RICHARD Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, is set to run at the this year's opening Lakeland Trails Festival event this weekend.
He will be competing against 1,500 runners from all over the UK and 14 different nations in Saturday's 15km PUMA Hawkshead Trail.
The 15km International PUMA Hawkshead Trail Race and Challenge sold out months ago, with competitors travelling from all over the world to take part.
With more than £2,000 of cash and sports product on offer in prizes, the men's race favourite, course record-holder and twice UK Cross Country Champion Steve Vernon (Stockport Harriers) will be hoping for a hat-trick of wins but he faces some world-class opposition. Little is known about the four Kenyan athletes registered, but there are strong British contenders in the field.
The women's race will also be an exciting affair, with little to choose between course record-holder and former World Mountain Running Champion Vic Wilkinson (Bingley Harriers) and the winter sensation, Penrith physiotherpaist Sarah Tunstall (Kendal AC) winner of European Cross team gold in December. Two Kenyan entrants may have a say in the eventual outcome, however.
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