Russ Ladkin - Running


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Running

Animated Runner I can remember being good at running at Primary school. Not sprinting, but a couple of laps of the sports field. I think I even ran once or twice for the cross-country team at Secondary school. My father was introduced to orienteering by a work colleague and started taking me along when I was about 12. It is a great sport for families. With beginners luck, I was soon East Anglian champion for the M13 age group and we travelled all over the country to compete including a family holiday in Scotland.

I ran the University orienteering club for a while and our female team won a trophy at The Cleveland Challenge, which shocked the Athletics Union! Since then I've been more interested in just getting out into the hills and longer events such as mountain marathons. I met Mike at University and we persuaded each other to undertake a variety of events.

I've done the Karrimor Mountain Marathon 7 times now: Once with my Dad (1985), twice with Mike (2001, 1986), once with Jean (2002), A class twice with Jeff(2003,12th 2004,7th) and finally Elite with Jeff(2005,24th). I also manned a control site in Snowdonia (1987) which led to an interesting rescue of an injured runner.

I enjoyed The Capricorn when it has happened, which is two long days but without the camping gear. I was 3rd in the B class one year. We have also done the Open Country Mountain Marathon which is a long day score event.

	Mike and I have also run the Welsh 3000's and a similar route taking in all the Lake District 3000's peaks in one swoop. He persuaded me to have a go at a half marathon in St Alban's when he was working there and he pulled me around in about 95 mins.
Me, Mike and John, St Albans

In 2002 we entered a team in the Scottish Islands Peaks Race which involves sailing and running around the Scottish Islands, starting in Oban. We completed about 44 miles out of the 60 but had to stop because of the gales in the sailing. A second attempt in 2006 was successful.

For 2003 I tried three new events: The Mountain Navigation Challenge, a small informal two day event (which we won!); the Lowe Alpine MM, another two day but in Summer (about half way down the A class day one but retired due to Jeff's injury on day 2) and my first rogaine in the Wicklow mountains which was a 24 hour event (winnning the mixed class with a local girl). Jeff and I were also 12th in the KIMM A Class.

For 2004, I organised the Mountain Navigation Challenge and Jeff and I competed in the Wicklow Rogaine. I did the Mull Half Marathon on a very hot day and only managed 100 mins. Jeff and I went over to Northern Ireland for the Mourne Mountain Marathon and were 4th in the Elite class, winning a pair of Salomon race shoes each. The Oban half marathon was a much cooler day and I took 90:28, 20th place. Jeff and I made it into the prizes, coming 7th on the A Class of the Kimm in the Brecon Beacons.

2005 saw Jeff and I move into Adventure Racing with a successful first season. We were 2nd male pair in the ACE Race 2-day series. At the end of the season, Jeff and I finished our first KIMM Elite in 24th place of 70 starters.

In 2006, things started to come together in the Adventure Racing. Paul and I won the male pairs in the 2-day ACE Race series and I started to train fairly regularly with him. Our race team also came together, winning a Dynamic Adventure Endurance race and the Rodings Rally Trophy.

More details on adventure racing exploits on the CamRacers page.

FURTHER PAGES

Competition Calendar

1995 Welsh 3000's

2000 Lake District 3000's

2001 Open Country MM

2001 Karrimor (KIMM)

2002 Scottish Island Peaks

2002 Karrimor (KIMM)

2003 Mountain Navigation Challange

2003 Lowe Alpine MM

2003 Wicklow Rogaine