The post came early yesterday morning. In amongst the usual detritus of loan offers, double glazing promotions and big prize draw entries was an A4 envelope containing the details of another little event I’ve entered. The Original Mountain Marathon, formerly known as the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (while said company was the primary sponsor), began in 1968 and remains one of the premier tests of fitness and navigation skills in the world.

The name is a bit misleading: the event itself is a two-person, team race that takes place over two days and is subdivided into several classes depending on experience and ability. Only class C actually covers a marathon distance (give or take a mile), requiring teams to cover 40km over the two days. Class B ups the distance to 50km, with class A covering 60km. The Elite course is a grueling 80+km event. That’s the equivalent of a full 26.2 marathon distance each day. Each team is required to carry all the kit they’ll need for the duration of the event, including waterproof clothing, tent, sleeping bag, stove and enough food for 36 hours.

The location of the event changes from year to year and this time round it’s taking place in Galloway Forest Park in Dumfrieshire in Southern Scotland. Apparently this is one of, if not the, most gruelling and challenging locations the race has ever taken place in and the ‘76, ‘86 and ‘96 events are memorably for most of the competitors dropping out, from what I can tell.

We’re not stretching ourselves too much, though, and, owing to the fact that I haven’t been up a mountain in the best part of 20 years, we’ve only entered the B class.

I think I’d better start training.