At the Montane Lakeland 50 & 100, we are one of the few events who offer a transport service to get you back to HQ if you should pull out. The planning of such a transport rota is a huge logistical challenge as many checkpoint are a 4 hour round trip from HQ. You should study this timetable and ensure that you are fully aware when and where you can pull out and how you can get back. 

We have people spread over a vast area, with many locations being relatively inaccessible. Your wait may be longer than expected and you may well want to be transported home more quickly. The emergency kit in these situations will prove vital. If you are wet and tired and have to wait several hours for transportation, dry clothing will be priceless. Get changed, stay warm, have a nap and expect a wait in many cases.

There are CUT OFF / LAST DEPARTURE TIMES for each checkpoint. You must have LEFT the checkpoint by the time stated. If you arrive just inside the CUT OFF time, you cannot sit down and rest for an hour before continuing, you will be pulled from the event. You can see the cut off times by GOING HERE

Montane Lakeland 100 Course Only

CP1: Seathwaite

You’re dropping out here? Really? There’s no pick up from here, it’s only 10k into the course. If you drop out here and it’s not a serious medical emergency, you really need to have a serious word with yourself, we’ve nothing more to say on the matter. 

CP2: Boot – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 11:00PM

Minibus leaving Boot at 11:00pm which will then continue to Wasdale arriving 12:00 midnight. If you drop out here and do not have serious medical problem, see comments above regarding CP1 and go back to Parkrun.

CP3: Wasdale – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 12:30 AM

Minibus leaving Wasdale at 12:45AM and arriving back at Coniston with the other ‘failures’ from Boot and Wasdale at 2:45am. The Strollers will be here manning the checkpoint so you’re always guaranteed some entertainment… If a 6 foot bearded Alice in Wonderland offers you food, it’s ok, you can take it… In fact, it’s probably unwise to refuse it. 

CP4: Buttermere – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 3:30AM

Minibus leaving 4:30am and arriving back at Coniston 6:00AM. Minibus will call at Braithwaite and Blencathra en route to Coniston if required. IMPORTANT – If you’re late and miss the cut-off, not only are you out of the event, but you won’t get a hot dog and milkshake from Kim & Bev. Nobody will be rewarded for failure at this event.

CP5: Braithwaite – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 6:00AM

Minibus will call 5:00am en route to Coniston arriving 6:30am. Coach will pick up 6:00am en route to Coniston arriving at Coniston 7:30am. You’ve made it through the first night, so give yourself a small round of applause, but there’s no cigar as you weren’t even close.

CP6: Blencathra – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 9:00AM

What’s that? You’re dropping out here but you can’t understand it… as last year you and your mate completed tough mudder? Yeah… that’s a mystery right there. 

Minibus will call 5:20am en route to Coniston arriving 6:30am. Coach will pick up 6:20am en route to Coniston arriving 7:30am. Coach will pick up 7:20am en route to Coniston arriving 8:30am.

Final bus will pick up from Blencathra 9:30am and transport competitors to Dalemain, arriving 10:30am. You will stay at Dalemain until 1:30pm to be transported back to Coniston 2:30pm.

CP7: Dockray – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 12:15PM

Coach will call 12:30pm and transport to Dalemain for 1:00pm. coach will then leave Dalemain 1:30pm and transport back to Coniston 2:30pm. Jon & Shirley don’t do sympathy, so honestly, if you’re thinking about moaning, you’re absolutely wasting your time. Nobody cares. 

CP8: Dalemain – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 4:00PM

Coach will leave 1:30pm and transport back to Coniston 2:30pm. Second coach will leave Dalemain 4:30pm, calling at Howtown 5:00pm (if required). Coach will stay at Howtown until 6:30pm then continuing to Coniston to arrive 7:45pm. There’s hot food here, drop bags, ‘pick and mix’ (including Percy Pigs) and a comfortable spot to lie down here… It’s such a lovely place.

Alternatively there’s a big warm bus waiting to take you back to Coniston if you have failed.

