The best trail ultra marathons for beginners in the UK – There is a higher proportion of slower ultra runners in the UK compared to Europe – Ultra running is more inclusive in the UK with many races suitable for beginners; time limits are more generous than in Europe – There is a higher proportion
Stour Valley Path 100km Ultra Run
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UTMB 2017 – possibly the greatest long distance trail race in history!!! I first heard about the UTMB during my training for the Marathon des Sables. One of my tent mates had previously run this race and during the evenings in the desert he recounted stories of running through the mountains around Mont Blanc, the
Whilst reading a book by Tobias Mews called ’50 Races to Run Before You Die’ there was one photo that stuck in my mind. It was the picture of a narrow ridge above the clouds, which looked like something out of ‘Jurassic Park’ or ‘The Land That Time Forgot’. After experiencing some truly memorable scenery
If Indiana Jones ran trail ultra marathons, I’m sure The North Face Cappadocia Ultra Trail would be one of his favourites. I first visited this part of Turkey a few years back and was stunned by the beauty of the landscape. I’d been out for a short run and thought it would be an amazing place for a
A geography degree, a map, a compass and a GPS…no excuse for getting lost, right?! After having recently completed the CCC and despite swearing numerous times during the race that I’d never run the UTMB, I decided that I might as well try and collect the 9 points, put my name into the ballot and
Two years ago I broke my leg during the CCC. This year I returned for revenge! The CCC is part of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc series of races, the main event being the UTMB, which is part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour. The CCC follows much of the same route as the UTMB, but is
For those who have not heard of the race before, Comrades is the oldest and largest annual ultra marathon. There is a huge amount of history related to the race, which was set up in 1921 following the 1st world war. It was the idea of a veteran named Vic Clapham, who wanted to commemorate South
As a child, I had always avidly watched coverage of the London marathon on TV. The whole spectacle was simply amazing to behold, but I never dreamt that one day I would have the opportunity to be part of such an event. At the time I thought that the London marathon must be the largest
If you think there are no mountains in Paris, think again! I had been aware of a race in Paris that historically finished up the Eiffel Tower and I’d always been fascinated by the idea of competing. Over the last few years the race had finished near to the Eiffel Tower, but this year the
Having signed up for a few big races this year, including the Eco Trail de Paris, Comrades (the uphill version), and the South Downs Way 100, I decided that it would be sensible to get a little practice in. At the start of the year I realised I’d not actually participated in an ultra race