Lakeland 50/100 Is Coming. Here's How To Prep For Big Races

Whether you’re taking on the Lakeland 50 or the 100, you’re heading for an unforgettable weekend of big climbs, beautiful trails, questionable decisions at 3am, and one very special atmosphere.

We caught up with Harrier Technical Advisor Dan Summers to ask:

“What should runners be focusing on ahead of a race like Lakeland?”

Here’s what he had to say…

So, you managed to secure your place into one of the best weekends of ultra running in the United Kingdom, the Lakeland 50/100.   It will feel like a long time ago that you committed to this adventure but it is now quickly coming around!  This is a real celebration of ultra running - a great atmosphere, beautiful place and incredible testing routes.  

The next 4 or 5 weeks are an important time in your training and preparation.  This is the period of time when you want to be hitting your big training days but also ensuring that you take care of yourself to not take on too much.   It is also a time when you can get all your kit ready and start to test out things on your longer runs.  If you can get up to the Lake District to run some of the route, that is always really helpful and is very specific training for the day itself.   If you can’t get up to the Lake District, don’t worry, just try to find some hilly routes locally to where you live.  

In the next few weeks you should be aiming to hit your longest training days.  Both the 50 and the 100 have a mix of long steady climbs and some shorter but steeper climbs.  Try to practice both of these if you can.  If you are planning to use poles, make sure you take them out with you and force yourself to practice with them.  Try to follow the same nutrition strategy that you plan to use in the race - this is the best opportunity to make sure that your stomach can handle the gels you’re going to use!  There is usually a great selection of food on offer at the check points.  The fancy dress of some of the volunteers is also something that is guaranteed to cheer you up even in the middle of the night! 

When training in this last couple of months it also a great idea to pack your bag with all the mandatory kit and take it out on the run - you’ll find out loads about how it feels and where things rub that you won’t find out using a lighter pack.  There is nothing too strange in the mandatory kit list but it is definitely worth sorting things like your plastic cup and cutlery in advance! 

As well as getting out on these big running days, make sure you focus on recovering afterwards.  I know it easier said than done but try to reduce stress in your life, get to bed earlier and eat well.  Now is not the time to be putting extra unnecessary stress on yourself.  The aim in this period is to finish healthy and ready to let your body adapt to all the training during your taper for the race. 

The actual amount and frequency of your training is very personal.  You’ll know how much you usually do and how much extra your body can take.   Just always make sure to not increase your training dramatically in a short period of time.  In my experience that’s a recipe for injury and illness - we don’t want either of those things at this stage (or ever!).

Keep your eye on the goal as it is now less than 2 months away!  It’s an incredible weekend and an experience you’ll never forget!  If you can, try to spend some time at the race HQ in Coniston, it’s a great atmosphere and a chance to hang out with loads of like-minded people.  If you are running the 50 then it is also definitely worth arriving for the start of the 100 - the atmosphere at the start is incredible with 100s of people lining the streets!