Hell Down South, £32.50 – £35 – 16 January
http://hellrunner.co.uk/hell-down-south
Kick off the new year with a bang. This tough trail race is anything but warm as the name suggests, but instead interprets a different kind of hell. Based at Longmore Camp in freezing cold conditions, you’ll be putting yourself against the Hills of Hell, Lucifer’s Lido and, worst of all, the Bog of Doom. Get through it, though, and you’ll be signing up for more. A reduced entry is available till 3 December.
The Mighty Deerstalker, £55 – 12 March
http://ratrace.com/mightydeerstalker2016
Based on a cult running event, The Mighty Deerstalker takes place deep within the Scottish borders. The full Deerstalker is 10K, you can, however, enter the 5K option if you’re not quite feeling it. Taking place in the evening, yours and many other head torches will be bouncing through woods, bracken and trenches like a circus of fireflies.
Race To The Stones, £49 – £184 – 16 July
http://www.racetothestones.com/enter-now
Dubbed as the UK’s most popular ultramarathon, this a 100K race across Britain’s oldest path, the Ridgeway. Starting from the Chilterns in Oxfordshire and ending in the North Wessex Downs, this event showcases Britain’s best countryside. There is also a a one-day 50K option for those who want to ease themselves into the world of ultra.
North Downs Way, £130 – 6 August
http://www.centurionrunning.com/north-downs-way-100-2016/north-downs-way-100-2016
Brother event of South Downs Way (now sold out), the NDW starts in Farnham, the western end of the North Downs, passing you through Box Hill, Knockholt Pound and Medway Bridge before ending you in Wye. Point to point it’s 102.5 miles, and runners must finish within 30 hours.
Ring O’ Fire, £165 – £185 – 2 September
https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=785
A huge three-day event, Ring O’ Fire is 135 miles long, largely covering the coast of the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. Not only is it a fair distance, but it also includes a total ascent of 13,695ft! It’s so good Prince William himself decided to wish the runners luck at the start. Think you can stomach it?
