The British ultrarunning group was surprised over the New 12 months’s Day interval to study of the passing of Ed Catmur, on the age of 41. The beloved runner tragically misplaced his life on a coaching run on the Pennine Method in Northern England.
Ed had been staying within the space over the vacation. Early on December 31, 2023, he launched into a deliberate out-and-back run, from the village of Dufton over Cross Fell alongside the Pennine Method. The path is a highly regarded route with hikers and runners and the situation for the annual Backbone Race.
When he didn’t return, police have been alerted, and an intensive search performed with the native Mountain Rescue groups and different companies alongside his deliberate route. The search continued the following day, assisted by canine, drones, and helicopters.
Later, on January 1, 2024, the Cumbria Police introduced the unhappy information {that a} physique had been discovered. When information finally filtered out, confirming that it was that of Ed Catmur, a way of shock set in amongst those that knew him.
Ed Catmur competing in Centurion Operating’a Autumn 100 Mile. Photograph: Centurion Operating
Cross Fell is the best mountain within the Pennines, and the best level in England, outdoors the Lake District. At a peak of two,929 ft, or 983 meters, it isn’t excessive by Alpine requirements, however the terrain could be very uncovered. The route has delicate technical sections and, like all hill and mountain areas, the climate can change quickly, particularly in winter.
We should emphasize Ed was an extremely skilled runner, used to the terrain, and would have been ready for the situations and identified the dangers concerned.
Ed was from London and was a well known face, not simply on the ultrarunning scene, but additionally within the orienteering group. He was a prolific and competent racer, from quick orienteering occasions to difficult 100-mile races. He had a highway marathon private finest of two:32:20, and the day earlier than his loss of life, ran the native 5-kilometer Penrith Parkrun, near the place he was staying.
The Current American Connection
For the final yr or so of his life, Ed’s work had taken him to the U.S., and to Chicago, Illinois, specifically. In 2023, he competed in a number of ultras within the U.S., together with the 2023 Silver Rush 50 Mile in July, the Shawnee Hills 100k in August, the place he completed second, and in early December, he ran what his final 100 miler on the Daytona 100 Mile, ending seventh. He had additionally managed to squeeze in his ninth Comrades Marathon in June of 2023.
Ed had introduced his love of orienteering to the U.S., becoming a member of in with the native orienteering group in Chicago. Among the folks he met left condolences on the Attackpoint orienteer group dialogue group:
“So unhappy to listen to this. For the previous yr Ed has been a daily at Chicago orienteering occasions and was nice to get to know. Pleasant, enthusiastic, and at all times able to help. Condolences to his household.”
“A intestine punch to his fellow orienteers right here in Chicago, such a pleasant man. He would experience out on his bike, run a course, after which assist choose up the controls. I keep in mind the final dialog I had with him on the final fall meet he attended prefer it was yesterday.”
He was somebody who simply beloved operating, and appeared to dwell his life to the fullest regardless of the place he was.
From Ed’s London Athletic Membership, Thames Hare and Hounds
Ed’s athletic membership in London, the well-known Thames Hare and Hounds, posted a tribute on the membership’s web site. Right here’s an extract of this:
Ed Catmur (second from the correct) operating along with his membership. Photograph: Thames Hare and Hounds
“Ed grew up domestically in Hinchley Wooden and joined Thames earlier than going as much as Jesus School, Oxford, in 2001. Whereas at Oxford, he represented [the university] a number of occasions at cross nation towards Cambridge. He additionally excelled at orienteering at Oxford, profitable 4 Blues [the second shortest of four distance grades in British orienteering] between 2002 and 2005.
“He represented Nice Britain on the Junior World Orienteering Championships in 2001, and in addition to Thames Hare and Hounds, was a member of South London Orienteers.
“… Nevertheless, it was in marathon and ultrarunning that Ed actually excelled. His successes are too quite a few to say in full. Nevertheless, to pick a number of, he gained the London to Brighton Path Race in 2012, the Thames Path 100 Mile in 2014, the Milton Keynes Marathon in 2013, and the North Downs Method 100 Mile in 2013. He ran the legendary Comrades Marathon 9 occasions, and achieved a finest end of 6 hours, 49 minutes, 50 seconds in 2015. Ed was a much-loved and revered member of the membership, and his loss of life will go away an enormous void. We ship our deepest condolences to his household.”
From South London Orienteers, Ed’s Longtime Orienteering Membership
The South London Orienteers additionally posted a tribute on their web site, once more illustrating how enmeshed he was within the orienteering scene, together with being a greater than competent ultrarunner:
“Within the house of 5 weeks in the summertime of 2013, he gained the Saunders Mountain Marathon, the Extremely Tour of the Peak District (62 miles), and the North Downs Method 100 Mile.
