13 months 13 Ultras; An Ultra challenge for every month of 2025
I’ve long been interested in challenges, not just racing. The search to see what is possible and see what I’m capable of. Sitting on my sofa in October 2024 having completed Lake, Meres and Waters in the summer, my mind started to look at the year ahead. Whilst I wasn’t ready for a 100 mile+ race yet, I was looking for something to return back to the world of ultra running as well as a way to get back to “adventuring” and more consistent mileage. Searching through the race calendar, so many things jumped out, routes I’d not done before and races that had been on the tick list, but that in their own right didn’t quite tick the box. However, a thought started to from…what if I could run an ultra a month for every month of the year. Wouldn’t that be interesting to see if that was possible? A plan was born…
The plan was very simple, to attempt an ultra for every month of the 2025, starting and finishing with the much loved and local Tour de Helvellyn, making it 13 months in total. My arbitrary self-enforced rules were it had to be over 50k, and an officially recognized route (rather than something I just made up myself), and I had to be running. This opened it up to both races and recognized challenge routes.
The plan was to find events under 3 hours from home to help with travel, and with the intent to use the challenge to explore new trails I’d not done before. Except for TDH which is a long-time favorite, all were new races and routes for me. I clearly broke my 2 hours 30 travel rule to make an exception for UTMB Puglia in Italy, although arguably it was less than 2 hours from where my parents used to live and allowed for a nice trip out with my mum.
My intent was to use the year as a way of rebuilding up to bigger adventures in 2026, refinding my ultra distance legs, enjoy the miles, and have adventure without breaking myself. With this in mind I intentionally switched from compete to complete mentality and see that my body was capable of.
Beautiful Puglia
The ultras I completed were as follows:
December – Tour to Helvellyn (39 miles)
Starting where I finished, 2024 Helvellyn was a proper rainy and windy year. Pelted with hail stones over Sticks Pass and with full waterproofs the entire way. It wasn’t pretty. I think it was my slowest time ever. Although the traditional soup at the end, as well as the chance to catch up with friends before Christmas, more than makes up for it! It’s not Christmas until TDH…
January – Bowland Ultra (42 miles)
Winter arrived, the snow came, and with it freezing temperatures. My car finally gave up the ghost in the cold, and I had to hire a car to get me to and from the start line (big panic and big faff). Whilst the “Spiners” were setting off on their winter adventure, we were treated to once in a lifetime frozen Bowland and lots of wading through snow – waist deep in some places. Very glad I had my winter studded shoes on for the day. Certainly, my slowest 42 miles due to the conditions but a thoroughly enjoyable day out, in fact my favourite of the year. Note to self – don’t try and drive there are back in one day!
February – Pendle Way in a Day (45 miles)
Still cold, less snowy. Tough and incredibly muddy day out and pleased to sneak in under 10 hours. I however paid for my efforts later with a grumpy hamstring for the entire month later. Super low key event. Beer at the end – winner!
Ali’s Round
March – Howarth Hobble (50k)
A fell race, but ultra distance, run by ultra legend and friend Gary Chapman. Possibly my toughest race of the year due to the non-ultra speed of pretty much all the runners. I took my grumpy hamstring for a very fast 50k with good friend Fiona Lynch who pretty much dragged me around. Overcooked it – end of my fast ultras of the year…
April – Calderdale Hike (38 miles)
A return to Calder Valley with the relaxed Calderdale hike. As a run/walk event, all the pressure was off for times. I still managed a respectable trot around. Probably what my body needed after Feb and March. Excellent Jacket Potatoes at the end and good cheap event.
May – Abraham’s Tea Round – Solo (31.5 miles)
With 2x bank holidays and work travel I struggled to find a race that suited and with little motivation to travel far, Abrahams Tea Round made for a perfect solo day out. I’ve been meaning to do this route for a while, and my brain enjoyed the long day out on the hills by myself. Although one of my shorter choices, it is certainly not to be underestimated. Passed 2 other parties also doing the team round and snuck into Keswick just before it was going dark. Loved it.
The descent off Barbon
June – Stanza Stones (50 miles)
A deferral from last year meant Stanza Stones was pretty much the only races pre-planned in the calendar. A really awesome event run by Daz at Craggrunner – well supported, lovely route (except for the long canal section) and finishing off with the beautiful Ilkley moor. Collecting the Stanza Stones makes for an interesting variation on race route and a great intro to local history. Absolutely fab day out and managed under 12 hours for my longest event of the year so far.
