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Gower Ultra 50

06-Oct-2018 Gower, UK (Wales)

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9 REVIEWS
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Trail Race Race Terrain
80KM / 50Miles
1 Day - 200 Runners

DIFFICULTY Race Difficulty Intermediate  

Entry From £50 GBP
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The Gower Ultra 50 challenge is to complete a 50 mile circumnavigation of the stunning Gower peninsula on foot. It is suitable for both runners and fast walkers.

The Route

The Race starts at 0730 on Saturday from the event base at the St Madoc Centre, on the outskirts of Llanmadoc, North West corner of Gower.

From here the route follows the Wales Coastal Path, across the cliff tops heading to and crossing Rhossli Bay. From Rhossli the path heads east along the southern coast of the Gower initially crossing farmland along cliff tops, until it reaches Port Eynon. You will then cross a string of stunning beaches and bays including Port Eynon, Oxwich, Three Cliffs, Caswell and Langland until reaching the Mumbles at the southern tip of Swansea Bay.

Following Swansea Bay for approximately 4k, you'll follow the old railway line through the Clyne Woods heading to the north cost of the Gower. When it reaches Gowerton you will regain the Coastal Path and follow the Loughor Estuary on a flatter faster route. A final push through the dunes at Llandimore leads back to the St Madoc Centre and the finish line.

Navigation

The route is self navigation and participants will need to have a basic understanding to be able to follow a map. If your time for 50 miles is over 12 hours then it also worth getting experience of running / navigating in the dark as you will probably be doing the last 1 or 2 checkpoints in the dark!

Checkpoints

There will be 7 manned checkpoints which we will provide basic refreshments, usually water, flat coke, tea and coffee, sweets, biscuits, crisps, nuts etc. Exact details of which will be sent out closer to the event.

Time Limit

The time limit for the event is 16.5 hours (Midnight) so it is suitable for anyone who can maintain a pace of 3 mph or 4.8kph. 

Read Blind Dave Heeley's race review here.

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Event Organiser
Joe Timmins

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Beginner

Elevation: Very little change < 500 metres. Benign running terrain, not technical.

Suitable for: First ultra runners completing a marathon or doing regular long distance running in the last six months.

Intermediate

Elevation: Increase of up to 1000 metres

Suitable for: Runners who have completed at least one ultra distance race (or similar event) or are doing long distance running (>26 miles) regularly, with elevation shown.

Advanced

Elevation: Increase of up to 1500 metres

Suitable for: Runners who have completed several ultra distances or similar events, or are doing long distance running regularly, with elevation shown.

Expert

Elevation: Increase of up to 2000 metres with some challenging climatic conditions (e.g. ice, snow, humidity or heat) and or technical terrain

Suitable for: Experienced runners who have completed at least regular ultra distances in last 12 months, or are doing regular long distance running (>50 miles) with elevation and conditions shown (where possible). Admission to these races may be subject to evidence of recent qualifying race participation and recent medical examination certificate. Check with the race organiser regarding entry requirements.

Brutal

Elevation: Increase of up to 2000 metres with very challenging climatic conditions (e.g. ice, snow, humidity, heat or at high altitude) and or technical terrain.

Suitable for: Very experienced long distance ultra runners (min 3 years’ experience) or are doing regular long distance running (>50 miles) with elevation and conditions shown (where possible). Admission to these races is often subject to evidence of recent qualifying race participation and recent medical examination certificate. Purchase of specialist kit is often recommended for these races.

Review Gower Ultra 50

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jameshinton

04:46 15-01-18

2017. This was my first 50 miler and a fantastic introduction to the distance. The Gower is a beautiful landscape, with something to suit all types of runner. The event is well organised with well stocked aid stations at regular intervals. The navigation is straightforward, with only a few places where you may want to check the map.

I would do this event again and would recommend it to others.

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SpectacularlyMediocre

09:38 16-10-17

If you have never been to the Gower, go for a visit. It's stunning. But if you love to run and want to see the best bits of this area of outstanding natural beauty, do this Event! (it will help enormously if you don't mind suffering whilst enjoying the views.)

Well marshalled parking followed by an easy registration by a friendly team. Everything in the venue you need, teas, coffees and a bit of breakie too if you require those extra pre race calories. Well stocked pop up run shop if you forgot any of your kit too. Great idea. Briefing was delivered with enough humour to not completely scare you to death about the undertaking in hand, yet informative and serious enough to let you know all the info.

