Ultramarathons in Yorkshire and the Humber

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Hilly with views to match
  Registration was super fast.
  Race briefing was fine.
  Route was well marked. Scenery was brilliant.
  2018 was dry but very windy - very glad of the mandatory kit to be honest.
  Mixed terrain so need to select shoes for that.
  Challenging and rewarding course.
  Marshalls were excellent.
  T-shirt, medal and a bowl of chilli at the finish.
  I’d recommend this race.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2017

  now this is not a race for the faint hearted. running snowdonia Marathon the weekend before probably wasnt the best prep (hence the DNF).Registration was really straight forwards and the morning breifing covered everything that you neede to know.this is a tough ol course but the climbs are worth every step. mixed terrian with some road running so please wear suitable clothing so that you are visable to drivers. from the 13 miles or so of the course that i saw, you will love this race.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2017

  The parking area looked massive on the map but soon runs out so get there early or be prepared for a mad dash round the local streets for a spot! 10 minutes walk to the start is easy and signposted, registration straight forward. Good to have use of the visitor centre for toilets and warmth but gets very overcrowded. I remember the start being a couple of miles of slow incline with decent scenery , nothing too tough. Much of the course is tarmac lanes, farm track and grassy track which I thought was a great mix. Only a few aid stations and basic, I would recommend being self sufficient. The hills are all bearable nothing too bad, but the very last one within a mile of the finish is a proper bastard when you’re dead on your feet. About a 20% gradient for about 500m roughly. Thankfully once over the top you can spring down to the finish. Shame the medal is generic, but you get a base tech shirt thrown in too

  Read more

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Rae H

  Did the 5k in 2016

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  I did the 5k as my first race back after having my baby in July 2017 so I was a little bit nervous but this was such a fantastic event that I've signed up for the marathon in 2019! The organisation was great, the event village was buzzing and there was such a supportive vibe.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Lovely weather and a great location.

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  The heat made it a very challenging course.. a bit grim in fact! But course was stunning and the whole atmosphere at race HQ was fantastic. We made a day of it.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  On a drunken evening some months ago me and my mate decided it would be a good idea to register for the 20 mile option of this event.  On waking the the next morning we both text each other demanding to know who had hacked our respective phones and done such a thing.Being only our second organised event both me and my mate (Gimli, son of Gloin) were slightly nervous on race day as you never quite know what to expect from the day. I was so nervous that i would get the registration bit wrong that i forgot we were meant to be doing 20 miles. Not quite sure what i was expecting to get wrong mind.Anyway, we need'nt have worried , registration was simple and really friendly, Diane showed us what we needed to do and get.We got chatting to various other runners and Andy the massage man so we were soon feeling very much at home and I even pretented i was a seasoned running veteran to a few folks. They could could blatantly tell i wasnt.The race course was stunning, great trails and spectacular views and plenty of hills.I can't thank the marshalls enough for a superb job of watering, feeding and generally getting us round the course on a ridiculously hot day. Massive thanks to you all, you were brilliant.The finish line was a sight to behold and we were welcomed in like champions. I actually thought i had won the whole event. Alas, i hadnt. The medals and goody bags were a triumph and although i didnt have any cake (I am watching my figure darling), it looked amazing.All in all, we had an incredible day, and so did the hundreds (well 10) of our friends and family who came to support.IGUN is most certainly not grim. Its a lovley warm friendly family of organisers and runners and we will certainly be booking more dates in the diary.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  A beautiful and well organised race, can't wait to come back next year!

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• H

  Helen S

  Did the 40mi in 2017

  One of the best races Ive run ... twice!

