Western Way Ultra

40 days away

62 km Distance

1,800 m Climbing

5.8 Grit · Challenging

51.4679° N, 9.7439° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 29 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 10 hours 9:41 min/km average. Tight. Sustained running. Long aid-station stops will cost you. Tighter than 79% of 50 mi races. Measured against 472 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Typical conditions, November

Daytime high 12°C

Night low 9°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 8 h 59 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for November — NASA POWER, grid elevation 36 m. Not a forecast.

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 62 km of trail with 1,800 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 29 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 62 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 1,800 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 62 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

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

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

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

Black Diamond

Distance FLZ

Lightweight folding trekking poles with FlickLock Z adjustment. 340g per pole.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.7

Suunto

Vertical

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

$630 ★★★★★ 4.5

All gear guides →

Overview

The Western Way Ultra is a 50-mile trail race held in Leenane, Ireland, each November 14th. Runners face 1800 meters of elevation gain across 62 kilometers, making for 29 meters of climb per kilometer.

With a 10-hour time limit, this race has a tighter cut-off than 79% of its 458 peer 50-mile races. This translates to a 9.7 minutes per kilometer cutoff pace, leaving little margin for error on the challenging terrain. The course is an out-and-back on the Western Way, with an additional out-and-back section to Binn Chuiní.

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.