Montane Lakeland 50 & 100 Course

CP1/9: Howtown – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 6:20PM

Single coach leaving 6:30pm arriving Coniston 19:45. Runners in the 100, if you’re going to stop, do so here and don’t set off for Mardale, it’s the toughest leg of the route. Runners in the 50, if you drop here without a serious medical emergency, serious questions need to be asked about your level of commitment. Seriously, try growing more backbone than the checkpoint jelly babies… 

The sun will generally come out at this point and the temperature will soar, just in time for Fusedale climb. On the plus side, the heat will melt the bulk of the hail stones. 

CP2/10: Mardale Head – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 10:20PM

The stretch from Howtown to Mardale includes the climb up Fusedale (known as the cauldron) and then the long section of Haweswater (known as the killer). You’ll be glad to reach the Mardale Head CP but if you’ve gone off too hard in the 50, this is where you’ll stop and this is where we have the biggest percentage of 50 drop outs. The issue is that Mardale is a dead end road, with a tricky 3 hours drive to Coniston.

The Spartans of Delamere once held back an army of 45,000 at this narrow pass, piling up the bodies of wilting ultra runners and using it as a barricade. Don’t let yourself be one of them.

A coach will arrive 11:00am and this coach will not leave until 5:00pm to return to Coniston. A second coach will remain until 11:00pm, arriving back at Coniston 2:00am. IMPORTANT – If you drop out at Mardale, you may have to wait 6 hours+ to be transported back. Remember this when deciding whether to continue, whether to stop and at which checkpoint you do so.

CP3/11: Kentmere – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 1:15AM

What’s that hun? Your feet are sore? You’ve got a blister?? No way!! You chose to enter it and the terms and conditions clearly state no refunds at this point. All those people who told you the event was great fun… they lied to you, just as they did about the weather. 

Minibus leaving 4:30pm and arriving back at Coniston 6:00pm, calling at Ambleside, Langdale and Tilberthwaite as required en route to Coniston. Further minibus leaving 9:30pm and 1:00am to arrive back at Coniston 11:00pm and 2:30am, calling at Ambleside, Langdale and Tilberthwaite as required en route to Coniston.

CP4/12: Ambleside – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 4:00AM

If you make it to Ambleside, you have broken the back of both routes. Of those who reach Ambleside, the majority go on to finish. Try to carry that positive thought with you as you lie on your back, with your hamstring cramping violently whilst trying to shove one final piece of flapjack into your mouth, flavoured only with your free flowing salty tears…

Minibus leaving 5:00pm and arriving back at Coniston 6:00pm, calling at Langdale and Tilberthwaite as required en route to Coniston. Further minibus leaving 10:00pm and 1:30am to arrive back at Coniston 11:00pm and 2:30am, calling at Ambleside, Langdale and Tilberthwaite as required en route to Coniston.

CP5/13: Langdale / Chapel Stile – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE 6:00AM

It’s so comfy here, you’ll get a warm welcome, nice food, shelter and you’ll want to sit down and rest. The checkpoint will whisper to you…. if you move a little closer…. you can hear it…. “stay a while, rest here, don’t leave, it’s such a long way and you’ve done so much already, why not stop here?” The checkpoint lies, the checkpoint is evil, do not listen to the checkpoint.

For the 100 runners, if you genuinely hear the checkpoint talking to you, then the hallucinations have started and the sleep monsters are stalking you… Don’t follow the pink giraffe on the unicycle, it won’t end well… the red monkey on the pogo stick is generally trustworthy. 

Minibus leaving 5:30pm and arriving back at Coniston 6:00pm, calling at Tilberthwaite as required en route to Coniston. Further minibus leaving 10:30pm and 2:00am to arrive back at Coniston 11:00pm and 2:30am, calling at Tilberthwaite as required en route to Coniston.

CP6/14: Tilberthwaite – CUT OFF TIME / LAST DEPARTURE ‘NA’

Let’s be very clear. If you ask to drop out at Tilberthwaite, you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself. Get your sorry arse up Jacob’s ladder and onwards to Coniston where your destiny awaits.

The steps were chiselled into the rock by a Cumbrian god named Jacob and you must pay your toll to pass. They will test you at your weakest point, which is precisely why it will be the finest moment, of your finest hour. If you came searching for something… this is most likely where you’ll find it.

CP7/15: Coniston John Ruskin School – CUT OFF TIME SUNDAY 10AM

You’ve made it. Welcome home you legend.

It’s 7 weeks to go people, get your head in the game.