Hi folks, I've done quite a few marathons and I'd like to have a crack at some longer races. However, it seems a lot of ultras (and this could just be my perception) are on trails and mountain walkways which involve hiking and scrambling up and down steep banks of loose gravel, or worse, wooden steps that only people taller than 6'9" can walk up properly. That's not me. I want to be able to run the entire length of the course, not run a bit, stop to open and close a gate, run a bit, then stop to think about how I can get down some tricky descent normally used by mountain bikers without breaking my ankles. I don't want to get lost, either - if I wanted to carry a map and a compass with me, I'd take up orienteering.
Does anyone have any recommendations for good, challenging road (or sufficiently smooth trail) ultras in the UK? Something around 40-60 miles would be nice. Thanks!
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http://www.entrycentral.com/john-lucas-ultra
or the comrades
very few and far between, way too costly to put on for the small number of entrants
you'll not run continuously the whole way anyway so what's a few gates and styles here and there
Easiest way is to look out for 12 / 24 hour races. Most of then are over a fixed 5-10km course and you do laps, as many as you want. This is probably the best way for you to get what you want. You just need to be selective, most are over normal terrain but some still have sodding great climbs etc.. in them Just be selective.
EDIT: Also look for canal ultras. They are usually pretty flat with only the occasional style or bridge to go over. I'm doing LLCR Liverpool Leeds end of August that should be do-able
There was an ultra last year on the grand union canal around June time (not the Brum to London big one, a different one)
I would recommend Connemara ultra - 39.3 miles on quite country lanes in Co. Galway with a couple of hills in the last 13.1. Fabulous scenery and a very well-organised event. I've done it ten times and will be going back for #11 in Apr 2017.
Dartmoor Discovery. Fantastic race.
DD - of course, how could I forget. That's a 32-mile road race with, again, one or two hills. That was my first ultra. Good for novices but there is a cutoff isn't there?
13-14 August, multiple 5.9M lapper over 24 hours, some do 100+miles, some do 30, so its just keep going for 24 hours, see what you can do.
Think you can still get a solo entry.
Thanks for all your suggestions, folks! I don't mind hills per se (I love the Loch Ness marathon, for example), it's just when they require actual climbing rather than running. Connemara and Dartmoor sound good, though!
You don't mind hills, kc? That's good - those last two hills in Connemara are called the Devil's Mother and the Hell of the West (which you can see looming up 7 miles away).
How about:
http://www.relishrunningraces.com/bath-two-tunnels-ultra-marathon.php - a 50k and 100k option
or there's: http://codrc.co.uk/railway-ultra
or: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=2829
Not a road ultra, but no mountains and no navigation required:
http://cannonballevents.co.uk/canalathon/
Glasgow to Edinburgh-all on canal tow path, only 1 hill, you cannot get lost. Great as long as you like canals! A little bit is on path, rather than tarmac, but I suspect it would be OK for you. Almost exactly a double marathon.
If you want 'perfect' road conditions for your ultra, I suggest this
http://www.runandbecome.com/self-transcendence-24-hour-race
24 hours on a 400m track
kc - I only run road races and there are few road ultras here. But if you pop over to Ireland apart from Connemara they have quite a few road ultras, there's a 100k in August in Tralee, 39.3 is quite a popular distance and there's one at Longford that I would highly recommend. There is a road 100 miler too over Connemara roads, but you do need a support team for that race. Portumna, Co Galway has a 50k and 100k, I've done both distances there and that is a great event, run on tarmac with a very short section of good surface trail, 5k laps traffic free through a forest, lovely.
There's also a few more http://marathonclubireland.asocion.com/2016-marathons-provisional/
Yikes!
If it has to be an actual race I'm pretty sure the Glasgow to Edinburgh is along the canals- although I haven't done it.
You could always find a beautiful country (or part of this one), do a bit of research of local roads ect and run your 'own' ultra.
I did my 1st ultra was only 50k, but it was local, self navigation. I walked the coursed with OH then trained on it a couple of times so I knew the route. Managed to run most of it too apart from a mile which took 25 mins!!!
www.wrbfitnessandevents.com 40 mile ultra, out and back on cycle paths near llanelli south wales