Chester Ultra 100.
The Chester Ultra 100 draws a closed loop of just over 164 kilometres through the country around Chester, from the Shropshire Canal and the River Dee past Beeston and Frodsham to the top of Helsby Hill. The hills arrive in two blocks with some 60 flat kilometres between them, and that split is what your preparation has to answer.
the Chester Ultra 100 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The first 40 kilometres or so stay flat. The Shropshire Canal and the Marches Way beside the Dee take you past Chester to the checkpoint at Waverton Village Hall and on to the south-east. At kilometre 38 the course changes character, with four short climbs packed into little more than six kilometres. The hardest starts right after the Peckforton and Beeston checkpoint: three quarters of a kilometre at nearly ten percent.
Two longer ramps at kilometres 58 and 71 bracket Delamere Forest before the course drops into Frodsham. There the most unusual part of this race begins: for around 60 kilometres, through Preston Brook, Sandy Lane and Spike Island, you barely rise above 30 metres. The checkpoints along the way run from village hall to village hall, until Frodsham comes round again at the far end of the section.
Past kilometre 135 the hills return. One more climb waits at Frodsham, then Helsby Hill itself, almost two kilometres long with a ramp close to 20 percent. From there the loop drops back to flat ground by way of Alvanley Village Hall. The final route with diversions appears three days before the start, so treat every kilometre mark as a guide.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 38.2 | 1.1 km | 5.1 % | 10.9 % | +53 m | — |
| km 40.5 | 0.6 km | 6.9 % | 17.5 % | +38 m | — |
| km 41.7 | 0.7 km | 7.1 % | 18.4 % | +48 m | — |
| km 43.9 | 0.8 km | 9.8 % | 16.1 % | +74 m | — |
| km 57.6 | 1.3 km | 4.4 % | 10.1 % | +57 m | — |
| km 70.6 | 1.4 km | 5.5 % | 10.4 % | +76 m | — |
| km 137.9 | 1 km | 6.8 % | 12.7 % | +69 m | — |
| km 141.7 | 1.9 km | 5.3 % | 21.6 % | +97 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 the Chester Ultra 100.
Start under control
The plan starts with a brake. Over the flat opening 38 kilometres almost any pace feels easy, and that is where the fatigue is laid down that takes your legs at Peckforton and Beeston. Run this stretch feeling under-used, then walk the four short climbs with intent rather than forcing them.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided between Frodsham and kilometre 135. In the hills, walking and running alternate by themselves; on the long flat section no gradient hands you a break and every stride loads the same muscles. If you can still run evenly here, the hardest part is behind you. Fix your run and walk intervals while your head is clear and hold them from one checkpoint to the next.
Spend what is left
The trap sits at the end. Helsby Hill arrives after more than 140 kilometres, and its steepest ramp is a walk for nearly everyone. Spare your quads earlier too, on the descent into Frodsham, because the last ten flat kilometres still want to be run.
Training plan for the Chester Ultra 100: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect something like 22 to 32 hours depending on your form. That is a long, low-intensity aerobic effort broken up by short walked climbs: just under 1,500 metres of ascent is modest over this distance, and more than half the course is flat. Your limit is less likely to be strength on the hills than the ability to keep moving, and keep eating, for a very long time.
Train race pace
That puts flat running on tired legs at the centre of your preparation. Build long sessions so the second half is flat and you hold your run and walk intervals there, ideally on two consecutive days. It is the exact feeling waiting between Preston Brook and Spike Island.
Rehearse the course
The hills need targeted work, not much volume: short steep climbs of one to two kilometres at a strong walk, placed late in a long run instead of fresh at the start. That rehearses Peckforton at kilometre 40 and above all Helsby Hill beyond kilometre 140. Add some controlled downhill running so your quads survive the descents into Frodsham.
Arrive fresh
A race of this length runs into darkness, so train night sections with a head torch and practise eating at odd hours. Test your kit for a mid-April day and the night after it, and use the checkpoints as a rhythm in your planning: fuel from hall to hall. Check the final route for diversions in race week.
Courses
Download the the Chester Ultra 100 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Chester Ultra 100 dynamically
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Everything about Chester Ultra 100.
How long is the Chester Ultra 100?
the Chester Ultra 100 is 164.15 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 the Chester Ultra 100 have?
the Chester Ultra 100 has around 1,477 m of elevation gain over 164.15 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of the Chester Ultra 100?
the Chester Ultra 100 is classified as Rolling, averaging 9 vertical metres per kilometre. 57% of the route is flat, 19% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 2% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the Chester Ultra 100 have?
The hardest climb of the Chester Ultra 100 starts at kilometre 141.7, runs for 1.9 km at an average of 5.3% and gains 97 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is the Chester Ultra 100 a loop course?
Yes, the Chester Ultra 100 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the the Chester Ultra 100 course?
Yes. The the Chester Ultra 100 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 the Chester Ultra 100?
Preparation for the Chester Ultra 100 should account for 164.15 km, 1,477 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 the Chester Ultra 100?
The pacing strategy for the Chester Ultra 100 should reflect 164.15 km, 1,477 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 Chester Ultra 100 take place?
Chester Ultra 100 takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does Chester Ultra 100 take place?
Chester Ultra 100 takes place in Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom.
