Buxton, United Kingdom · Saturday, September 19, 2026

Fixed Distance 50 mi

High Peak 40 Mile Challenge

Race completed

64 km Distance

1,770 m Climbing

5.9 Grit · Challenging

53.2574° N, 1.9098° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 28 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 14 hours 13:08 min/km average. Comfortable. Room to walk the climbs and stop at aid. More forgiving than 75% of 50 mi races. Measured against 477 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~187 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (40mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, September

Daytime high 17°C

Night low 9°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 12 h 30 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for September — NASA POWER, grid elevation 176 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2025	40mi	187	Carl Everall · 05:38:35	Samantha Willis · 06:23:25
2024	40mi	135	Martyn James · 06:37:24	Rebecca Hormann · 07:02:28
2016	40mi	100	Robin Sanderson · 06:04:46	Helen Morley · 07:28:34
2015	40mi	76	James Scott-Buccleuch · 05:50:57	Sally Fawcett · 06:07:37
2014	40mi	140	Marcus Scotney · 05:20:45	Kate Whitfield · 06:58:02
2013	40mi	143	Duncan Harris · 05:26:13	Tracy Michelle Dean · 06:21:32
2012	40mi	162	Duncan Harris · 05:40:20	Tracy Michelle Dean · 06:27:39
2011	40mi	200	Robbie Sellors · 05:53:40	Helen Skelton · 06:47:58

The field grew 39% between 2024 (135) and 2025 (187). 31% of the 2025 field were women.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (40mi) — 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 rolling 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 64 km of trail with 1,770 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 28 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 64 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 1,770 m of ascent to walk up.
Headlamps A 14 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Adidas

Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

RunRepeat found the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra to be perfect for midfoot and forefoot strikers, while iRunFar noted that the shoe feels incredibly effici…

★★★★★ 4.5

Salomon

Sense Ride 5

RunRepeat found the Salomon Sense Ride 5 to have immaculate lockdown and a smooth and stable ride, making it confident on moderate trails and steep downhills. I…

★★★★★ 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

LEKI

Ultratrail FX.One

Ultra-light carbon folding poles (135g each) designed for mountain ultra racing.

$200 ★★★★★ 4.6

Petzl

NAO RL

1500-lumen reactive lighting headlamp with 15-hour runtime. Automatic brightness adjustment.

$150 ★★★★★ 4.7

All gear guides →

Overview

Covering 64 kilometers with 1770 meters of ascent, Buxton's High Peak 40 Mile Challenge featured a 14-hour limit that made it more generous than 75% of 50-mile events, leaving a relaxed required pace of 13.1 minutes per kilometer. The course climbed 27.7 meters per kilometer across a circular route made up of 65% trail and 35% road.

With 187 finishers in 2025 across 8 editions since 2011, the race drew a field bigger than 87% of its peers. Entry ran between £42.50 and £47.50 for the September event.

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