Looking for a challenge to get you out during the dull winter days and embracing our fine British weather? Look no further than the Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras: An ultra challenge designed to make the most of the limited December daylight. The Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras event consists of two consecutive point-to-point ultra-marathons circumnavigating the city of Leeds via local footpaths.

Spine hopefuls - this is your opportunity to test out that kit and grit before your big race

EVENT DETAILS

Dates Saturday 7 December & Sunday 8 December 2024
Licence 6656 - the event is held under UKA Rules
Terrain Leeds Country Way Footpath / Trail
Entry Limit 150
Minimum Age 20
Tier 1 £80 / £50 until 31 October
Tier 2 £100 / £60 until 30 November

ULTRA SOUTH - DAY ONE

Route Garforth - Farsley (LCW Clockwise)
Race Start Miners Welfare Hall, 56 Main St, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AA
Race Finish Farsley Celtic FC, LS28 5BE
Distance ~57km / 35 miles
Elevation ~800m
Registration 07:00
Start Times 08:00 & 09:00
Course Close 18:00

ULTRA NORTH - DAY TWO

Route Farsley - Garforth (LCW Clockwise)
Race Start Farsley Celtic FC, LS28 5BE
Race Finish Miners Welfare Hall, 56 Main St, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AA
Distance ~48km / 30 miles
Elevation ~700m
Registration 07:00
Start Times 08:00 & 09:00
Course Close 18:00

RECCE DAYS

We will be hosting three recce days - Sun 29th Sept, Sun 20th October, Sun 10th November - INFO

ABOUT LEEDS COUNTRY WAY

A very popular long-distance walk of 100km / 62 miles which makes a complete circuit around the city of Leeds and visits many of the neighbouring towns, villages, parks and nature reserves.

It is never more than 7 miles from Leeds City Square. Despite being so close to the city the route is mainly rural with much to enjoy including extensive views to the West and North Yorkshire countryside in the outlying areas of the Leeds metropolitan district. It follows public rights of way including footpaths, bridleways and minor lanes, with just a few short sections along roads.

History A route was first devised by Fred Andrews of the Ramblers Association, and then developed by West Yorkshire County Council in the early 1980s. This council was abolished in 1986, and the path is now under the care of the Countryside section of Leeds City Council. The Leeds Country Way was realigned in 2006, using a route devised by Bob Brewster, to bring it entirely within the boundary of the Leeds metropolitan district (previously it crossed the boundary into Wakefield), and the path was officially relaunched on 26 September 2006 with a revised set of map leaflets and improved waymarking.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

You must have completed at least one marathon or ultra-marathon within the last 4 years and be able to give an example upon entering.

KIT REQUIREMENTS

MANDATORY

Hat and Gloves
Waterproof Jacket with taped seams
Minimum of 500 ml water/sports drink to be carried
Headtorch/Torch
Whistle
Emergency food supply (chocolate/energy bar)
Map and route description
Survival Bag
Foil blanket
Mobile phone
Cup for drinks at aid stations and the finish

RECOMMENDED KIT

Spare Gloves
Buff or similar
GPS
Full leg cover (eg running tights)

TIME LIMIT / CUT OFFS

DAY ONE - 18:00 (10 hours)
DAY TWO - 18:00 (10 hours)

We will have a strict but generous and fair procedure in place to ensure the safety of our volunteers. There will be a cut off at the approximate half way point each day. We want the race to be completed in full by as many participants as possible and we will have two start times with an early start reserved for entrants with longer predicted finish times.

CREW / PACERS / SAFETY RUNNERS

Crews are allowed, you may only crew your runner within 400m of an official checkpoint and not at random points through the course.
Crew vehicles must not park on any private property / roads and must not obstruct the official checkpoint vehicles. we ask that any crew vehicles find a safe and quiet place to park when meeting their runners.
Pacers are allowed but must not accompany at the start or the finish line of the race.
ALL Runners must carry all mandatory kit themselves and any runners found to have used pacers as mules will be disqualified.

NAVIGATION

Leeds Country Way Winter Ultras will not be marked and require self navigation - However The Leeds Country Way is a well trodden footpath itself and is marked with green plates with a yellow owl icon. Any deviations from the footpath will be signposted.
The GPX files are available and runners will be required to carry a printed race map. It is ultimately the runners responsibility to navigate the course successfully.
Recces are recommended.

CHECKPOINTS / AID STATIONS

The Winter Ultras will all have a number of manned checkpoints and aid stations with basic food and drink and an indoor aid station around the half way mark. Exact locations tbc. The route itself also passes many local amenities, shops and pubs etc. Runners will be informed of which checkpoints will have toilets ahead of race day.

PRIZE CATEGORIES

OVERALL, LCW Winter Ultra South and LCW Winter Ultra North
1st Place = Trophy + Inov8 Shoes
2nd & 3rd Overall, 1st V45, V55, V65, = Plaque + Inov8 Voucher

TEAM
Combined time over both days with a different runner each day
1st Male Team, 1st Female Team, 1st Mixed Team = Plaque (each)
If you wish to enter as a team please enter individually and let organiser know you plan to run as a team.

VOLUNTEERS

This race will require plenty of volunteers, and plenty of roles are available including some running roles. Roles include fully mobile checkpoint teams, aid station crew, finish crew, race timing, tail running crew, drivers. If you are interested please check out the link below.