Lakeland Fell Race Unites Runners from Across the Globe in a Test of Endurance and Community

The sun was scorching down on the runners as they gathered at the starting point for their ultramarathon fell run.

With the collosal Lakeland views surrounding them in every direction – fear loomed over their heads as they knew that, for many, this would be one of the greatest physical challenges that they would ever undergo.

The 53km fell race, organised by RunThrough, sees over five hundred people ascending three mountains from bottom to top – gaining about 10,000 feet of elevation.

The event drew runners from coast to coast, with a few adventurous souls crossing borders from France and Sweden to join the race.

The fell race kicks off in Keswick, sending runners on a challenging loop across some of the Lake District’s most iconic peaks, including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Cat Bells.

RunThrough, the team behind the event, has been organising races for over 12 years. In 2025 alone, the company will deliver around 300 events across the UK, USA, and Europe, continuing to grow its reputation as one of the most active race organisers in the industry.

This year marked the debut of the RunThrough Trails: The Lakes event, a new addition to the UK’s trail running calendar. Event organiser James Tilley, 38, is no stranger to the world of fell running and has a clear vision for the future of fell racing:

“Our mission is to create iconic events that inspire runners to realise their potential, and every time someone crosses that finish line, we move one step closer to achieving that goal,” he said.

But bringing such a race to life takes more than plotting the perfect route.

“We have to acquire landowner permissions, work with local councils and businesses, and recruit a team of passionate volunteers to help us deliver a safe and memorable experience for our runners,” James added.

Alongside event organisers, the challenges for runners start long before race day. Months of preparation – both mental and physical – build toward a single day on the fells.

For many, Glen Atkinson’s, 29, decision to take part less than two months before the race would be considered a last-minute mistake.

He sees it as a challenge.

Having promised himself he’d run 30 miles before turning 30, this race was more than just a milestone on the map, it was the culmination of a long-held ambition.

Living in his van and commuting between Manchester and the Lake District, Glen finds solitude and peace being out in nature with beautiful scenery.

He explains how running is “his meditation”, adding: “it gives me the chance to process recent events while being away from the stresses of life”.

Having grown up in the Lakes, Glen is well acclimatised to his surroundings, knowing the mountains and terrain like the back of his hand. Prior to the race he has been breaking the course down into pieces and imagining himself crossing the finish line over and over again.

The racers, outfitted with vests packed full of food and water, and wearing their blocky trail running shoes, began their journey to the mountains at 8 a.m.

The beginning of the trail saw runners venturing through Borrowdale Rainforest. The sun beamed through the rows of trees, casting golden ribbons across the forest.

The first aid station appeared through the trees, a bright splash of colour nestled in the green, with volunteers stood ready with water, food and warm encouragement.

James explained how fully stocked ‘aid stations’ are placed every 10km, and the “amazing team off core staff and volunteers are spread out at key locations around the course to offer additional support and motivation to the runners”.

On race day, Glen had invited a close friend, Freda Summerfield, 56, to support him over part of the route.

After reaching the aid station together, they decided they would continue running at different paces. Freda explained, “that moment actually lifted a weight off. I was free to soak in the day, knowing I’d still be doing what I love most: moving through the mountains”.

Feeling fuelled up and ready to tackle the next stage of the race, the runners made their quick ascent up Scafell Pike. The rocky terrain proved difficult and energy-draining for the runners.

Weaving their way through tourists with one mission on their mind, many runners scarpered their descent back down the mountain, using their momentum to help them with the following incline.

The climb up to the top of Great Gable was one that required runners to scramble – using their hands to push themselves up some of the bigger rocks along the terrain.

Like most runners who reached the summit, Glen laughed with this sense of total elation, feeling totally relieved that the climb was over.

With the next 20km in mind, runners took in this moment of solitude – their legs burnt as though on fire, but their minds were filled with clarity.

Having participants run through some of the more rural, quieter parts of the Lake District, RunThrough pre-emptively communicates with local communities that might be affected.

James explained: “We are very conscious of the impact of bringing a thousand runners to some of these more isolated locations and so communicating with the local community, ensuring that we have everyone on board, is vital to the sustainability of our events”.

There’s something elemental about fell running – not just the terrain, wild and uneven underfoot, or temperamental weather. It’s the sense of something more.

On race days, the hills echo with the cheers of a whole community come alive. Local people spill onto the streets, their coats flapping in the wind like flags, their voices coarse and ragged from shouting. These spectators are part of the rhythm, part of the heartbeat.

Every runner who toes the start line knows that you’re never alone out there because there is a thread that connects you to the others, an unspoken bond.

Glen explained how the fell running community “is great to be in, always friendly faces and smiles”.

In every muddy grin at the finish line, in every battered pair of legs, in every shared pint and story at the pub afterwards, there’s that quiet understanding that you did it all together.