Ultra Running - Ian Lowther
Many people consider marathons to be the pinnacle of long-distance running. They view the 26.2-mile distance as the uppermost limit for their ability, and once it has been completed, the challenge has been surmounted and that's the end of that. The end result is often either preparing for another shot next year to try and improve the time, or vowing to never attempt such a distance ever again - depending on how it went on the day.
Outside of this group, though, are hardy souls who take on something a bit meatier. For these individuals, 26 miles is little more than the first step on a route that can take them five or more times beyond that distance. After all, what's a long-distance race unless it takes days to complete, or is the kind of length a car couldn't even go without needing a re-fuel? These individuals are The Ultrarunners.
So if marathons don't hold the same appeal anymore, or you're finding them to not be the challenge they once seemed, it might be time to consider an ULTRA, Ian Lowther certainly did and has been challenging himself over longer and longer distances.
Outside of this group, though, are hardy souls who take on something a bit meatier. For these individuals, 26 miles is little more than the first step on a route that can take them five or more times beyond that distance. After all, what's a long-distance race unless it takes days to complete, or is the kind of length a car couldn't even go without needing a re-fuel? These individuals are The Ultrarunners.
So if marathons don't hold the same appeal anymore, or you're finding them to not be the challenge they once seemed, it might be time to consider an ULTRA, Ian Lowther certainly did and has been challenging himself over longer and longer distances.
Ian has always enjoyed Running and has completed several Great North Run’s as he enjoys challenging himself. In 2018 a friend showed him a Race called ‘Rat Race The Wall’ which ran 70 miles in one continuous period starting in Carlisle and finishing in Newcastle upon Tyne with a 26-hour time limit. Ian didn’t know if he could it, or even what sort of training would be needed for an event like that, but he entered the 2019 race and managed to complete it in under 19 hours.
After competing again in 2020 (2019 race was cancelled due to Covid) he kept thinking how far he can push himself and how far could he run. He found out about a few events of varying distances and entered them :–
‘Pilgrim 100-mile Ultra’ which follows the pilgrimage the monks took from Holy Island to Chollerford near Hexham, the event took place in the September of 2021, and he completed the event in just under 32 hours.
‘The Montane Cheviot Goat’ which was completely different to the Wall, it was a 60 mile Ultra in the Cheviot Hills with an event date of Early December, due to Covid and a Winter storm this event didn’t take place until December 2022, Ian entered and finished with 15 minutes to spare of the 24 hour cut off.
'Race Across Scotland' which is a 215-mile continuous Ultras with a 100-hour time limit, the course starts on the west coast in a beautiful village called Port Patrick and finishes on the East Coast in the village of Cockburn’s Path. (https://www.gbultras.com/ultra-great-britain/)
The race started at 6am on the Saturday morning and had to be completed by 10am the following Wednesday, Ian thinks he had a maximum of 5 hours sleep during the entire event but he crossed the finish line at 07:17am on the Wednesday to be greeted by my amazing support crew and family, finishing in a time of 97 hours and 17 minutes, running/walking 231 miles with a combined elevation of over 40000 feet.
Ian not only raised (a lot of) money for his chosen charity 'Willow Burn Hospice' (https://willow-burn.co.uk) but also raised the profile and awareness of the hospice's great work, he was also backed by his employer Erwin Hymer Group UK, who matched his fundraising total.
After competing again in 2020 (2019 race was cancelled due to Covid) he kept thinking how far he can push himself and how far could he run. He found out about a few events of varying distances and entered them :–
‘Pilgrim 100-mile Ultra’ which follows the pilgrimage the monks took from Holy Island to Chollerford near Hexham, the event took place in the September of 2021, and he completed the event in just under 32 hours.
‘The Montane Cheviot Goat’ which was completely different to the Wall, it was a 60 mile Ultra in the Cheviot Hills with an event date of Early December, due to Covid and a Winter storm this event didn’t take place until December 2022, Ian entered and finished with 15 minutes to spare of the 24 hour cut off.
'Race Across Scotland' which is a 215-mile continuous Ultras with a 100-hour time limit, the course starts on the west coast in a beautiful village called Port Patrick and finishes on the East Coast in the village of Cockburn’s Path. (https://www.gbultras.com/ultra-great-britain/)
The race started at 6am on the Saturday morning and had to be completed by 10am the following Wednesday, Ian thinks he had a maximum of 5 hours sleep during the entire event but he crossed the finish line at 07:17am on the Wednesday to be greeted by my amazing support crew and family, finishing in a time of 97 hours and 17 minutes, running/walking 231 miles with a combined elevation of over 40000 feet.
Ian not only raised (a lot of) money for his chosen charity 'Willow Burn Hospice' (https://willow-burn.co.uk) but also raised the profile and awareness of the hospice's great work, he was also backed by his employer Erwin Hymer Group UK, who matched his fundraising total.
During the preparation for the 'Race across Scotland' Ian was introduced to Wayne Drinkwater and his association with GB Ultras started. When they advertised for GB Ultras Ambassadors, Ian applied and was accepted as an 'Ambassador' for GB Ultra, the role consists of supporting other runners both in person and on their social media platforms, it also gave him the opportunity to volunteer at events that he wasn't partaking in and spreading the word about the group.
Ian has 3 events planned for 2024, in May , the 'Pennine Barrier', which is a 60-mile loop on the Pennine way (https://www.gbultras.com/pennine-barrier-50/), in August he will be participating again in 'Race Across Scotland' and finally in October, the 'Glasgow to Edinburgh' which is a mere 60-mile run between the two Cities (https://www.gbultras.com/glasgow-to-edinburgh-ultra/ )
Ian has 3 events planned for 2024, in May , the 'Pennine Barrier', which is a 60-mile loop on the Pennine way (https://www.gbultras.com/pennine-barrier-50/), in August he will be participating again in 'Race Across Scotland' and finally in October, the 'Glasgow to Edinburgh' which is a mere 60-mile run between the two Cities (https://www.gbultras.com/glasgow-to-edinburgh-ultra/ )