AMBLESIDE runner Rob Webster will compete in the 42km Scafell Pike Trail Marathon on Sunday, July 7 as the third and final race in his bid to raise £500 for the National Trust's Riverlands project to help restore the health of the River Derwent, from source to sea.

The race starts from Crow Park, Keswick and is part of the National Trust’s Derwent Water Regatta talking place on the lakeshore field all weekend.

Rob’s fundraising challenge started with the 25km Adidas Terrex trail race at Keswick Mountain Festival, where he came third.

He has since run the 13km Howtown fell race near Ullswater where he came eighth.

“I decided to do three runs as part of my fundraising challenge after going on a training walk with National Trust staff from the Riverlands project,” said Rob. “It sounds like such an amazing project that just doing one race didn’t seem to do it justice.”

Rob explained: "I got into running by entering the Manchester 10k with my sister and brother-in-law when I was 18, and I just got hooked. We started small, went to as many events as we could, and built up to half-marathons.

"But it was after completing the London Marathon in 2013 that I switched to from road running to trail running – for me it’s all about that feeling of being free and connecting to the outdoors and nature. When it happens it just feels effortless.”

Jessie Binns, National Trust visitor experience manager, said the first regatta was held on Crow Park in 1781, and the National Trust was proud to be reviving the event with help from local outdoor providers.

"There will be some living history there," she said, "but we’re also reinterpreting the event for the 21st century, so it’s not just for marathon runners; you can try something new - whether that’s a 500m open water swim, or a 5k run, or a taster session in a canoe or your first ever cruise in a catamaran.”

There will be free family activities on dry land, live music and entertainment, and the team from National Trust pub Sticklebarn, at Great Langdale, will be running a beer tent and barbecue.

For more, see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/derwentregatta