ABOUT YOMP MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

The Yomp Mountain challenge is a three day event celebrating all things running, walking and outdoors.

Located in the quaint, Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Stephen, entrants should be under no illusions as to the challenges that await them out in the hills. Wind and rain batters the grass and gravel of the trails as uncertainty hampers every step. Conditions on the fell tops are ever changing and can quickly turn the course from friend to foe.

Originally run in 1983 as a homage to the Royal Marines’ yomp from San Carlos Water to liberate Stanley during the Falklands Campaign, the course has since been known as “the Yomp,” a slang term used by the armed forces to denote "a long march over open terrain." It was here that ThruDark Co-Founder Louis, alongside his older brother Frankie, spent their younger years training to join the military.

The Yomp has a proud history of fundraising for good causes with money raised previously donated to local charities from the Great North Air Ambulance to the Northern Viaduct Trust.

Saturday 14th June

ThruDark Ultra

A 44 mile epic over Wild Boar Fell, through the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the head of the Mallerstang valley before joining the Pennine Way over Great Shunner Fell to Keld. The route then follows the coast-to-coast route through Ravenseat to Nine Standards before finishing back at Basecamp. The “Ultra” route serves up the most complete Northern Fells experience mixing terrain with elevation and all manner of conditions.

The route encompasses three aid stations along the way with GPS tracking provided to all competitors for safety and in order for friends and family to monitor their progress.

Registration and compulsory kit check will open at 6:00am, the race set off is 8:00am and the overall cut off time is 12.5 hours.

Saturday 14th June

ThruDark Mountain Marathon

A 26 mile odyssey circling the furthest reaches of the Upper Eden Valley. Taking in Wild Boar, Mallerstang Edge, Tailbrigg and the Nine Standards. This is the closest route to the original Yomp route that has been run for over 40 years.

The route encompasses two aid stations along the way with GPS tracking provided to all competitors for safety and in order for friends and family to monitor their progress.

Registration and compulsory kit check will open at 6:00am, the race set off is 9:00am and the overall cut off time is 9 hours.

RACE OUR CO-FOUNDERS

Think you can beat ThruDark Co-Founders Louis and Staz across the course? Staz will take on the ThruDark Mountain Marathon, while Louis runs the 20k. Join us in spreading the message of "Endeavour Through Adversity" and inspire others to test their physical and mental resilience in 2025.