Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Lowe Alpine
Mountain Marathon
(or LAMM) is a two day fell running
and orienteering
race held in the Scottish Highlands
each June. Teams of two run and navigate over mountainous terrain, carrying all their gear for an overnight wild camp. LAMM has six classes of competition: Elite, A, B, C, D and Novice. Over the two days, the elite competitors complete a course of approximately 70 km with 4000m of ascent over challenging terrain.
The event location is kept secret until 48 hours before the start, and competitors do not know where the route will take them until they cross the start line. Teams are then given a series of grid reference checkpoints which they must navigate to and choose a route between.
LAMM is often considered to be the smaller cousin of the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon
, the original event of this kind. Unlike KIMM, competition for places is not so fierce on LAMM and most who apply get a place first time. LAMM calls itself the Connoisseurs Mountain Marathon, and is celebrated amongst competitors for its unexpected twists and impeccable logistical organisation. Since the first event in Arrochar
in 1994, the event has seen a steady increase in numbers, with over 550 teams entering in 2005.
The organiser of LAMM, Martin Stone
is himself an elite fell runner. Notable
competitors include Sir Ranulph Fiennes
.
Lowe Alpine
Lowe Alpine is an outdoor equipment manufacturer and supplier that originated in Colorado and is now an international company. The company is currently owned by ....
Mountain Marathon
Mountain Marathon
Mountain Marathon is an extended form of fell running, usually over two days and often with a strong orienteering element. Competitors usually participate in teams of two, and have to carry their own food and tent...
(or LAMM) is a two day fell running
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 orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
race held in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
each June. Teams of two run and navigate over mountainous terrain, carrying all their gear for an overnight wild camp. LAMM has six classes of competition: Elite, A, B, C, D and Novice. Over the two days, the elite competitors complete a course of approximately 70 km with 4000m of ascent over challenging terrain.
The event location is kept secret until 48 hours before the start, and competitors do not know where the route will take them until they cross the start line. Teams are then given a series of grid reference checkpoints which they must navigate to and choose a route between.
LAMM is often considered to be the smaller cousin of the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon
Karrimor International Mountain Marathon
The Original Mountain Marathon , formerly known as the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon , is a 2-day Mountain event, held in a different region across the UK every year. It was first held in 1968 and continues today...
, the original event of this kind. Unlike KIMM, competition for places is not so fierce on LAMM and most who apply get a place first time. LAMM calls itself the Connoisseurs Mountain Marathon, and is celebrated amongst competitors for its unexpected twists and impeccable logistical organisation. Since the first event in Arrochar
Arrochar, Scotland
Arrochar is a village located near the head of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It is overlooked by a group of mountains called the Arrochar Alps, and in particular by the distinctive rocky summit of The Cobbler. It enjoys good communications as it is at the junction of the A83 and A814...
in 1994, the event has seen a steady increase in numbers, with over 550 teams entering in 2005.
The organiser of LAMM, Martin Stone
Martin Stone
Martin Stone may refer to:*Martin Stone , British professional wrestler*Martin Stone , actor in British TV serial The Chronicles of Narnia*Martin Stone , guitarist and literary expert...
is himself an elite fell runner. Notable
competitors include Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
.
Event Locations
- 1994 – ArrocharArrochar, ScotlandArrochar is a village located near the head of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It is overlooked by a group of mountains called the Arrochar Alps, and in particular by the distinctive rocky summit of The Cobbler. It enjoys good communications as it is at the junction of the A83 and A814...
- 1995 – Isle of MullIsle of MullThe Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
- 1996 – LochaberLochaberDistrict of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...
- 1997 – Isle of Jura
- 1998 – ArdgourArdgourArdgour is a district of Lochaber on Ardnamurchan peninisula on the western shore of Loch Linnhe, in Highland Scotland.The term Ardgour, together with Kingairloch, is applied to a large area of countryside around the village, from the Glensanda Superquarry, Kingairloch and Kilmalieu in the south...
- 1999 – Black Mount
- 2000 – Glen ShielGlen ShielGlen Shiel is a glen in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland.The glen runs approximately 9 miles from north-west to south-east, from sea level at the village of Shiel Bridge and Loch Duich to the Cluanie Inn at the western end of Loch Cluanie and the start of Glenmoriston.W. H...
- 2001 – Kinloch LagganKinloch LagganKinloch Laggan is a hamlet located at the head of Loch Laggan in Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.The village is situated 12 miles southwest of Newtonmore....
- 2002 – Braes of Balquhidder
- 2003 – Spittal of GlensheeSpittal of Glensheeleft|thumb|Standing stone at Spittal of GlensheeThe Spittal of Glenshee lies at the head of Glenshee in the highlands of eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland where the confluence of many small streams flowing south out of the Grampians form the Shee Water...
- 2004 – Glen Carron
- 2005 – Isle of MullIsle of MullThe Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
- 2006 – AssyntAssyntAssynt is a civil parish in west Sutherland, Highland, Scotland – north of Ullapool.It is famous for its landscape and its remarkable mountains...
- 2007 – Glen LochayGlen LochayGlen Lochay is in Perthshire, Scotland through which the River Lochay runs eastward towards Loch Tay, joining the River Dochart at Killin. Glen Lochay is about 20 miles long, running from a point north of Crianlarich to Loch Tay....
- 2008 – GlenfinnanGlenfinnanGlenfinnan is a village in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end of Loch Shiel, at the foot of Glenfinnan.- Glenfinnan Monument :...
- 2009 – KintailKintailKintail is an area of mountains in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It consists of the mountains to the north of Glen Shiel and the A87 road between the heads of Loch Duich and Loch Cluanie; its boundaries, other than Glen Shiel, are generally taken to be the valleys of Strath Croe and Gleann...
- 2010 – Glen FyneBeinn Bhuidhe (Glen Fyne)Ben Bhuidhe is a Scottish mountain at the head of Loch Fyne.-Overview:Beinn Bhuidhe is a Munro that lies separately from the main body of the Arrochar Alps. It is an isolated mountain which, particularly when climbed in winter conditions, has a "real feeling of expedition about it"...