A BRAND new race route will give runners of all kinds the chance to enjoy the best of all worlds. 

That is according to the woman who once won one of Cumbria's most gruelling sporting challenges despite having entered the event mere days before.

Paula Irons, who took the women's title in the 2013 Keswick to Barrow, will be among those who tackle the first ever Hoad Hill Marathon in Ulverston on Sunday August 9.

The event will be Miss Irons' sixth marathon, and provide her with another chance to stretch her legs amid the stunning scenery.

The 39-year-old Broughton resident, whose previous efforts include the Coniston Lakeland Trail and Great Langdale events, said: “I don’t really like big races, I don’t like big crowds. 

“I prefer something a bit more scenic and there’re lots around here, it’s really good. You could go to something every weekend if you wanted to.”

Miss Irons has been running for around eight years, but became increasingly focussed after moving to Cumbria three years ago.

She won her K2B medal in a time of 5:40 after taking a friend’s place in the event.

She said: “I’d never done that distance before. 

“Literally two or three days before, someone dropped out, and I said ‘Go on then’. 

“It was all a bit crazy.”

As someone who prefers to try new things rather than doing the same events again and again, Miss Irons is looking forward to a tackling a new route during the Hoad Hill marathon.

The course is also the perfect mix for a runner who enjoys a bit of variety. 

A member of Black Combe Runners, Miss Irons has become accustomed to the county’s hilly terrain, but admits to harbouring a love of road running.

Of the Ulverston route, she said: “”It’s quite a nice mix of lots of little routes and it’s got a bit of off-road as well - but it’s not fell. You don’t have to navigate. 

“There’s a bit along the beach, a little bit along the canal, a little bit along the Hoad. It will be beautiful.” 

Miss Irons is also excited to be taking part in an inaugural event so close to her own home. 

The Hoad Hill Marathon and Half Marathon sponsored by Siemens Subsea, will both start and finish at Ford Park in Ulverston and involved a potentially punishing slog up to the town‘s iconic Sir John Barrow monument.

Miss Irons said: “Obviously it’s on our doorstep and I know quite a few people that I run with are either doing it or going along. There’re people from our village, there’re people I work with - it’ll be nice to know a lot of people out on the day.

“There will be quite an atmosphere and that’s what I love about these events, they are a great day out. 

“I’m just going to enjoy it, take in the scenery and the atmosphere especially, because it’s a first event and there’s always something quite special about that.”