The Belper Ultra right from our doorstep
The route was devised in January 2013 from members of the club at a point when wintry snow meant they couldn’t drive to Edale for a 6h winter epic. Instead they came up with this great route which does not involve a long drive to the start – ideal for runners training for Ultras….or just looking for a very hard day out. It also helps that it’s acronym is of course UTMB!
29 miles
UTMB Route Stats
4,700ft
Expected Times : 4h30-6h
The route can also be done in two halves as it goes through Matlock Bath meaning that you can split it into 2 chunks and use the train / bus in between. It’s all offroad and covers some very rough ground too between Middleton and Bonsall, so expect some vegetation bashing!
The full route is 29 miles, 4700ft and will take most in the region of 4h30-6h. GPX of the route is here
If you wish to view it on Strava you can see it here or here
Shaun Bott’s Summary of the UTMB
“Have you ever volunteered to do something without fully digesting the enormity of the challenge ahead? Well that happened to me this week, when I agreed to go out for a run with Alan. “A steady 30”, Alan said, “very hilly”.
This was a challenge I deemed too good to refuse, especially owing to my impending first ever London Marathon in April. Being relatively new to the running scene (I started running competitively in the autumn of 2011), the furthest I have ran is 22 miles (twice), once last July in the Snowdonia Sevens fell race and once for charity in September from Horncastle to Skegness. So surely 30 local miles on familiar routes would be within my ability? A shock to the system isn’t too extreme a view of my maiden Billington Classic.
The run commenced at 7:40am from Belper Mill, with Alan setting the pace for his relatively inexperienced sidekick. The route from Belper to Wirksworth, via Alport Heights was uneventful, with nothing too leg-busting (Alan obviously knew what lay ahead). The descent from Wirksworth to the northern tip of Carsington Water (one of my favourite running locations I might add), was friendly on the legs which, by this time were beginning to feel the burn. After a brief refuel in Middleton, we descended treacherously to the Via Gellia road then back up through Bonsall Wood and into Bonsall village along the Limestone Way. The climb out of Bonsall towards Matlock Bath stung a bit, with Alan’s style still as smooth as 007 in his prime.
The drop into Matlock Bath was a welcome relief and an ideal opportunity to top up the water bottles prior to the gruelling climb up to Starkholmes and Riber Castle. What is normally an unchallenging incline towards Coumbs Wood followed; however, this was a real test for me after the previous 15 miles or so. Again it appeared trouble-free for Alan, who I shall now nickname ‘Joss Naylor’. He did offer a few words of encouragement and agreed that it was tough, but I think he just said this to make me feel better. The trot along Lea Bridge to the Cromford Canal was pan flat, before the climb up to Wakebridge and Crich Stand. Walking became more and more frequent for me in an attempt to keep moving without looking like a baby giraffe after a night on the ale.
“An hour, an hour and a half”, said Alan. My heart sank. I was hurting by this point although the Snickers flapjack gave me an injection of much needed energy, with Alan relying on his trusty Jelly Babies. Crich Chase to the A610 is a blur. All I remember is the gap between Joss and I growing with every step. I think I finally cracked on the fields above Ridgeway, fields that I normally eat up without difficulty. From here on in to the finish, I have to thank the lord for gravity for getting me back in one piece. The light at the end of the tunnel came from an extended discussion about bacon and egg cobs and hot chocolate.
As I write this (some 4000 calories lighter), the pins are remarkably ok (I stop short of saying good) and I am actually thinking about going out with Joss again, although my tapering towards the marathon might start earlier than I’d anticipated.
Thanks for a great run Alan“
Shaun Bott