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News | Rab Launches New ‘Vertical’ Race

The all-new Rab Skiddaw Vertical will pit runners against 1000 metres of ascent in under 9 kilometres.

The organisers of Keswick Mountain Festival have just announced a brand new running challenge as part of their 2022 festival programme.

Called the Rab Skiddaw Vertical, the new race will be held on the 20th of May – the first day of the Lake District-based festival – taking runners from the market square in Keswick to the summit of Skiddaw and pitting them against almost 1000 metres of ascent in under 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) along the way.

More specifically, runners head from the square to Fitz Park and to the top of Latrigg, with a further ascent up the south eastern flank of Skiddaw via the Little Man peak, before the final push to the finishing line on the summit. The runners then make their own way back down to the festival.

KMF director Nicola Meadley comments: “The Rab Skiddaw Vertical is a mouth-watering prospect for Keswick Mountain Festival. In recent years, we’ve been able to bring a bigger taste of the festival into the centre of the town with the KMF Town Trials and this new race will add even more to that. Anyone who has witnessed vertical races in the Alps will already know what great atmospheres they can generate and we aim to introduce that to Keswick in May. It’s going to provide a really exciting start to this year’s festival and I hope that the runners have enough left in their legs to celebrate their achievements with a dance to the live music in the Festival Village later that evening!”

Daniela Giannini, Rab’s UK marketing manager, adds: “We are delighted to partner with Keswick Mountain Festival on the new Rab Skiddaw Vertical race. Having long supported the festival, we feel their values and those of the mountain people who attend it align with our own. With our new Skyline Skyrunning Collection launching for this spring, it felt like the perfect opportunity and ideal race to build our partnership further.”

A runner heads for the summit of Skiddaw.

Beginning in front of Moot Hall from 4:00pm, there are camera feeds throughout the route so the race can be live streamed on a big screen in the market square. Additionally, all Rab Skiddaw Vertical runners will receive a ticket for one of the two nights of live music during the festival.

Places on the Rab Skiddaw Vertical, along with more information about the festival, can be booked on www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk.