I took the audio recorder along on the OMM Elite course in Glen Artney over the weekend of 26&27th October 2024.

I was paired with Phil Rutter of Kendal who has won the Elite race in 2022 and 2023.

The OMM is a 2 day mountain marathon in which teams of two navigate between checkpoints to a midway camp, carrying all the food and kit they require to survive in the October weather. A very popular event, it has different courses to fit different abilities, and is held in a different area each year.

Phil talks us through the OMM and we have some chat as we progress through day 1. Arriving at the midway camp in second place, we talk to Martin Stone of SPORTident timing. Martin features in my Bob Graham Round episode (Episode 16), and has his own episode about his Midwinter Solo Unsupported Bob Graham Round in 1987 (Episode 10).

We then debrief with the race leaders, Felix Wilson and Dan Ashwood before settling down for an early night in our tiny tent.

Setting out on day 2 we had a seeded start 3 mins behind the leaders, but with only 70 seconds of time to make up on them. Catching them, we then had a long fight on our hands as each team would try and outpace and outsmart the other. This included taking very different lines between checkpoints 4&5, only to come together again at checkpoint 5 with seconds between us.

Racing hard, we all navigated to the wrong stream bend for checkpoint 7. Felix and Dan relocated quicker and were off. It looked like we had lost the fight for first place. But we managed to claw back level with the guys - who then put on a sprint finish in the final field.

Over two days and 11.5hrs of racing we won by only 90 seconds - apparently the closest winning margin in the OMM for years.

For me, the OMM stands for traditional UK hill running values: held on rough terrain, in often difficult weather, with proper navigation, route choice and a requirement for mountain self sufficiency. With around 1300 competitors this year, it’s a much loved event.

The OMM is also the subject of Episode 28 with Victoria Thompson and Janie Oates, who were the female Elite course winners (and only elite course female finishers) in 2022. 2024 saw three female teams complete the Elite course (and many, many more over the other courses).

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