Mountain marathon

Last updated September 04, 2025

Mountain marathon is a variant of fell running, typically held over two days, and often incorporates a strong orienteering element. Competitors usually participate in teams of two and must carry their own food, tent, and other essential gear. Events feature various classes (e.g., for the Original Mountain Marathon: Elite, A, B, C, D, and Long, Medium, and Short Score).

Major Events

Several well-known mountain marathon events take place each year:

Marmot Dark Mountains – Held on the last weekend of January.
Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (LAMM) – Formerly held in the Scottish Highlands in June; ended in 2018.^[1]^[2]
Scottish Mountain Marathon (SMM) – A new event in Scotland, also held in June.
Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon (SLMM) – Takes place in or near the Lake District in early July.
Mourne Mountain Marathon – Held in the Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland in September.
ROC Mountain Marathon – Held on the last weekend of September.
Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) – Formerly the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (KIMM); takes place in a UK hill or mountain area on the last weekend of October.
Swiss International Mountain Marathon – Held in Switzerland in mid-August. Formerly known as KIMM Switzerland, Mammut International Mountain Marathon, and R'adys Mountain Marathon.

The Highlander Mountain Marathon, which began in 2007 and was held in April within two hours' drive of Inverness, has now ended.^[3]

Training and Preparation

Beginner participants can access training from various organizations, such as Trail Running Scotland.^[4]

Start Formats

Start arrangements typically differ between the two days to emphasize navigational skill:

**Day 1** – Events like the SLMM use a staggered start, with teams leaving at 1–2 minute intervals and receiving their route cards only after their time begins.
**Day 2** – Usually features a "chasing start," where the overnight leaders start first, followed by a mass start for remaining teams.

Equipment

Mountain marathons have influenced the development of specialized lightweight gear, including:

Lightweight tents
Multipocketed running rucksacks, such as the "OMM Classic Marathon 25 or 32 Sac"

References

↑ "LAST OF THE LAMM". OMM Original Mountain Marathon.
↑ "The death of the mountain marathon in Scotland".
↑ "ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END".
↑ "Trail Running Scotland".

External links

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[1] "LAST OF THE LAMM". OMM Original Mountain Marathon.

[2] "The death of the mountain marathon in Scotland".

[3] "ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END".

[4] "Trail Running Scotland".

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