Black Spur Ultra.
The Black Spur Ultra 54K is a single loop of technical single track from Kimberley Alpine Resort, without a metre of pavement. The longest and steepest climb of the day starts just over two kilometres in, so your preparation has to build legs that keep working cleanly through the hours of up and down that follow.
Black Spur Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at Kimberley Alpine Resort at just over 1,200 metres, and the loop wastes no time. Just past the two-kilometre mark the big climb begins: four kilometres averaging 14 percent, with individual ramps touching around 30 percent. The high point of about 1,900 metres comes at kilometre 8, and from there the trail drops almost 600 metres of vert by just before kilometre 17.
The middle belongs to the technical single track that defines the whole course: there is no pavement here, and only about an eighth of the distance is flat. Between kilometres 17 and 42 the route swings between 1,100 and 1,400 metres on short, sometimes very steep ramps such as the one at kilometre 30. The loop is divided into three stages, among them the GOAT and BEAR sections, with a staffed checkpoint roughly halfway through each. The field is capped at 500 racers.
The finale opens at kilometre 42 with a steep descent to the lowest point of the day at about 1,020 metres. From there you have to earn the way back to the resort: the last ten kilometres hold three climbs of around 100 metres each, and only shortly before the finish does the trail tip downhill again.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.3 | 4 km | 14.1 % | 30.4 % | +559 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 17.2 | 2.5 km | 4.8 % | 15 % | +119 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 27.6 | 1.1 km | 9.1 % | 16.5 % | +98 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 30 | 0.8 km | 11.2 % | 23.6 % | +89 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 39.7 | 1.4 km | 8.3 % | 20.5 % | +116 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 44.8 | 1.3 km | 8.1 % | 17.8 % | +103 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 47.4 | 1.2 km | 8.5 % | 14.5 % | +100 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 51 | 1.1 km | 8.1 % | 13.7 % | +90 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Black Spur Ultra.
Start under control
The loop asks for its biggest single effort before you are properly warm: the climb from kilometre 2.3 holds more than a quarter of all the ascent. Take it as a brisk march. At this gradient running saves little time and spends exactly the reserves you need for the hours ahead.
Hold your rhythm
The biggest trap sits right behind it. Almost 600 metres of descent on technical ground, early in the race and with a fresh head, invite you to win time back. Your quads pay for that much later, so run this stretch under control and without hard braking. The same applies to the short ramps in the middle: attacking them feels cheap, but the cost adds up.
Spend what is left
The race is decided from kilometre 42. If you can still handle the steep drop to the low point and the three climbs after it with a firm stride, you gain more here than on all the kilometres before. Until then, count from checkpoint to checkpoint rather than to the finish.
Training plan for Black Spur Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners take roughly seven to eleven hours depending on ability, with a 12-hour limit. That is a long aerobic effort but not an even one: around 40 percent of the course is steep, split evenly between up and down, and the rhythm keeps shifting between marching, running and controlled braking.
Train race pace
The key sections call for two different abilities. For the big climb at the start you need long hill sessions that practise strong walking until four kilometres at a double-digit gradient feels normal. The finale asks for the opposite: short climbs you can still push on tired legs. Finish your long runs with several ramps of about a kilometre to prepare for it.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running is the part most likely to be underestimated. Steep descents take up as much of the course as steep climbs, and on technical single track your quads catch your body weight at every step. Build in regular downhill runs and strength work such as lunges over many weeks, rather than starting shortly before the race.
Arrive fresh
With no pavement on the loop, your long summer runs before the late-August race belong on trails, ideally narrow technical paths rather than forest roads. Practise fuelling there too: with just one staffed checkpoint per stage, you should be able to carry yourself through longer sections with your own food and drink.
Courses
Download the Black Spur Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Black Spur Ultra dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Black Spur Ultra.
How long is Black Spur Ultra?
Black Spur Ultra is 54 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Black Spur Ultra have?
Black Spur Ultra has around 2,101 m of elevation gain over 54 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Black Spur Ultra?
Black Spur Ultra is classified as Mountainous, averaging 39 vertical metres per kilometre. 13% of the route is flat, 27% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 20% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Black Spur Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Black Spur Ultra starts at kilometre 2.3, runs for 4 km at an average of 14.1% and gains 559 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Black Spur Ultra a loop course?
Yes, Black Spur Ultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Black Spur Ultra course?
Yes. The Black Spur Ultra course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Black Spur Ultra?
Preparation for Black Spur Ultra should account for 54 km, 2,101 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Black Spur Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Black Spur Ultra should reflect 54 km, 2,101 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Black Spur Ultra 2027 take place?
Black Spur Ultra 2027 takes place on August 28, 2027.
Where does Black Spur Ultra 2027 take place?
Black Spur Ultra 2027 takes place in Kimberley, Canada.
Which distances does Black Spur Ultra offer?
Black Spur Ultra offers 2 distances — Black Spur Ultra 54K: 54 km; Black Spur Ultra 108K: 108 km.
How do I register for Black Spur Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: sinistersports.ca. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