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  A well organised race and a great trail route. I had done previous runs along the route to recce it in advance and I was glad I had. It is marked out with yellows ribbons, and so you would probably be fine doing it without a recce, but because it is off road it made it much easier being relatively confident of the route. The marshals were all very supportive and there was plenty of snacks and drinks at the stations. Will be doing more Punk Panther races in the future :-)

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  My first race with Punk Panther - who organise trail ultra marathon - and it was awesome.Pre race I felt a bit out of my depth. I’ve not run 60k before nor done a trail Ultra marathon - but a few road marathons.Car parking organised a short walk from registration. Registration was quick and simple as was the kit check. A decent briefing and we set off on time.Before long the route was in the countryside and beautiful scenery. There were plenty of hills to negotiate which made it a decent challenge (for me).There were 8 checkpoints on the route. I took plenty of nutrition but didn’t really need it. I’ll know for next time. The checkpoints were well stocked and the marshalls couldn’t have been more helpful. They were all amazing, helping refill water and do anything to help runners.Cant say enough about the stunning route - just beautiful. Experience it for yourself.Although I didn’t know anyone racing, I was soon part of a small group, chatting and helping each other - wonderful to have support and company around the route - much more fun.At the end there was a great medal, super Tshirt and more food, drinks, cakes etc Again more than enough. Brilliant.Mill be back for sure. Wonderful value for money. I really hope people get involved - very much worth looking up and signing up to other races.

  Read more

From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Well this is not for the faint hearted. It’s a very lumpy either 28 or 50 mile route. It is well marked with the usually little way arrows which can be missed if you are not paying attention. The route is a real mix of tarmac track and moorland with absolutely amazing views. The aid stations are nicely positioned and the volunteers were very chirpy and helpful.  Well stocked with the usual sweet and salty treats with a small selection for the ever growing Vegan running community. I’m not going to give you a turn by turn account but please note that it is tough but so worth doing. If you have any questions then you can get me over on twitter @antruns. The only issue being that there were plastic cups at the aid stations. If the organisers put a cup on the kit list then they could do away with these. I know they don’t cost a lot in monitory value but the environmental impact is massive

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2017

  Although there are no mountains to be seen anywhere, this is a very testing course with 7000ft of climbing over the 50 miles. Mostly all off road, some on hard packed trail but a lot of plain mud / grass.Organisation was brilliant as were the aid stations. Navigation was tricky at a few points, though the map and written directions were superb. They'd also put up a lot of event route markers. I ran with someone who had run it all before so it wasn't an issue. Spotted a few people getting lost though. Even though I DNF'd (caught by the sweeper after 38 miles) it was still a good day out. Might be back!

  Read more

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Cracking Race - Not For Beginners

  Let me start with a disclaimer here - this was my first ultra so I am somewhat naive when it comes to what is standard in the ultra category.

  PROS:

  - the race organisers were extremely friendly, approachable and willing to help
  - those manning check points were friendly and forthcoming in offering help to refill hydration vests, etc
  - registration was simple
  - I organised for my own food bags at check points which I dropped off at registration and they very kindly distributed along the route
  - the views were breathtaking
  - really challenging route with a whole variety of terrains
  - the organisers arranged two recce runs before race day (I wasn't able to take part but would highly recommend this!)
  - did I mention how kind the organisers were? (I called for directions when I was very lost and was given directions and reassured that it was no trouble)
  - nice medal and t-shirt to remember the experience
  - free photographs too

  
  CONS:
  - the Yorkshire Three Peaks section was absolutely rammed with walkers which made navigating around them at any speed rather tricky
  - there was a hiccough with the route distance (it was slightly short of 50 miles) which was rectified last minute, but no one seemed aware of whether the cut off times had been adjusted accordingly or not - consequently a number of runners were misinformed and thought cut offs had been extended which led to some tricky conversations at checkpoints (where different checkpoints were giving out different messages)
  - I had coordinated with the organisers for there to be certain foods available at aid stations on top of what I dropped off at registration, but those foods were not available on the day

  
  Things to Bear in Mind:
  - the course is marked, technically, but it is mostly marked with a piece of red and white tape at a point where you are to change direction - it is down to you to know what direction that is! I would recommend only doing this if you have done the practice runs (two were organised) and/or if you have a watch with the navigation file downloaded
  - you will not have any phone signal for about 95% of this race
  - the terrain is really challenging - REALLY challenging

  OVERALL:

