The heat was on at the 2025 Lakes Traverse® race
Starting alongside the mighty Northern Traverse®, the Lakes Traverse® features 100 kilometres of some of the finest trail running in the country.
Spanning the width of the Lake District National Park from St Bees to Shap, the race follows in the footsteps of the legendary Alfred Wainwright’s coast-to-coast route, passing along the shores of Ennerdale Water, through the Borrowdale Valley to Grasmere, Patterdale and the Wainwright summit of Kidsty Pike, to a finish in Shap.
With race numbers doubling as popularity of this beautiful route increases, there was an electric atmosphere in the air as over 200 runners lined up under the gantry on St Bees foreshore, ready for the 7:30am race start. This was aided by the near perfect weather forecast of cloudless, bluebird skies and a cool chill in the air.
Setting off from St Bees ©No Limits Photography
Rupert Allison was the first into the finish in 10 hours and 31 minutes.
2023 Cape Wrath Ultra® winner David Parish followed shortly after in 10:36:42 after a close battle between the pair for the podium position throughout the day.
Rupert relayed to Event Director Shane Ohly upon finishing that David was the stronger contender on the climbs, but Rupert had the edge on the descents. After Rupert stopped to top up water at the beck following the final downhill from Kidsty Pike, Parrish led the race along Haweswater until Rupert managed to make a final push to the finish line.
A close race between Allison and Parrish ©No Limits Photography
Jonny Kilpatrick completed the male podium in third position, making an impressive come back to finish in 11:37:37 after some early navigational errors around Rosthwaite. He was cheered to a warm welcome from his family who were watching the Open Tracking live screen outside the finish venue in Shap.
Third place Lakes Traverse finisher - Jonny Kilpatrick ©No Limits Photography
Anna Watkinson-Powell secured the top spot in the women’s race in 12 hours 26 minutes.
Anna, who led the women’s race from Ennerdale Water onwards, exclaimed it was her first time taking on the 100km distance and it definitely wouldn’t be her last.
2024 Northern Traverse winner Hannah Rickman followed Watkinson-Powell close second, finishing in 12:52:18 after another impressive performance on the coast-to-coast course. After testing conditions last year, Hannah faced weather of different extremes, and she tested herself over the ’shorter’ distance.
Saki Nakamura came in third place in 13:21:59 just as nightfall hit in Shap, completing the women’s 2025 Lakes Traverse podium.
Finish line joy for Anna ©No Limits Photography
Spring sunshine and dry conditions led to 181 finishers crossing the line on the 2025 Lakes Traverse.
The story from the rest of the pack and beyond followed suite, with sunshine, suncream and awe inspiring scenery. With 181 participants crossing the finish line in Shap, it will be hard to beat the record highs we’ve had this year.
Blue skies around Ennerdale ©David Wood Photography
Follow the journey…
The Lakes Traverse participants may be enjoying some well deserved R&R, but out on our full Northern Traverse course our runners are emerging into the sunlight following their second night on the trails.
Track them as they continue east towards that elusive finish line at Robin Hood’s Bay.
Northern Traverse GPS tracking link
How can I see the 2025 results so far?
The 2025 results can be found below for the Lakes, Dales & Moors Traverses.