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 - event is held under UKA Rules
Terrain Leeds Country Way Footpath / Trail
Entry Limit 150
Minimum Age 20
Tier 1 from £83 / £53 until 31 October
Tier 2 from £98 / £58 until 5 December
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
What’s included
Entry To The Race
Support at a number of checkpoints along the route
Bag Transport
Event Medical Cover
Free Hot Meal at the finish
Wooden ‘LCW Owl’ Medal Medal
RECCE DAYS
We will be hosting three recce days - INFO
about The 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 example upon entering.
KIT Requirements
Mandatory
Hat
Gloves
Waterproof Jacket with taped seams
Capacity for 500 ml water or sports drink to be carried
Headtorch/Torch
Whistle
Emergency food supply (chocolate/energy bar)
GPX Route on phone, watch or printed map (not provided)
Survival Bag or 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)
Bag Transport / drop bags
At registration you will leave a finish bag that will be transported to the finish.
You may also leave a small drop bag to be transported to Checkpoint 3 (these will only be returned once the checkpoint closes)
CREW
Crews are allowed. You may only crew your runner at an official checkpoint and not at random points through the course.
There will a document for your crew available ahead of race day with instructions and rules for each checkpoint.
Pacers / buddy runners
Pacers / buddy runners are allowed and may join runners if needed
Pacers may not join runners until Checkpoint 1 at the earliest, then on pacers may join runners at any convenient spot.
Pacers must not accompany you at finish line of the race so as not to confuse our timekeepers.
Pacers are welcome to aid station food and water.
Pacers must not physically aid their runner outside of aid stations.
No Muling: ALL Runners must carry all mandatory kit themselves and any runners found to have used pacers as mules will be disqualified.
SHOPS
You ARE allowed to visit any shops, petrol stations, pubs etc on the route.
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
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.
Prize Categories
LCW Winter Ultras (both days)
1st Place = Trophy + Inov8 Shoes
2nd & 3rd Overall = Trophy + Inov8 Voucher
1st V45, V55, V65 = Plaque + Inov8 Voucher
Max one pair of shoes per winner
LCW Winter Ultras (Individual Days)
1st Place = Trophy + Inov8 Shoes
2nd & 3rd Overall = Trophy + Inov8 Voucher
1st V45, V55, V65 = Plaque + Inov8 Voucher
Max one pair of shoes per winner
TEAM
Combined time over both days with a different runner each day
1st Male Team, 1st Female Team, 1st Mixed Team = Plaque (1 each)
If you wish to enter as a team please enter individually and let organiser know you plan to run as a team.
TRAVEL
Garforth and Farsley were specifically chosen to be the start/finish points due to their access to public transport and local amenities. Both Garforth and Farsley are accessible by bus and train (within 15 mins of Leeds). Both starts and finishes are located within 15 minute walk of a local train station (Garforth and New Pudsey) and will be at a warm indoor venue with access to toilets, hot drinks. Bags for warm clothing will be transported from the start to the end each day. There will be also be hot food and drink available at the end of each day.
On Saturday trains services starts with time for you to get to registration around 6am after dropping your vehicle off in Farsley. On Sunday we would advise heading straight to Farsley and returning post race as the trains are less frequent.
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.
Results
2024 Results
