Ely Tri Club Runfest Ultra

Race completed

66 km Distance

140 m Climbing

3.5 Grit · Challenging

52.3996° N, 0.2620° E © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 2 m / km Fast & Flat. This course is relatively flat and fast. Ideal for PB attempts.

Time limit 8.5 hours 7:44 min/km average. Tight. Sustained running. Long aid-station stops will cost you. Among the tightest 50 mi cut-offs we track. Measured against 490 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~36 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

DUV results for the 2019 edition (42mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, October

Daytime high 15°C

Night low 7°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 10 h 33 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for October — NASA POWER, grid elevation 26 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2019	42mi	36	Craig Holgate · 04:54:45	Jennifer Wood · 06:12:47

39% of the 2019 field were women.

DUV results for the 2019 edition (42mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Course notes

terrain This is a fast & flat course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
gear With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

Gear for this race

Chosen for 66 km of trail with 140 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 66 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
Race Nutrition 66 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 66 km, without the bounce.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 66 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

New Balance

Fuel Cell Super Comp Trail

★★★★★ 4.5

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Skratch Labs

Sport Hydration Mix

Clean electrolyte drink mix with real fruit flavor. Low sugar.

$20 ★★★★★ 4.5

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

Industry-standard 12L race vest with front flask pockets and minimal bounce.

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Suunto

Vertical

Titanium GPS watch with solar charging, offline maps, and 140-hour GPS battery.

$630 ★★★★★ 4.5

All gear guides →

Overview

Ely Tri Club Runfest Ultra was a 66-kilometre trail race in Ely, United Kingdom, held with an 8.5-hour time limit. With a required pace of 7.7 minutes per kilometre, the cut-off was tighter than 96% of 50mi peers and more generous than just 4%, demanding sustained running from the start.

The route offered exceptionally flat running, gaining 140 metres of elevation at a rate of 2.1 metres per kilometre. Despite the lack of climbing, the course incorporated trail obstacles like cattle grids, stiles, and steps that disrupted steady pacing.

The event drew an intimate gathering in its single edition in 2019, where 36 finishers completed the course. Across the wider discipline, its starting numbers were smaller than 61% of 50mi fields and bigger than 38%. Entry was priced at £42-44.

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.