Canalathon Ultra
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The Canalathon-Ultra Running Festival
The Canalathon-Ultra Running Festival takes place along the Rochdale Canal, passing through several historic industrial towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The event is centered at the Sowerby Bridge Cricket Club, which serves as the race headquarters and the finish line for all distances. The courses are primarily flat and utilize well-maintained canal towpaths, designed for runners to maintain a consistent pace without hill climbing or complex navigation.
Participants can choose from a variety of race distances:
- 100 km: An out and back course starting and finishing in Sowerby Bridge.
- 100 km Relay: A team-based option for four persons.
- 50 km: A point to point route starting at Ancoats and finishing in Sowerby.
- Half Marathon: A point to point route starting near The Summit, Todmorden.
- 10 km: A course that both starts and finishes in Sowerby Bridge.
The event provides specific infrastructure for participants, including chip timing for all distances and signed, marshalled routes. For point to point races such as the 50 km and Half Marathon, optional transport from Sowerby Bridge to the starting locations is available. Facilities at the Cricket Club include free parking, changing rooms, and showers. On-course support features aid stations stocked with sweet and savory food, water, and juice, though runners must carry their own cups or bottles. The terrain consists mostly of hard, dry surfaces, and trail running shoes are recommended. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
