The Last KIMM

Rob Howard / 26.10.2005

Those competing in this year’s Karrimor International Mountain Marathon, will be racing in the last ever KIMM, but they can return next year for the same classic race, when it will be under the new title of ‘The Original Mountain Marathon’.

The final race under the long association with Karrimor takes place this coming weekend in the Lake District in N.W. England, when 3000 competitors will take part in the 38th KIMM, an event which has had a fundamental effect on competitive outdoor events and the development of lightweight equipment.

This event was the first and original Mountain Marathon when it was founded in 1968 at the instigation of Gerry Charnley, and claims to be the forerunner of all adventure racing. That first experimental race wasn’t under the Karrimor name, but every race since has been, and the ‘KIMM’ has built up a worldwide reputation and spawned ‘mountain marathons’ around the world on it’s 2 person/2day format. Several others are held in the UK and there are KIMM’s in France and Sweden as well.

Competitors need have no cause for concern about the change, as it’s in name only and the event will continue with the same experienced organising team, led by Jen Longbottom.

Co-owner and former Karrimor MD Mike Parsons, who has been developing the KIMMLite brand alongside the event in the past few years, said, "Having competed in my first KIMM in 1971, I suppose you could call me an original. Despite injuries I am determined to start and hopefully finish the last KIMM this coming weekend and next year, the first with the new name Original Mountain Marathon, OMM.