Great Glen Ultra Marathon.
The Great Glen Ultra Marathon covers 73 miles on foot from Fort William to Inverness, starting at Corpach and finishing in the Inverness Athletics Stadium. It falls into two parts: a long, nearly level opening, then a back half that holds most of the climbing. That split, more than the distance alone, should shape how you prepare.
Great Glen Ultra Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From the start at Corpach, barely above sea level, the course stays low for a long time: more than 30 km pass below 70 metres. Two short rises around km 34 and km 38 break the pattern before the running goes flat again. Underfoot you get canal towpaths, forestry paths, tracks and some roads. A checkpoint comes roughly every ten miles, the sequence running through Clunes, Laggan Locks and Fort Augustus and on to Invermoriston, Drumnadrochit and Loch Laide.
From Fort Augustus you share the ground of the 42-mile race, and the terrain changes. Between km 55 and km 72 three climbs of 170 to 190 metres each, often steeper than eight percent, lift you above 300 metres more than once and drop you back down.
The route then falls almost to its starting height, and at km 89 the biggest single climb of the day starts: 226 metres in one go, on legs that are long since tired. At the top the course holds around 300 metres for a good while before dropping over the final kilometres to the stadium in Inverness.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 33.8 | 1.6 km | 5.4 % | 10.9 % | +86 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 38.5 | 1 km | 8.1 % | 13.5 % | +81 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 54.7 | 1.7 km | 9.7 % | 18 % | +168 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 64.4 | 2.1 km | 8.9 % | 22.7 % | +187 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 67.5 | 0.9 km | 8.4 % | 16.3 % | +72 m | — |
| km 69.9 | 2.3 km | 8.3 % | 22.7 % | +189 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 78 | 1.6 km | 5.3 % | 9.4 % | +83 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 89.2 | 2.8 km | 8.2 % | 21.7 % | +226 m | Cat. 3 |
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 Great Glen Ultra Marathon.
Start under control
The first half decides nothing, but it can ruin everything. For over 50 km nearly all of it can be run, and on a level towpath a pace that is too quick feels harmless for hours. Set your limit there by heart rate or feel, not by the watch: the gradients you need the reserve for only arrive after the marathon mark.
Hold your rhythm
The real race starts with the climb at km 89. It is the longest of the day, and if you can still walk it briskly you will be able to run again on the high section beyond. Blow up here and the next 20 km get expensive, because that rolling stretch rewards anyone who still has a stride.
Spend what is left
The trap is the 22-hour limit. It sounds generous, yet over this distance it asks for a little more than five kilometres per hour, and you have to bank the quicker hours on the flat opening without spending the legs the back half needs. Treat the checkpoints as markers rather than rests: with a stop every ten miles, each wasted minute multiplies.
Training plan for Great Glen Ultra Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes will be out for roughly 14 to 20 hours depending on level, much of it in the easy aerobic range. The load changes its nature during the day: steady running on level ground first, then a mix of steep walking and controlled descending without ever properly recovering.
Train race pace
That sequence is the core of the preparation. Build long sessions with the flat kilometres first and the climbing last: two to three hours on level ground, then repeats of 150 to 200 metres of ascent. Two long days back to back reproduce running on tired legs better than one very long outing.
Rehearse the course
The deciding phase comes after about 90 km, so brisk uphill walking counts as a discipline of its own. Practise it deliberately late in long runs, and start running again afterwards rather than ending the session. The drop at the end asks for prepared quads, so make longer descents a regular part of your weeks.
Arrive fresh
The mix of towpath, forestry path, track and road loads the legs unevenly, so all of these surfaces belong in your long runs, the monotonous level one above all. Rehearse fuelling on the ten-mile rhythm of the checkpoints too. With the race on 3 July, your biggest weeks should fall in May and early June.
Courses
Download the Great Glen Ultra Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Great Glen Ultra Marathon dynamically
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Everything about Great Glen Ultra Marathon.
How long is Great Glen Ultra Marathon?
Great Glen Ultra Marathon is 117.48 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 Great Glen Ultra Marathon have?
Great Glen Ultra Marathon has around 2,419 m of elevation gain over 117.48 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Great Glen Ultra Marathon?
Great Glen Ultra Marathon is classified as Hilly, averaging 20.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 26% of the route is flat, 27% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Great Glen Ultra Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Great Glen Ultra Marathon starts at kilometre 89.2, runs for 2.8 km at an average of 8.2% and gains 226 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Great Glen Ultra Marathon a loop course?
No, Great Glen Ultra Marathon is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Great Glen Ultra Marathon course?
Yes. The Great Glen Ultra Marathon 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 Great Glen Ultra Marathon?
Preparation for Great Glen Ultra Marathon should account for 117.48 km, 2,419 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 Great Glen Ultra Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Great Glen Ultra Marathon should reflect 117.48 km, 2,419 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 Great Glen Ultra Marathon take place?
Great Glen Ultra Marathon takes place on July 3, 2027.
Where does Great Glen Ultra Marathon take place?
Great Glen Ultra Marathon takes place in Fort William, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Great Glen Ultra Marathon offer?
Great Glen Ultra Marathon offers 2 distances — Great Glen Ultra Marathon: 117.48 km; Great Glen Ultra Marathon 42: 67.59 km.
How do I register for Great Glen Ultra Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: runyarocket.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
