Great Glen Ultra Marathon
Race Information
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The Great Glen Ultra is one of Scotland’s toughest running challenges. Set amongst some of Scotland’s most stunning scenery, you have to run the 72 miles from Fort William to Inverness along the historic Great Glen within a time limit of 22 hours. The terrain is a mixture of canal towpaths, forestry paths and tracks, and a little time spent on roads.
For information on the short course option see its page.
The event is for solo runners and designed to be run unsupported. There are marshaled checkpoints approximately every 10 miles along the fully marked route.
The route starts at Corpach and heads towards Loch Lochay before climbing up to give stunning views over Loch Ness. For the most part, the race route follows the waymarked Great Glen which has distinctive blue posts. You are following those all the way to Inverness. The race takes the High Route along the Great Glen which offers even more incredible views. The High Route is clearly signposted as an official Great Glen Way option.
Great Glen Waymarker
The first 30 miles or so are undulating then the major climbs appear after Fort Augustus.
The checkpoints are listed below and there is an additional water stop between Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit at Grotaig, 49 miles.
Checkpoints
When coming into a checkpoint, please shout your number to a marshal.
The following cut-off times are there for your own safety. These times have been based on runners’ times from previous years. Please remember that this is a running race, not a walking one.
When enforcing these cut-off times, the marshals will use their own judgement and take the other race-day factors (for example, extremes of weather…. where a runner has stopped to aid a fellow competitor etc) into account when making a decision. The times below are when runners must arrive into each checkpoint:
- Clunes – 10.5 miles – Cut off 2 hours, 45 minutes
- Laggan Locks – 20 miles – Cut off 4 hours, 30 minutes
- Fort Augustus – 31 miles – Cut off 7 hours, 30 minutes
- Invermoriston – 40 miles – Cut off 10 hours
- Drumnadrochit – 54.5 miles – Cut off 14 hours, 30 minutes
- Loch Laide – 62 miles – Cut off 18 hours
- Finish! Inverness Athletics Stadium – 72 miles – Cut off 22 hours
Checkpoint distances are approximate as both the course and the checkpoint locations may vary slightly year to year depending on what work is occurring on and around the race route.
Road Crossings
You must remove earphones at road crossings and listen to instructions from marshals.
The same applies to any section where you are running on a road. There are some sections of the route which run on very quiet B roads, but please take care when running on them. Remove your earphones so you are aware of any cars approaching from any direction.
Runners will be required to carry mandatory kit which will be confirmed in the race briefing sent out 3 weeks before the race. Check the race rules below for an idea. This will include a small first aid kit for running repairs. Runners are reminded to read and understand the full race briefing and should ask any questions if they are in any doubt about any information. “I didn’t know” is not an excuse and will lead to disqualification.
The race fee includes a race memento, goody bag and a technical race t-shirt or vest, for collection on race day.
Getting there
Location:
Kilmallie Community Centre, Station Road, Corpach, PH33 7JH
Bus Departure to Corpach
Inverness Leisure Stadium Car Park, Inverness, IV3 5SS, Friday 30th June, 21:30.
Bus ticket costs £20 and can be booked via Entry Central.
Travelling to start from Inverness by bus.
Runners are asked to arrive in plenty of time to allow for checking you onto the bus which leaves 21.30pm sharp. Please arrive in your running gear and bring the following:
- 6 numbered drop bags with your number clearly marked on them.
- Sensible sized kit bag which will be transported back to the finish. This bag might carry any last-minute things you might want to change.
- Completed covid 19 form.
- ID
- Completed med form.
The following should also be noted:
Due to limited space and social distancing at Kilmallie Community Hall and if it is raining on the night of the race, we may start the race earlier than 1am. We don’t want runners standing around getting cold and wet before the set off.
Covid 19:
Rocket Events/Great Glen Ultra will be run under a Scottish Athletics Race Licence which means we will be following all rules-protocol-processes and guidance for covid 19. You are asked not to enter the event if you are unwilling to follow the rules-protocol-processes that are in place on race day.
These rules are in place to protect all (Runners and Marshals).
Entry Requirements
We expect runners to have a background in endurance which may be demonstrated through the completion of previous ultra marathons over 35-40 miles or completion of other events such as Ironman. Evidence of running over 40-50 miles may also be considered if not part of an official race. If in doubt or if you have any questions about the suitability of your previous experience, email Bill@runyarocket.com.
Race Rules
- Race Registration – Friday Night, 22:00 – 00:30
- Race Briefing – Early hours of Saturday morning, 00:45
- Race Start – Saturday morning, 01:00
- ID required at registration
- No transfer of place between runners
- No muling
- No walking poles
- No support runners/Bike buddies
- No spectators (Due to Covid 19 restrictions)
- No Dogs (This forms part of the GGW permission to allow the event to go ahead)
- Mandatory kit to be carried during the event (This will be confirmed in the pre-race information pack).
- All runners to follow Covid 19 protocol, procedures, signage at all times.
- All runner to follow marshal, race medical teams, Race Director instruction at all times.
- No swimming in canal.
- Runners can only be met by support team at the following checkpoints, CP 3 Fort Augustus, CP4 Inverimorston, CP 5 Dumnadrochit and finish (Inverness Sports Centre).
- Runners with support crews are prohibited from being met at CP1 Clunnie, CP2 South Laggan Bridge, CP6 Arbriachan Forest.
- Runners using the bus transfer must be at Inverness Sport Centre 9.15pm for bus leaving at 9.30pm prompt.
Mandatory Kit
This kit must be carried for the duration of your race and there will be spot-checks done.
A foil blanket which has not been cut down to the size of a postage stamp. This is a vital piece of safety kit which is cheap as chips and incredibly lightweight and should be part of your running kit whenever you head for the hills. The difference these can make in terms of keeping an injured runner warm until help arrives cannot be overstated.
A working mobile phone with the race control number in it – 07398 242 730. Mobile reception is limited at times but is always worth carrying. You will never be too far from another runner or member of the race team.
A means of carrying 1 litre of water – i.e., a running vest or rucksack with bottles, soft flasks or a bladder.
Support Crews
The race is designed to be run self-sufficient. This is to ensure we don’t impact local roads and villages by an influx of cars following the race and is a stipulation of us gaining permission to run the event in the first place. There’s also a health & safety element to this rule and it also helps to massively reduce the carbon footprint of the race which is something those responsible for managing The Great Glen Way are very keen on.
We are aware that some runners do like to be met at checkpoints so please note that Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit are the only checkpoints which have public car parks available and where you can have someone meet you but not spectate. Support runners are not allowed.
Deferrals/Refunds
Runners are reminded that Rocket Events do not offer deferrals. Deferrals will only come into play if there are travel restrictions or lockdowns in place due to covid 19.
Refunds:
- 30 day cooling off period will apply, withdrawal in this period will result in a £15 administration fee being applied.
- After 30 days a 50% refund will be offered up to 12 weeks before race day.
- 0-12 weeks 0% refund will be offered.
These measures are being implemented to ensure runners are committed to running the events they have entered.