The Hampshire Hoppit.
The Hampshire Hoppit crosses the Hampshire and Berkshire countryside on mostly off-road paths, and its marathon saves the hardest part for last. The steepest climb of the day only starts at kilometre 40, when most of the nearly 700 metres of ascent are already in your legs. Your whole preparation gets built around that late moment.
The Hampshire Hoppit 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The marathon is a single marked lap near Kingsclere. The first four kilometres rise gently and hold their height, then the course drops away before a climb of just over a kilometre from km 8 asks for the first real work. A shorter, steeper ramp follows at km 12, and from there the route rolls downhill to its lowest point after about 19 kilometres.
After that the character turns. Between km 25 and 33 the course gains height in several steps, each harmless on its own, together a long pull up to around 200 metres. It then gives all of that back, interrupted only by a steep ramp at km 35. At the bottom the finale begins: nearly 100 metres of ascent in little more than a kilometre, with sections up to 23 percent, before the gradient eases and the last stretch to the finish falls gently.
Almost all of it runs off-road, on countryside trails and long-distance footpaths, with open views from Hampshire's high points. The lap is clearly marked, aid stations come at regular intervals and marshals are out along the route. The seven-hour cut-off leaves room to walk the steep parts.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 7.9 | 1.4 km | 4.8 % | 10.2 % | +64 m | — |
| km 11.9 | 0.4 km | 8.1 % | 12.2 % | +34 m | — |
| km 23.2 | 0.6 km | 3.9 % | 8.7 % | +21 m | — |
| km 26.3 | 0.8 km | 4.9 % | 8.1 % | +38 m | — |
| km 28.2 | 0.7 km | 4.2 % | 7.9 % | +29 m | — |
| km 31.7 | 0.6 km | 5.2 % | 9 % | +30 m | — |
| km 35.2 | 0.4 km | 7.8 % | 11.9 % | +31 m | — |
| km 40 | 1.1 km | 9 % | 23 % | +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 Hampshire Hoppit.
Start under control
A good third uphill, a good third downhill and only a fifth on the level: there is no steady pace on this lap. Run by effort rather than by the watch, because kilometre splits swing with every wave. The first 19 kilometres lose height overall and so feel quicker than they are.
Hold your rhythm
The real trap sits between km 25 and 33. Because none of the steps is long, they invite you to run all of them. Do that and you enter the long descent afterwards on tired quads and reach the bottom with nothing in reserve. Walk the steeper pieces there early, even if it feels unnecessary, and take food at the aid stations while you still want it.
Spend what is left
The race is decided in the last three kilometres. The climb from km 40 is a walk for most people, and rightly so: a strong stride with hands on thighs costs less than a forced run that stalls you halfway up. The goal is to break back into a run at the top, not to win the ramp.
Training plan for The Hampshire Hoppit: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect 4:30 to 6:30 hours, depending on fitness and trail experience. The effort is mainly aerobic but never uniform: eight noticeable climbs and the descents between them keep changing the muscular work, and the hardest peaks come late rather than early, in the final quarter.
Train race pace
What counts is what your legs can still do after four or five hours. Build long runs so the hilliest part comes last, and where possible end them on a steep slope you deliberately power up. One kilometre of climbing after 30 kilometres of running teaches more than any hill session on fresh legs.
Rehearse the course
Practise steep walking on purpose, because on ramps around 20 percent it is your race gait. Repeats of a few minutes on a steep hill, alternating walking and running, are enough. Downhill running matters just as much: the section after km 33 loses nearly 100 metres and hits muscles that are already tired, so put relaxed descents at the end of long runs. Train off tarmac as often as you can, so ankles and calves know the ground.
Arrive fresh
A mid-June date puts your longest runs in spring and early summer. Use them to find out what you can stomach on the move, since over this many hours eating and drinking are part of the race. If you might finish close to the cut-off, rehearse a fixed run-walk pattern on one long run.
Courses
Download the The Hampshire Hoppit course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for The Hampshire Hoppit dynamically
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Everything about The Hampshire Hoppit.
How long is The Hampshire Hoppit?
The Hampshire Hoppit is 42.17 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 Hampshire Hoppit have?
The Hampshire Hoppit has around 688 m of elevation gain over 42.17 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of The Hampshire Hoppit?
The Hampshire Hoppit is classified as Rolling, averaging 16.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 21% of the route is flat, 35% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 3% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does The Hampshire Hoppit have?
The hardest climb of The Hampshire Hoppit starts at kilometre 40, runs for 1.1 km at an average of 9% and gains 97 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is The Hampshire Hoppit a loop course?
Yes, The Hampshire Hoppit is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the The Hampshire Hoppit course?
Yes. The The Hampshire Hoppit 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 Hampshire Hoppit?
Preparation for The Hampshire Hoppit should account for 42.17 km, 688 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 Hampshire Hoppit?
The pacing strategy for The Hampshire Hoppit should reflect 42.17 km, 688 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 The Hampshire Hoppit take place?
The Hampshire Hoppit takes place on June 13, 2027.
Where does The Hampshire Hoppit take place?
The Hampshire Hoppit takes place in Kingsclere, United Kingdom.
Which distances does The Hampshire Hoppit offer?
The Hampshire Hoppit offers 3 distances — Marathon: 42.17 km; Half Marathon: 21.08 km; 10K: 10 km.
How do I register for The Hampshire Hoppit?
Registration runs through the organiser: hampshiretrailmarathon.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
