Leading ultra runners are preparing to head to Cumbria to race across England next weekend.

This is for the 2023 SILVA Northern Traverse and Lakes Traverse, in which strong fields will compete.

The races will start at St Bees on the west coast, on the morning of Saturday, April 1.

Organised by Kendal-based company Ourea Events, the SILVA Northern Traverse is a continuous 300km footrace from St Bees on the west coast of England to Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast.

The race, which must be completed within five days, follows the well-established coast-to-coast route created by Alfred Wainwright, through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors.

Participants have 30 hours to finish the 100km footrace.

The event will use the same race infrastructure, logistics and staffing as the Northern Traverse, and after crossing the Lake District National Park fells, the route finishes in Shap.

Around 270 competitors have signed up to take part in the 2023 SILVA Northern Traverse and Lakes Traverse, and among them are some of the most successful ultra runners on the circuit.

In the men’s SILVA Northern Traverse, 2022 Montane Dragon’s Back Race winner James Nobles will take on former Lakeland 100 winner and three-time Tor des Géants finisher Paul Tierney, 2021 Cape Wrath Ultra winner Ian Stewart, 2018 Cape Wrath Ultra winner Robert Barnes, and, fresh from his experience at the Barkley Marathons, three-time Spine Race winner Eoin Keith.

In the women’s race, two-time Silk Road Mountain Race winner Jenny Tough is hoping to repeat her bike-packing success on foot.

Among those from whom she will face competition is Emily Mills, who won the 2022 Chester Ultra 100.

The public can follow the progress in the 2023 SILVA Northern Traverse on the live tracker, which is accessible by clicking here https://live.opentracking.co.uk/northerntraverse2023, and the SILVA Lakes Traverse by clicking here https://live.opentracking.co.uk/lakestraverse2023.

For more information about the events, visit www.northerntraverse.com.

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