  It's a brilliant race. It's mind-bogglingly beautiful. The organisers are so friendly and the atmosphere is very casual. If I had known how hard it would be, I would not have done it - certainly not as my first ultra. Expectations and reality were rather different because of my inexperience. I still can't quite believe that I managed it. For seasoned ultra runners, it would be the perfect challenge and I'm sure would be highly enjoyable.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  So the premises of the race is to "run" , Malham Cove, Ings Scar, Malham Tarn, The Pennine Way, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough along the stunning, yet tough 50 mile route. Taking on a tad short of 9000ft of elevation. The climb up Pen-y-ghent was very busy causing queueing or the option of taking a less autodox climb route. Other than that the event was amazing! As usual the GBUltras team put on great spreads at CPs and offered support when needed. The course was very well marked for navigation, the medal at the end is high quality and with pre paid photos the race is fantastic value for money. I'd recommend this to runners wanting a challenge and likewise to walkers wanting a challenge. Will I go back? My knee has no skin on it from a fall down Pen-y-ghent, my right calf is still knotted to hell and waiting for an appointment with my physio , but hell yes I'll be back! What a crackin little race.

  Read more

From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  OK race. Long distances between human contact. Course had been tampered with and some markers had disappeared, good job we were given maps.

  Not enough food at the check points, too many sweets.

  Free can of beer at the end. Medal ok but looks to be one that is mass produced and used across a number of races = cheap!

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Great race great challange. I had to push myself a bit more than on a maverick original race but that was perfect for me :)

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  This is a fabulous race in a beautiful setting that was a tough on a baking hot day.Parking was super simple at the school just opposite the sports ground in Hope, a couple of bright and breezy marshals showed us the way. once parked up it was the shortest of walks to registration which was also straight forward and friendly.the race briefing was both good and bad, good in respect that it was was very safety orientated in light of 30°C temps on the day. The course was explained as to how to get on a shorter route if required, i was on the middle one which was 23km i think but came in at nearly 30km and we only got lost once that added less than a kilometer. the bad thing was it wasnt clear the position of the aid station and how far in it was. the excellent map by registration seemed to be different? if the RD had said the words "the aid station is in Edale" that would've covered it perfectly. i understand the logistical difficulties in planning aid stations in these parts of the world as lugging the stuff up kinder scout is plainly a non starter but running out of water and not knowing where the next water source is isnt a great feelinghaving said that when we finally did get to the aid station it was a beauty! water melon was lush but the real star was cold boiled new potatoes and a dish of salt!! genius idea!the course itself is beautiful but tough, really tough in the conditions. it takes you straight up Win Hill first then down to Lady Bower, up and over Kinder Scout then up the back side of Mam Tor and all the summits before you get back to Hope. navigation was a doddle was loads of arrows and tape. the only time we got lost was when we should've gone through a gate and turned left but we turned left before it and ended up in the wrong field, no big deal but a few of did it so maybe a marshall there next time?the medal at the end was really cool. its not often i repeat races but i would do this one again i think?

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Crazy race. Boiling hot, big hills, evil stairs, beautiful setting, great crowd, beer, cake, medal.Love it.This event can only get bigger.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Well organised run on a very scenic and hilly route. Great, friendly marshalls and plenty of drink stations. Will definitely do it again.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  It was a hot two laps for the half marathon, but the scenery was stunning, the marshalls out on the course were all friendly, and the signage made navigation easy. Some tough hills, a lovely set of steps, and some rough terrain in parts.It's not often you do a run and feel like the organisers and marshalls are genuinely bothered about the runners. With Its Grim Up North that's what you get. Well stocked aid stations, a friendly smile, lovely medal, beautiful locations, and cake plus goodie bag at the end. And once you've done a couple of runs, they remember you!Yes it was tough today, but a few degrees cooler and this would have been up there for run of the year. I'll be back!

  Read more

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Punk Panther do great events
  The route was brilliant and hugely scenic - all very runnable. Loved it.
  Great organisation and effective registration. Always the best aid stations and I always end up bringing back most of the nutrition I carried - wish others would follow their lead.
  The routes are brilliant - taking in reservoirs galore. I’d run this again for sure. Really tough (for me) too - which make them rewarding.
  Really nice medal and t shirt.
  They deserve success - well done Rik & team.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Very scenic course - highly recommended.
  Simple effective registration with kit check. No nonsense briefing and start.
  Pretty well marked route with signs to supplement in places.
  Very scenic.
  Great marshalls and very good aid stations - again I came back with half the nutrition I took.
  Love these events - v good T-shirt and medal - and hot food at finish. Everything was excellent.