The route had everything, sandy beaches, dunes, pebbled beaches, clifftop paths, forest trails, marshland, rocky paths and even my least favourite, roads. You follow the coastal path for the most part of the course so nav is straightforward enough, although you do need your map and wits in some parts of the course. It is always best to check if uncertain, no one likes 'bonus miles' even if they are free! The aid stations were well spaced and well stocked (Peaches in syrup at mile 35 checkpoint were a stroke of genius!!). All were staffed with friendly, knowledgable volunteers who helped in any way possible.
Weather stank all morning this year (It is Wales in October so there is a always a chance) which meant I was wet all day and the trails were tough under foot in some parts but for me the harder the better, I felt I earned my 50. Physically within 300metres of the finish line you are turned in another direction by the route to climb a 1km sand dune! This was a cruel and unusual torture this late on but it all adds to the kudos in my book, I could do little else but laugh to myself at how the guys who organise the route must have had some evil laughs plotting that little sting in the tail lol.

Great event, I said to a friend I wouldn't do it again but I would highly recommend it! Now I have spent 48 hours eating and the fire on the soles of my feet has cooled ...I think I may be back for another tilt.

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Jude dayne

09:42 08-10-17

October 2017...the gower 50 is well worth entering,,overnight stay on site,brilliant atmosphere,very well organised event that challenges the runner,will be doing this again

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markevans68

09:50 09-10-16

This is the second event I've done with Run Walk Crawl, the first being The Vale of Glamorgan 50km in April 2016, which by the way was just an awesome event.

The appeal for the Gower50, was the distance of 50 miles and the fact it's around my home turf of the Gower. The organisation, marshals, volunteers and feed stations were top notch. And i must say CP4 and CP5 were by far the best with Tea and hot dogs, just what you needed after 37 miles.
The finishers T-shirts and medal were good quality and one of the tastiest after race meals of chilli and rice I've had in a long time.
Looking forward to the Pembs 100 in April (3-day staged) and maybe the Brecon to Cardiff in February.

Ive done a race report if anyone would like to know a bit more about the Gower 50. https://dragonintraining.wordpress.com/2016/10/06/gower-ultra-50/

Mark

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RobChapman

09:46 12-10-15

This was my first ultra - a step-up from half marathons! It was a great experience, which gave me lots of learning experience for my BIG CHALLENGE in 2016. Gower is an AONB: it was fantastic to see so many fine landscapes. To-boot, I should say that the organisation was truly excellent and I take my hat-off to the volunteers who gave of their time so generously & enthusiastically. PS: I spoke to a runner who had done the 65 mile Hadrian's wall run. He thought the Gower 50 was tougher!!

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Adge

05:19 12-10-15

Ran this for the first time in 2015 after hearing some good things about it, and I wasn't disappointed. The course has a bit of everything (beaches, cliff-tops, woods, energy-sapping sand dunes - gaiters came in handy!) with some great views, particularly in the first half. Organisation was spot on, aid stations were plentiful (and seem to get better stocked the further you got, which makes sense) and the marshals were all friendly and really enthusiastic. It's 'self navigation' with little route marking, but the provided map was fine to navigate with and it mainly follows the coast path and a cycle path so it's pretty easy to find your way. Oh, and they hung some glow-sticks and reflective tape out over the last few miles, which was appreciated. Go do it!

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jonwburton1

05:15 12-10-15

What an event..! First time of visiting Wales in earnest, and had the pleasure (if painful in places..) to see stunning scenery and coastline during this evening! The price for the whole weekend I don't think you could argue over, two nights accommodation, food, race, tshirt and medal for under £100...
The organisation was good, and it was good to see a kit check before being handed your race number (take note organisers of other races..). Atmosphere on the day was friendly throughout, as most most of the ultra's I have run in. Unforgiving and brutal first 23 miles of coastline, varying from beaches, climbs, coastal paths, stone, complete mixture of terrain. Check points had the essentials and people on them very friendly (thanks for the chips at mile 41). All in all a great weekend, and event. I understand this is the 2nd year that the race was held, and I hope that the organisers will have the success with it in the future that it thoroughly deserves! Will I return, of course, I have a time to beat now...!

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Bigstace9

05:11 12-10-15

Ran the race on the 10/10/15-great setup and amazing route. CPs were well manned and were really friendly-my only criticisms are that there were a couple of areas where the route was open to interpretation (you could cut out a huge chunk at the end of oxwich beach onto 3 cliffs) and whilst I appreciate you can't Marshall everywhere this would have been the place the site someone so everyone had to do the same route. This also applies to the click points-My card was not checked and whilst I hit every one I know some people didn't gaining a time advantage (sorry to whine) and whilst I know it's all about integrity if you aren't going to check them there is no point in having them; I would hate your events to be criticised when I had an absolute blast (hence the rating) thanks again, stacey

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solostoke

08:35 14-05-15

Absolutely excellent event. I camped the night before and took advantage of the good breakfast before the race at the venue. Absolutely incredible views. Cannot recommend this race highly enough.

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