Isaac's Tea Trail Ultra
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Isaac's Tea Trail Ultra Backwards
Isaac's Tea Trail Ultra Backwards is a 37 mile loop route starting and finishing in Allendale and passing through Ninebanks Alston and Nenthead. The route lies wholly within the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark and crosses open heather moors, peatlands, dales, meadows and upland rivers.
The event is offered as a solo ultra or a relay for teams of up to three. Runners follow permanent finger posts and Isaac's Tea Trail markers; marshals are stationed at key points but the route is primarily self navigating. A downloadable map and GPX file are provided. Entrants have 12 hours to complete the route, which equates to an average pace of about three mph.
The course includes approximately 4800 ft of ascent and varied underfoot conditions including farmland tracks, field boundaries, minor roads, sheep trods and stoney undulating trails. Trail shoes are recommended.
Relay leg distances:
- Allendale to Ninebanks: 10.2 miles with 1200 ft climbing
- Ninebanks to Nenthead: 15.8 miles with 1900 ft climbing
- Nenthead to Allendale: 11.4 miles with 1750 ft climbing
Event inclusions listed by the organiser include a branded event tea towel, free event pictures, an event tracker, well stocked checkpoints with drinks and snacks, hot drinks at race headquarters and a contribution from each entry to trail upkeep. The organiser notes eco friendly measures such as avoiding disposable plastic cups and providing mixed wild flower seeds with entries. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
