Lowe Alpine Stick with the LAMM
Rob Howard / 06.01.2005
Lowe Alpine have sponsored a mountain marathon in Scotland since 1994, when the first LAMM took place at Arrochar, and the good news is the sponsorship is set to continue. The company have committed to support the event, organised by Martin Stone, for a further 3 years.The race is known as the ‘Connoisseurs Mountain Marathon’ as it always takes place in wilderness terrain in Scotland – the only location with sufficiently large areas of trackless mountains for this race.
This year’s race will be held on June 18/19th but the location is kept secret until a day or two before the race, all Martin Stone will say is that it is further south than last year, when the courses were around Glencarron.
“We like to hold a ‘far north’ and a ‘not so far north’ event on alternate years,†he said, “always in a classic part of the Scottish Highlands. Our course planner for 2005 is Andy Creber, well known to MM’ers as both a planner and competitor. He planned for us at Spittal O’ Glenshee 2003.â€
Apart from the spectacular locations (there was even one on the Isle of Jura), the race is also known for springing surprises. Bus trips ensure the venue may not be the start, and there have been ferry, train and gondola rides to reach parts of the course in the past. On one occasion competitors were even bussed to a station to be met by a specially chartered steam train.
Despite the northerly location of last year’s race it still filled up so early entry is recommended. (This is only available online from the end of January.) It’s a good idea for booking cheap flights too, especially as there are coaches from the main Scottish airports.
All the race details and information, plus reports and pictures of previous races are on www.lamm.co.uk - but don’t let the pictures and reports of last year’s horrible weather put you off. (Snow in June!)
