OMM’s Big 5-0

The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) will celebrate its 50^th running this year.

The world’s longest running mountain marathon, originally known as the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon, was first staged in 1968 and has since seen more than 100,000 people take part over the five decades since.

Staged in mid-autumn each year the non-profit event is not a mountain marathon in the sense of a straight hill race but instead combines orienteering, hillwalking and fell running with trail running. Any surplus funds the organisers have after costs is donated to charities to improve hill access and outdoor education.

The organisers describe it as, “A two-day race including an overnight wild camp with an ethos of self-reliance and endurance, competitors are at the mercy of the elements…and their own decisions.”

The impressive list of previous competitors competing regularly includes Joss Naylor and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

“My last race prior to attempting the Eiger was the Karrimor Mountain Marathon (renamed the Original Mountain Marathon) in October 2006, aged sixty-two years. My team-mate and leader was John Brooke.” – Sir Ranulph Fiennes

The OMM’s organisers have promised a special weekend this October 28^th-29^th 2017 to mark the 50^th anniversary of the race.

Looking ahead to this October we have a very special weekend planned and it will be one not to miss. We would like to invite anyone who has been involved or competed over the years to join us on the Friday night for an evening celebrating the community that has made the event what it is today. We would also welcome any supporters of competitor to join us and cheer them all back on the Sunday. As is the 50 year tradition the event location will be released in August. Entries are open now, see you in October.

“Looking ahead to this October we have a very special weekend planned and it will be one not to miss. We would like to invite anyone who has been involved or competed over the years to join us on the Friday night for an evening celebrating the community that has made the event what it is today. We would also welcome any supporters of competitor to join us and cheer them all back on the Sunday. See you in October,” a statement from The OMM’s organisers reads.

As is traditional the exact location of the event will not be announced until August.  The course requires a 420km2 area of wild space and takes over 100 volunteers to put on the weekend.