SILVA Great Lakeland 3Day™ 2019 certainly delivered with more excellent Café, Wainwright and Expert courses exploring the fells around Ullswater and Helvellyn, a lovely overnight camp near Patterdale, a super atmosphere with many friends old and new, and finally some fantastic running conditions despite the slightly chilly nights.

The 20th anniversary of the SILVA Great Lakeland 3Day™ certainly delivered with three days of perfect weather, fantastic mountain courses for all, and such a warm and welcoming atmosphere at one of the most amazing Overnight Camps we have ever had.

Welcome to 2017 Silva Great Lakeland 3Day Race Director’s report. After a few days’ reflection, it is clear from feedback already received and the fantastic atmosphere at the event, that the 2017 event was a big success. Thank you for being part of it.

I’m considering a career change. It’s just gone 4am on Monday morning and I’ve been dozing restlessly for only a few hours in a hazy tiredness. Even from within the van I am attempting to sleep in, I can hear the roar of wind as it stampedes around Melbreak before sweeping down to Loweswater and battering our Overnight Camp. I’m concerned for the participants, but more immediately I hear the crash of a marquee pole breaking loose. It is time to get up. 

Every Race Director’s report starts with some handwritten notes about the things I wish to say compiled over the weekend, and every list of notes always starts with the words, “thank volunteer marshals”. The feedback we received from competitors at the event and now over email and social media is completely unanimous in stating how excellent the volunteers were and asking that thanks should be passed on.

First of all, I must sincerely thank all the volunteer marshals who helped on the weekend. For a small event like the Great Lakeland 3Day™, their input has a huge impact both in terms of the event’s viability but also in setting the atmosphere.

The courses were on the long side this year. Traditionally day one of the GL3D™ has been significantly longer than the other days. However, this year, Charlie Sproson and I decided to have both day one and two of roughly equally length but with around 30% more height gain on the second day.

Earlier this year, Joe Faulkner reminisced about the early GL3Ds and explained that I was taking over the event. For the May 2012 event, I had not wanted to change much in terms of the event format but did want to modernise how the event operated, with the introduction of pre-printed maps and electronic timing.