July – Castle to Castle (34 miles)
July was not an easy month to find events that suited, with only 1 weekend free. I opted for the local Castle to Castle race (Lancaster to Clitheroe) which turned out to be predominately road or tarmac track – not my cup of tea, doing very little road running. Great for those who love a fast time and hard packed surfaces. For me it was a hard day out with very little fell. Pleased with my finish time which I suspect is my quickest 50k to date.
August – Peebles to Moffat (39 miles)
To counteract the road running of July, I opted for a self-supported challenge across the southern uploads, Moffat to Peebles (in reverse due to do bus logistics). I’ve been dreaming of this route ever since seeing it in the books of “big walks” back a few years ago but never managed to get the logistics to work. I finally managed the route in a huge day of pretty much trackless fell terrain and bog. 13 hours later I arrived back in Moffat, very glad to see my car. I can highly recommend the route if you like big days with lots of elevation out on the fells.
Haworth Hobble: courtesy Woodentops
September – 7 Valleys (110k)
My longest event of the year, and possibly the finish I’m most proud of. A fab route, with some big Passes in the Lakes – lots of it on home turf and familiar routes. I struggled the first 40 miles and somehow found my stride heading up out of Kentmere to spend the rest of the race moving up places (hurray!). A well-organized event, although finishing in the middle of the night with no hot food was disappointing – stomach not so impressed!
October – Dales Skyline (39 miles)
The third of my self-supported challenge routes, the Dales Skyline is a proper fell route but with ultra distance, ticking off all the peaks in the Dale’s skyline from Barbon to Settle. I’m not sure if we took the best lines, hence the 39 miles rather than the 34 the challenge suggests, with the descent off Barbon being one of the steepest routes you can imagine. I ran this with my partner Scott, who pulled me along for a very enjoyable day out. We also enjoyed an overnight stopover in Ingleton and some very well deserved beers at the finish.
November – UTMB Puglia (85km)
The 85km race is their 100km distance, the 2nd longest in the Puglia UTMB series. Having never run any of these trails before I didn’t know what to expect, and it was pretty much the only race I’ve done with more downhill than uphill in it, starting in the mountains and finishing by the sea. The 5k along the beach at the end nearly finished me off, as well as not being able to eat for the second half the race. Very pleased to finish it, even if slower than I would have liked and with a large number timed out.
December – Tour De Helvellyn (39 miles)
After a long month at work, probably the last thing I fancied doing. But as usually TDH never fails to deliver and standing on the start line with 12 of my fabulous club mates from Eden Runners made for a special festive day out. Marginally faster than last year, despite the miles on the legs and treated to a beautiful sunny day in the Lakes. Again, excellent soup – thanks Joe and the NAV4 team.
Alongside the “official ultras”, I also snuck in some unofficial adventures including: GR131 Tenerife with good friend Avril Challoner, The Mourne Wall walk with Scott, Ali’s round with Fiona Lynch, The John Muir way to Edinburgh with Amy, GR54 in The Ecrin Alps, Rocciamelone (3538M in a day), support for the Eden Valley Mountaineering Club Wainright attempt in June. I even snuck in the Lairig Ghru crossing just before the end of the year in frozen conditions – a great way to end the year! I’m grateful for continuing to lead Eden Fell Mondays which have kept a semblance of speedwork in my diary and the chance to race the British fell relays for the female vet team, as well as a spattering of other fell races throughout the year.
The outcome? Yes, it is indeed possible. Not only that but I pulled out some places and solo adventures I’m proud of. Yes, it was hard at a lot of times. To be honest I think the mind found it harder than the body which held up surprising well. However, the tiredness and the motivation certainly suffered in the winter months, where early starts and constant training on top of a job with long hours definitely took its toll. The challenge of rest, both in a taper and after each race meant at time with only 2 weeks between each event, left little room to regroup.
However, in between the effort came a lot of joy. Early starts on a weekend to meet with good friends and share the long miles. Adventures with my partner, who is always so patient and my increasingly slow speed. Smiling as I waded my way through snow, climbed peaks in the summer sunshine and enjoyed the small joys of a wine and a good pub meal at the end of a long hard day. To find happiness in simply being in the hills, of moving forward, of sharing miles with good people.
So onwards to the Northern traverse in March, where I’m hoping my year of long distance will stand me in good stead for a new adventure. Looking forward to seeing many new and old friends in the ultra-community on the start line and hope to share some miles with you!
