Foxton Hound Ultra

SATURDAY, 17TH AUGUST 2024

Providing a challenge for seasoned ultra runners & a great stepping stone for those looking to go further

The 100k & 50k Foxton Hound Ultras take runners on a journey through the beautiful countryside and villages that surround Market Harborough as they traverse the Harborough Round long distance footpath through Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.

ENTER NOW

Race information

Both races offer a challenge for seasoned ultra runners, as well as providing great stepping stones for those looking to go beyond marathon distance, 50k, or 50 miles, towards longer distances in the future.

The routes have some fantastic views, as well as places of historical and cultural interest, including Houghton on the Hill, West Haddon, Coton and Stoke Albany as well as visiting Foxton Locks, the Naseby Battle Field, and passing through the Kelmarsh Tunnel on the Brampton Valley Way.

Entries

Entries are now open on Let’s Do This, and are priced at £75 for the 100k and £50 for the 50k. Runners who are members of a club affiliated to UK Athletics receive a £2 discount.

Minimum age for entry is 20 years old on race day only.

The race cut-off time is 18 hours for the 100k, and there will be progressive cut-off times from Checkpoint 3 onwards. Details on the location of checkpoints and cut-off times can be viewed/downloaded here.

Pacers are permitted on the 100k route from Checkpoint 5 (Queens Head, Billesdon – 62.1k/38.6m).

The race cut-off time for the 50k is 9 hours at the finish; there are no checkpoint cut-offs.

Entries, and transfer of entries, will close 7-days before the event.

Start time/location

Registration will be open from 05:45.

The 100k race will start at 07:00. The 50k race will start at 08:00.

Race HQ, the start and finish is located at Winwick Hall, Winwick, Northants. NN6 7PD.

There is plenty of parking at the Race HQ.

The routes

Both routes enjoy some decent elevation, but there’s some lovely downhills as well to compensate! You can view the routes below and download the GPX files here:

Download 100k route
Download 50k route

(use the ‘More’ button, then ‘Export as FIle’ to download the GPX Track file).

The routes intersect with, and/or uses parts of, the following long-distance footpaths: The Jurassic Way, The Leicestershire Round, The Macmillan Way, The Midshires Way, The Richard the Third Trail, and The Uppingham Round.

Navigation

Both routes follow many of the long distance footpaths which make up the Harborough Round. There are GPX files available for you to download onto your watch/navigation device. (50k / 100k)

There are map books available for you to download and print for race day if you would prefer to read from a physical map. (50k / 100k)

For those who prefer written instructions, these will be available for the 50k route. (To follow)

Ultimately, the routes rely on self-navigation, but we will be marking some of the more ‘tricky’ sections with tape and arrows the day before the race, as well as sections where footpaths come on and off of the road. There is always a chance of the tape/arrows being removed/tampered with, so do not rely solely on the course markings to get you round.

Recces

Free guided race recces.
We know that entering a race and not being familiar with the route can be daunting! We also know that recceing a route on your own with the fear of getting lost is something that can cause a little stress!

For those reasons (as well as the opportunity to enjoy a good chatty run and a brew afterwards!) we’ll be holding a series of recces for this event.

The aims of the recces are to:
– Allow those that are entered to have confidence in the route
– Offer those that are not entered the opportunity to see how fabulous the routes are
– Build a strong community around our events
…Best of all…it’s FREE!
All that we ask is that you let us know which recces you would like to join us on by completing this form with the requested details.
We’ll also post information on any planned recces on our Facebook and Instagram pages, so be sure to follow us for the latest updates.

On-course support

As with all Race Harborough events, there will be professional first aid on hand at the start and finish with the ability to access runners on the course. Race Harborough volunteers will also be on-course to provide hydration and nutrition at 7 checkpoints/aid stations around the course (the 50k route includes 3 checkpoints/aid stations). Hot food and drinks will be available at Checkpoint 5 (Hallaton) and Checkpoint 7 (Sibbertoft) on the 100k course.

Kit

Trail shoes are advisable as there will be a mix of terrain throughout. In terms of mandatory kit, the following must be carried:

Full charged mobile phone including the numbers of the Race Director and Race Medic
Water bottle/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre
Survival blanket
Head torch (with spare batteries) – essential for passing through the Kelmarsh Tunnel
Waterproof jacket
Whistle
Long sleeved base layer or fleece top
Our races are cupless, so you will be required to bring your own cup
Reflective top/bands (100k only)
Hat and gloves (100k only)

Prizes

There will be prizes for top 3 male and female finishers in both races, and all finishers will receive a specially commissioned event medal.

Race merchandise

Short sleeved technical t-shirts (£16), hoodies (£25) and trucker caps (£15) are all available to purchase via Let’s Do This. These can be pre-ordered up to 3 weeks before the event. If you decide to log back in to amend your order (to order a tee shirt, not to edit details), then Let’s Do This will charge an additional card handling fee.

Free race photos!

As with all Race Harborough events – you don’t pay for your race pics! Free digital downloads of your race are available to download soon after the race finishes and we’ll announce their availability on our Facebook page.

Charity

For 2024, the main focus of our charity support will continue to be the Jubilee Foodbank, Market Harborough, and the Weston Favell Centre Foodbank, Northampton. Everyone who enters a Race Harborough event in 2024 will be given the opportunity to make a donation to support these good causes and, we hope, our event community will rise to the challenge and help make a difference to those that need it most.