Five Rivers Ultra
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Five Rivers Ultra
The Five Rivers Ultra is an endurance event held along the coastline of North Essex and South Suffolk. The route passes through the Dedham Vale and the Suffolk Coast & Heaths areas, following several established long-distance footpaths and the King Charles III England Coast Path. The course is primarily off-road, with over 85% of the terrain consisting of grass or dirt trails. The terrain is flat and follows coastal estuaries.
Participants can choose from three distinct distances:
- 100 miles: A point-to-point route circumnavigating five coastal estuaries.
- 50 miles: A point-to-point challenge starting in Trimley and finishing in Harwich.
- 50 km: A point-to-point route starting in Shotley.
The event is held under UK Athletics Rules and licensed by the Trail Running Association. The 100 mile distance is a UTMB 100M index event. While the 50 km route is marked, the longer distances are self-navigated using provided GPX downloads and existing National Trail signage.
The event provides indoor checkpoints equipped with hot food, tea, and coffee. Participants have access to a drop bag facility, and tracking is provided for all runners. The finish area in Harwich includes a rest area with bunk beds and hot food. For those participating in the longest distance, there are optional buses from the finish to the start line and limited hostel accommodation available for the night before the event. All finishers receive a technical t-shirt and a unique memento. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
