Boost For Keswick Mountain Festival Ultra As It Gains UTMB Qualification Status
Press Release / 09.12.2019
The organisers of Keswick Mountain Festival (KMF) have announced that the festival’s 50K trail race has been awarded accreditation by Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). Participants in the 2020 adidas TERREX 50K Trail Ultra Marathon at KMF can now earn two qualifying points (out of six required) for UTMB. The 50K will be held on Sunday 17 May, on the final day of KMF 2020.
Keswick Mountain Festival will be held from 15-17 May, taking over the town of Keswick with its unique mix of live music, sporting events, outdoor adventures, high profile speakers, taster activities, exhibitor stands and camping for all of the family. For 2020, many of the festival’s most popular sports and outdoor events return, including the adidas TERREX 5K, 10K, 25K and 50K Trail Races on the Saturday and Sunday, offering distances for all ages, abilities and levels of experience.
The adidas TERREX 50K Trail Ultra Marathon has become well established on the ultra-running calendar since it was introduced in 2015. Graded ‘very hard’, the route takes in some of the best trails and views that the Lake District has to offer, through the Watendlath, Borrowdale, Butteremere and Newlands valleys, and onto the fells that surround them. The course includes 1,995 metres of ascent and fast, technical descents, open valley running and sections on remote trails. As well as being a properly challenging race in its own right, the 50K at KMF now presents an ideal opportunity to earn qualifying points to use when submitting an entry for the 2021 UTMB events.
KMF director Nicola Meadley comments: “This is fantastic news for our ultra. The race was an instant hit when we introduced it in 2015 and is one of the best loved sporting events at the festival. The addition of being able to earn UTMB qualification points is a great boost for the adidas TERREX 50K Trail Ultra Marathon and we anticipate an even bigger and more competitive field at the starting line in 2020.”
Robert Muecke, global senior sports marketing manager at adidas TERREX Trail, adds: “adidas TERREX strives to give all performance levels the best race experience possible; no matter their ability, and we believe that through sport we have the power to change lives.
“We are proud to continue the partnership with Keswick Mountain Festival in 2020, and the adidas TERREX 50K Trail Ultra Marathon with its newly found status as UTMB qualification race. Together, we share a passion for trail running in the Lake District and the growing community participating in it.”