Index race in the relevant category within the previous 24 months. Once a race category has at least 1 valid result, all races from the past 36 months will be used to calculate your UTMB Index.

To enter the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery for the race of your choice, you must have a valid UTMB Index as per the chart.

What is a UTMB Index race?

A UTMB Index race contributes towards every Finishers UTMB Index in the corresponding category (20K, 50K, 100K or 100M) and gives privileged access to the UTMB World Series Events or Majors*. The privileged access corresponds to:

• Exclusive pre-sales period
• Early bird prices secured
• Access to races on a first come first served basis

*Excluding sold-out races where a draw will be organized. In the event of a draw, subscription will be exclusive to UTMB Index holders.

What does the UTMB Index Points and Ranking have to do with the adidas Terrex KMF 50Km Trail Run?

The adidas Terrex KMF 50Km Trail Run is UTMB index race

Finishing a UTMB Index race will contribute towards your UTMB Index. However, it will not provide Running Stones which are mandatory to enter the UTMB Mont-Blanc lottery for the World Series Finals.

What is an UTMB Index Ranking?

Taking part in Adidas Terrex KMF 50Km Trail Run will contribute to your UTMB index, very much the same as ITRA ranking points, these will allow you to measure yourself against other runners in the ranking, giving you an understanding of where you are performing in the world of trail running and whether you think a certain race is good for you.

It also allows you to take part in the ballot for the UTMB Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, which is the pinnacle race of the trail running season.

If you do not have a UTMB Index, then you will not get the chance to enter the UTMB Mont Blanc ballot and never get the chance to race in the iconic UTMB.

UTMB Index Points also allow you to enter a ‘Race by UTMB’ without the need to wait in a queue unless the race is sold out. The points will also allow you to enter a ‘Race by UTMB’ before the race entries open to the rest of the running world.

We welcome all outdoor sport enthusiasts to Keswick Mountain Festival and want to make the event as inclusive as possible. The document (link below for download) aims to give you all the information you need to allow you to make a decision about visiting the Festival and entering one of the events. Everyone has their own needs for information, so please contact us to discuss how we can support you in your chosen sport. Please email info@keswickmountainfestival.co.uk as soon as possible.

KMF has a dedicated Accessibility Zone with various exhibitors and sports providers. Please visit our accessible page on the website to see what’s on and to book onto the dedicated accessible activities. 

Download General Sport Accessible Guide >

Check out Accessibility Zone Page on website >