The Original Mountain Marathon
Two by Two
Rob Howard / 19.10.2007
After the first frosts have come and gone the last weekend of October is when the clocks are put back an hour. It’s the threshold between autumn and winter and a time of year when the fickle British climate could throw almost any kind of weather at those who venture into the high hills. Yet, it’s the one weekend when it’s a certainty there will be a gathering of over 3000 walkers, runners, orienteers and adventure racers somewhere in the wilds for 2 days of uncompromising competition.The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) is, for many, the most important fixture in the outdoor calendar, and this year is a milestone event as it’s the 40th race since that first groundbreaking event at Muker in the Pennines in 1968. At that time the sport of orienteering was a new idea in the UK and adventure racing hadn’t even been thought of. Yet, founder Gerry Charnley came up with a novel concept that had elements of both. His idea has proved to have an enduring appeal, and has had a significant influence on lightweight equipment design and outdoor sports in the UK and internationally.
The idea of a competition for pairs who would work together and be self reliant for two days, using mountain craft and endurance to navigate a course across the wildest mountain regions of the UK has become the classic ‘two by two’ mountain marathon formula. It’s fundamentally unchanged from those early days, but the original idea of a 26.2 marathon distance each day has evolved into a full range of classes to suit all abilities.
The ethos of the race too remains the same. Competing pairs are expected to look after themselves, and if they retire to get back to race HQ under their own steam. There is no provision to come and ‘rescue’ them. GPS use is not allowed either, yet despite the number of competitors, the remote locations and some extreme weather, the race has an exemplary safety record and there has never been a fatality. The OMM is a weekend where competitors can leave behind the pressures and constraints of modern life.See All Event Posts
