How difficult is this race?

The Greensand Country route is considered to be a fast and accessible ultra marathon. We have seen lots of runners compelete this as their first ultra. The paths are good quality throughout and free from soft mud at this time of the year. The heat can present a challenge, but this is of course never gaurenteed in the UK.

Do I need to qualifiy?

No, there are no qualifiying standards required to enter this race.

I'm worried about getting lost?

Our route will be marked throughout with orange signage/ribbons, along with marshals at several key points. Course checkers will be out during the race ensuring that signage remains in place. We ask runners to make sure they have access to the route via a phone or watch, to act as a backup in an emergency.

What are the cut-off times for this race?

There is an overall 9-hour time limit for this race. Anyone running significantly behind this time at each checkpoints will be monitored and maybe advised to stop for safety reasons.

Where can toilets be found at this event?

There will be temporary toilets at the event base. The majority of these will be unisex, however we will one female-only portaloos that have sanitary products available. Toilets will also be directely checkpoint 1 and 3. There is a public toilet near checkpoint 2.

Are there changing facilities available?

Yes, there will be several pop-up changing tents at the event base for runners to use.

How can I attend this event without a car?

Biggleswade is the closest train station to our event base. From the station it is a short 13-min taxi journey or and 11-minute cycle. We will provide a safe place to store bikes whilst you are running.

What footwear should I wear at this race?

We would recommend a light trail running shoe for this race - something that can tackle varried and uneven terrain and remain confortable on harder dirt paths.

What prizes are awarded at this event?

There are awards for the top three male and female finishers overall, along with age category awards for FV40, MV40, FV50, MV50, FV60, MV60, FV70, MV70.

How do I follow the route using my phone or watch?

Most GPS watches allow you to upload a GPX file of the route for you to follow whilst running. Typically this is done by loading the GPX file into the app (i.e Garmin Connect), and then syncing your phone/watch together. If you don't have a GPS watch we would recommend using OS Maps (£20/year) or Strava Premium (£48/year).

Greensand Country 50K Ultra, Bedfordshire

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A stunning single loop 50K ultra marathon around the Greensand Country trails in Bedfordshire.

Our trail route follows a unique loop though a series of attractive countryside villages and the trails that connect them.

This race is a great choice for those looking to post a faster 50K time, or if you want to avoid the bigger hills encountered on our Chiltern ultra events.

UndulatingLoop

Event base: Shuttleworth, Alder Dr, Biggleswade SG18 9DT (View on Google Maps)
Distance / Elevation: 50.2km / 430m+
Time Limit: 9 hours
Navigation: Arrow markers and orange ribbons
Terrain: Trail
UTMB Index
Minimum Age: 20
Dogs permitted: No

The route

Our 50km route starts from the Shuttleworth Estate following a cross country route on private trails.

Runners then complete an clockwise loop passing through Ickwell, Broom, Shefford, Haynes and Old Warden.

The terrain and surrounding countryside is varied, eyecatching and undulating throughout. This makes the course extremely runable and a great choice for anyone aiming to complete their first ultra.

There are three major checkpoints, at 16km, 28km and 41km. Additional water points will be added if it is a particularly warm day.