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  Fantastic fantastic fantastic, what a day I am an ultra runner !!!!!! Fabulous marshals and a beauty of a course mean I’ll be back

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• F

  Flinn W

  Did the Ultra in 2016

  Great base, good friendly rivalry and a breathtaking route.

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  I’d been waiting a while to take on an Endurance Life event. My original booking was for the Northumberland event in February, but a more local race popped up and EL’s transfer system on the website is so easy to use that I opted to switch to this race.

  A Coastal Trail Series Race isn’t cheap, £50 for a marathon is at the higher end of the scale, but you do get your monies worth from the location. Information is plentiful on their website and for those that lack pre-race organisation they do place the start point postcode at the top of the pre-race email. That’s forward thinking!!

  Registration. Smooth, informal and lots of staff to get you sorted quickly. This years t-shirt is a bit of a nasty flesh colour. It may stay in its packet!!

  Briefing. Whilst it was blowing a hooley during our briefing, it was conducted thoroughly with no stone unturned. Lots of info on our route, what signs to follow and what to look for on the course. Well done Team CTS.

  The Route. Wow! What views there are on this route. I wouldn’t normally get the camera out for pics but this offered some sublime outlooks from cliffs and vantage points. I’ve just completed a different marathon which claims to Britain’s Most Scenic Marathon along fire access tracks and forests, it was dull!! The route along the coastline of the North York Moors was far more scenic and breathtaking. If you want a race with jaw-dropping views book this one NOW!

  All the stuff at the end. Medal was good, T not so (blue or black pls) massage was £5 for 5 minutes or a tenner for 10. There was some faff getting my timing chip off my wrist and I got a touch annoyed at this. On reflection this was more me being depleted of energy and reserves.

  What I liked about this race was an important factor of volume of runners. This race was small, just how I like it. There were enough on the course so you never lost sight of a fellow runner but you never ran in a pack of 40 people! It also meant I had a decent chance of getting a 3rd in Age Group prize 😂.

  Would I do this race again? Not this specific race (too many good CTS races to choose from, so why hash out the same race) but I do plan to add one of their marathons or ultras to the 2019 calendar.

  Top marks for a great day out!

  Read more

• R

  Did the event in 2017

  Outstanding event!

  Only let down by a flesh coloured t-shirt!

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• L

  Lynda P

  Did the 8.8 Miles in 2018

  Great organisation and friendly atmosphere as usual from Grim Up North Running! I'm not convinced the course deserved the 5 boot 'grimmer than grim' rating as its a fairly straightforward race - largely flat & easy running on road & canal surfaces. the couple of more trail-y sections by the river and across fields also present no major challenges.Lovely setting at the Abbey start/finish. Lots of cake & a cool medal too!

  Read more

• W

  Wendy M

  Did the 8.8 Miles in 2018

  Great race with mixed terrain. Lucky we had not had lots of rain this year so pretty dry.

  Read more

• C

  Carole c

  Did the 8.8 Miles in 2018

  A Great challenging race, canal part a bit boring but allows to gain some time back. Im always scared of tripping/falling so for me would only race this event in trail shoes. Plenty of water and jelly babies on the 8.8 route.

  Read more

From the organiser

Reviews

• R

  Did the event in 2018

  This was my first time running the Calderdale Way Relay, and in fact my first fell race. I was running leg two, and had recce'd it a few weeks earlier. We found the race instructions weren't completely clear, but as we started with the mass start on the day it wasn't a problem (we would have ended up in the right place anyway...might just have taken a detour!). The day itself was really well organised. Once we had parked up at the start of our leg, we had a quick kit check and picked up our race numbers without any issue. The pub at the start had kindly opened early and provided plenty of cold water (it was a hot day) and toilet facilities, which made for a nice start. The route itself is really tough work, but absolutely beautiful. The first mile of leg two is hard as it's all uphill, but once you're up next to Stoodley Pike, the views are stunning. The downhill is quite technical but enjoyable.We didn't actually realise we had finished at the end of our leg, as we didn't spot the volunteers taking down finishing times, so a sign or something would have helped. But all in all, a really great event. I'm sure I will be back (though I'm not sure my legs will thank me!).

  Read more

From the organiser

From the organiser

From the organiser