What type of shoes should I wear?
This will be a compromise because the route is so varied and it will also depend on the under foot conditions at the time; it’s early March so can range from a wet mud fest to relatively wintery and solid. There are some quite steep and potentially slippery ascents/descents at the very start and end (from the Leighton Recreation Centre to the Plain / IRPP, and vice versa) and also some particularly muddy hills in the last 7 miles or so (when run clockwise). However, even these are interspersed with paved lanes and roads, so at least no section is ever a five mile slog on constant mud.
The rest of the course is usually undulating and can be on gravel or paved road type surfaces, or grassy/muddy tracks (some rather rutted).
Have you any recommendations for clothing?
Once you are 150-200 metres up on the Plain the route can be very exposed to the wind, and can be much cooler than the Start/Finish area. It is therefore recommended that you have several layers on, plus extra clothing available, such as a waterproof jacket, most probably utilising the swanky running vest or suchlike you’ll be wearing. Whichever direction it is run there is often a prevailing Westerly wind for the last ten miles (i.e. in your face – sorry!).
What can I expect to find at the checkpoints?
Willing volunteers, usually 2 or 3 from the Rotary Club of Westbury, and one from Avon Valley Runners.
Oh, you wanted food and drink as well?
OK, well, each will always have water and a cornucopia of snacks as a minimum, provided by the marvellous Rotarians. The food at each checkpoint will be different though; take that as a positive (hopefully). If you want the same guaranteed corporate snacks at each CP you should have paid £100 to enter a run from a faceless company – LOL.
Will the route be marshalled?
In a nutshell… No. You need to self navigate this route. However, it is not difficult and is a well known circular long distance footpath marked with lots of metal green ‘Imber Range Perimeter Path’ signs with their distinctive cannons.
The event is not meant to be a route finding challenge, it is just that the remoteness of some parts of the course means it is not practicable, or really necessary, to sign and marshal the course. It would also vastly increase the resources we’d need to organise the event, and probably add a lot to the price.
We recommend though that you download the detailed route notes we have made available HERE. Free and up-to-date GPX & FIT files of the CLOCKWISE route are also available via that page, or HERE.
What about emergency help during the event?
Two trained St John Ambulance First Aiders are stationed at Run HQ (Leighton Rec Centre, Wellhead Lane, BA13 3PT) throughout the event. Each Checkpoint will also be able to help those runners out on the course, and will communicate with the Run Directors to decide the best course of action when a runner is injured / withdrawing / feeling ill.
The Imber Ultra 
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