ONE of the toughest endurance races in the world is coming to Peeblesshire.

The Original Mountain Marathon started as the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon back in 1968.

And around 2,000 athletes line up each year to be tested on some of the toughest courses.

This year’s event - the 48th OMM - will be run over the weekend of October 24-25 in and around Tweedsmuir and the Yarrow Valley.

Race co-ordinator Dave Chapman told us: “It’s 21 years since we were last in this area, when the event was based on the edge of St Mary’s Loch and it’s been too long.

“The land hasn’t changed greatly in that time - much of the land is quite runnable although the heather can be tough in some areas. This is a fantastic area with beautiful hills and good running terrain.” Runners compete in teams of two carrying a tent and enough kit and food to last for two days.

The two-day test of a teams’ fitness, equipment, navigational skill and ability to traverse mountainous terrain safely.

From the start to the finish on the second day and including the overnight camp, the team is a self-sufficient unit that is responsible for its own safety and well-being.

Courses only disclosed to competitors on issue of the map at the start line and describes the series of checkpoints you must visit each day, the route taken is up to each team. The competition area covers some 400 square kilometres and teams compete to visit as many point-scoring checkpoints as possible over the two-day event with an overnight camp on the Saturday night.

There are a selection of different classes - ranging from Elite at 85 kilometres down to D Class at 40 kilometres - to allow for competitors at all levels from raw beginner through to elite mountain athlete to take part.

This year’s field will also include full units of Royal Marines trying to finish the course.

Mr Chapman added: “The overnight campsite is in a fantastic location in the midst of the hills, so get there as early as you can to absorb the beauty.

“We have been fortunate to be able to extend the event area further south – into the hills south of Megget Reservoir as far as Grey Mare’s Tail and Loch Skene, to the northern edge of the Carrifran Wildwood project owned by Borders Forest Trust.

“In fact a good part of this map extension has been recently acquired by Borders Forest Trust and will be returned to wooded wilderness in the coming years.

“The whole southern extension has allowed us to give the longer courses a quite different challenge each day.” Full details of the event and online entry at www.theomm.com/events/the-omm-2015