Kenny Stuart
Encyclopedia
Kenny Stuart is a former fell
and road
runner. He was born in 1957 to a family living at Threlkeld
in the Lake District
.
Early in his career, when there was still a split between professional and amateur fell racing, Stuart competed in professional races, converting to amateur status in 1982. His first full amateur season in 1983 was marked by close competition with John Wild who had won the previous year’s championship. Stuart won the last 1983 championship race at Thieveley Pike, thereby becoming British champion.
Stuart was also British champion in 1984 and 1985 and among the records he set in those years were 1:02:18 at Skiddaw
, 1:25:34 at Ben Nevis
, and 1:02:29 at Snowdon
, which still stand as of 2010. In 1985 he won the short race at the inaugural World Mountain Running Cup in Italy.
In 1986, Stuart turned his attention to road running and won his debut marathon
that year at Glasgow
in 2:14:03. He went on to set his best marathon time of 2:11:36 at Houston
in 1989 but his career was curtailed by increasing allergy and virus problems.
Fell running
Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty...
and road
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
runner. He was born in 1957 to a family living at Threlkeld
Threlkeld
Threlkeld is a village and civil parish in the north of the Lake District in Cumbria, England, to the east of Keswick. It lies at the southern foot of Blencathra, one of the more prominent fells in the northern Lake District, and to the north of the River Glenderamackin.Historically a part of...
in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
.
Early in his career, when there was still a split between professional and amateur fell racing, Stuart competed in professional races, converting to amateur status in 1982. His first full amateur season in 1983 was marked by close competition with John Wild who had won the previous year’s championship. Stuart won the last 1983 championship race at Thieveley Pike, thereby becoming British champion.
Stuart was also British champion in 1984 and 1985 and among the records he set in those years were 1:02:18 at Skiddaw
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. With a summit at 931 m above sea level it is the fourth highest mountain in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes...
, 1:25:34 at Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William....
, and 1:02:29 at Snowdon
Snowdon Race
The Snowdon Race is a ten-mile endurance running competition in Gwynedd, from Llanberis to the peak of Snowdon. Contestants must make the five miles up the Llanberis Path to the summit and return back down. Currently entrants must be over-18 to compete in either the men's or women's race...
, which still stand as of 2010. In 1985 he won the short race at the inaugural World Mountain Running Cup in Italy.
In 1986, Stuart turned his attention to road running and won his debut marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
that year at Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 2:14:03. He went on to set his best marathon time of 2:11:36 at Houston
Houston Marathon
The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held every January in Houston, Texas. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race...
in 1989 but his career was curtailed by increasing allergy and virus problems.