“… Ed was additionally a frequent and beneficial helper at our occasions. He took on the planning for the 2017 and 2018 London Metropolis Race, making visits to potential management websites from his work. Like his personal orienteering, he was extraordinarily good at that, with the programs being very effectively obtained each years.
“He gained the 18-mile course at our Surrey Hills Race twice. He gained the U.Ok. City League in 2010. And when he turned [a member of the] M35 [age group], a flood of championship wins have been taken. He most frequently traveled by bicycle too, leaving him the problem of what to do with the trophies.
“… Within the 2021 Veteran House Worldwide we placed on, Ed ran on the England staff. He gained the longest class on Saturday after which “the extra-long leg” within the relay on the Sunday. As typical, he was up for accumulating controls after his run earlier than heading off on his bike. He was an incredible man; we have been lucky to have him in our membership.”
Ed Catmur representing England on the 2021 Veteran House Worldwide orienteering relay. Photograph: South London Orienteers
A Tribute from James Elson, of Centurion Operating
James Elson, race director of the Centurion Operating extremely races within the U.Ok., which incorporates an annual collection of 50- and 100-mile path occasions within the southeast of England, was a very good buddy of Ed. Chatting with iRunFar, he supplied the next tribute:
“What a loss to the group. Ed ran the primary occasion we ever organized, ending second on the North Downs Method 50 Mile in 2011. That was his first extremely. Between at times, he ran and completed 30 of our 100-mile races.
“Within the early years, he gained the North Downs Method 100 Mile, the Thames Path 100 Mile, and the Winter 100 Mile. He was probably the most prolific and arguably the most effective 100 miler we had on the scene on the time, between 2011 and 2015. He gained the North Downs Method 100 Mile in 2013 in 15:44:39, a time that has solely been overwhelmed as soon as since by one in all our present finest 100-mile runners, Mark Darbyshire.
“These have been the years when he was on the peak of his powers. That North Downs 100 Mile efficiency remains to be among the finest runs we now have ever seen. He appeared to be on cruise management, however then put his head down and charged away to victory.
“He had some damage points. He drifted out and in for some time, getting somewhat slower whereas coping with being injured, however nonetheless eager to compete.
“Extra lately, he had come again to type once more. In 2020, he completed second on the Autumn 100 Mile, in what was his 100-mile private finest on the paths, 15 hours, 38 minutes.
“… It’s such a loss for us all, as he was such an enormous presence at our races. He typically volunteered too, when he wasn’t operating.
“… There’s a lot shock that he has change into tragically unstuck, primarily as he was such an skilled runner.”
Ed Catmur throughout Centurion Operating’s Thames Path 100 Mile. Photograph: Centurion Operating
Security within the Mountains
Ed Catmur’s loss of life as soon as once more highlights the continuing have to stability having fun with ourselves in fantastic outside areas with holding secure.
For a lot of British runners, it introduced again reminiscences of an identical tragic occasion the place British mountain runner Chris Smith misplaced his life in 2020. Smith was additionally a really skilled mountain runner, additionally failing to return from what began as a easy coaching run, whereas on a break within the Scottish Highlands.
The coroner, in that case, concluded that hypothermia was the reason for loss of life — when the climate deteriorated instantly, leading to a windchill of minus 11 levels Celsius on the summits within the space the place Smith was discovered.
I believe again by myself adventures and tales shared with pals. All of us admit that there have been occasions once we decided that in all probability pushed us out of our consolation zone to some extent that was probably unsafe. Generally it may very well be on a winter run when the climate turned, or a summer time run once we badly deliberate a route, that ended up being far longer or tougher than anticipated.
Whereas it’s pure to push our boundaries, we owe it to our pals and our household to take at the least primary security precautions, particularly in winter. No matter our chosen sport, we will by no means get rid of threat, however we will at the least cowl our bases.
Many people who’re lifelong runners have discovered outside abilities rising up, via faculty or school, on organized journeys. Within the U.Ok., the wonderful community of operating and athletic golf equipment has a wealth of skilled and smart coaches and runners, who’re comfortable to information and mentor runners with their expertise to maintain secure within the hills at any time of yr.
For these of us who come to operating later in life, and develop that spirit of journey, there are various alternatives to search out recommendation or take a easy course to enhance our outside abilities and consciousness.
Within the U.Ok., the Fell Runners Affiliation and Scottish Hill Runners can advise on appropriate navigation and security programs in your space. Your native specialist outside retailer also needs to have contacts. This piece on iRunFar about security in unhealthy climate and tough terrain is effectively value a learn, and this glorious quick video from Path Operating Scotland can be effectively value 10 minutes of your time.
Ed’s accident and that of Chris Smith educate us that even probably the most skilled runners can get into hassle, generally for causes outdoors their management. We are able to take some consolation in realizing that they died doing one of many actions they loved most.
Go discover, however keep secure.
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