Competitors in this year's OMM are heading for the Brecon Beacons

The woman who has run one of the outdoor world’s toughest events for 30 years will oversee her final race this weekend.

Jen Longbottom took over the organisation of what was then the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon following the death of its instigator Gerry Charnley in 1982.

Now renamed the Original Mountain Marathon, it is still seen as an ultimate test of athleticism, stamina, mountaincraft and navigation.

This year’s event will take place at Trecastle in the Brecon Beacons this coming weekend.

Ms Longbottom stepped into the limelight during the 2008 event in Borrowdale which was abandoned as high winds and torrential rain swept the Lakeland fells and inundated the race headquarters.

She was originally a competitor but took over the running of the event when its creator died in an accident on the Helvellyn range.

Jen Longbottom

An OMM spokesperson said it will not be the end of her involvement as she has agreed to continue with future events but not at such an intense level.

“This will allow her to spend more time with her family and grandchildren and also travelling the world which is one of her other passions,” the spokesperson said.

Stu Hamilton, event director said, “Jen stepped into the breach after the sad loss of the event originator Gerry Charnley and has kept the event in existence through her sheer hard work and strength of personality.

“We all owe her an immense debt of gratitude for without her we wouldn’t be here.”

The 46th OMM takes place in the southern Welsh hills on the 26 and 27 October and will see 3,000 runners competing over eight different courses, ranging from 40km to 80km.

The spokesperson said: “The OMM was the event that defined the mountain marathon and has been copied worldwide but never equalled.

“With its physical and intellectual challenges combined with that wonderful sense of achievement and community it continues to be the blue-ribbon race of its genre.

“With competitors coming from around the world and all ages represented it is truly a coming together of likeminded friends.

Tom Williams, managing director of OMM, said, “There is no other event which quite captures the spirit of shared hardship and achievement, no matter your skill level.

“We are incredibly privileged to be allowed to hold the OMM and understand that it is as much owned by the competitors as it is by us.”