Hardcoast 50.
The Hardcoast 50 follows coastal paths from Fraisthorpe to Whitby, and it runs to 53 miles rather than the 50 in its name. This is the first running, so nobody arrives with last year's splits. Prepare for one long, hilly day in a single direction, with no relay option and every mile yours to cover.
Hardcoast 50 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course is a single line: no loop, no second lap, no way back to the start. From Fraisthorpe it takes the coastal paths of the King Charles Way and the Cleveland Way until you reach the youth hostel at Whitby. Entering this race means choosing a day travelling along the coast, with the finish always somewhere ahead of you.
Five checkpoints break up the journey: Flamborough Head, the Methodist Church Hall in Filey, Holbeck, Crookness and Ravenscar, the last before Whitby. Reighton Sands adds a water spot. The staffed points hand out food and water, and drop bags are part of the setup, so you need not carry your fuel and spare kit for the whole distance.
A coastal path does not have to be flat, as the organiser's sum makes clear: 7,300 feet of ascent, or about 2,200 metres. The ground is hilly, and that total has to be paid off across the day. Because the Hardcoast 50 is new to the calendar, there are no result lists yet and no accounts from earlier finishers to steer by.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 46.9 | 0.7 km | 9.1 % | 14.5 % | +61 m | — |
| km 52.9 | 0.5 km | 11.4 % | 15.1 % | +54 m | — |
| km 62.5 | 1.1 km | 6 % | 11.7 % | +68 m | — |
| km 66 | 1.7 km | 5.1 % | 10 % | +85 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 70.4 | 1.2 km | 5.4 % | 19.5 % | +64 m | — |
| km 77.4 | 0.9 km | 6.3 % | 11.9 % | +56 m | — |
| km 80.3 | 0.5 km | 10.5 % | 17.1 % | +50 m | — |
| km 82.3 | 0.8 km | 6.6 % | 22.5 % | +53 m | — |
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 Hardcoast 50.
Start under control
Plan for 53 miles, not the figure in the name. The difference is nearly five kilometres, and it arrives at the very end, where each step costs most. Reference times from earlier years do not exist, so scale your sections up from your own long runs on hilly ground and think from checkpoint to checkpoint instead of in one average pace.
Hold your rhythm
This day is settled around Ravenscar. After it only Whitby remains, and you have to get there under your own steam. If you can still eat and run the easier stretches here, you judged the day well; if you overspent on the opening sections, you will be reduced to walking them.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap sits in the word coast. It suggests level miles, yet the ascent of this ultra adds up all the same. So walk any rise that breaks your calm breathing, even while your legs still feel fresh. The second trap is the drop-bag checkpoint: decide in advance what you will do there, so that five short stops do not turn into one long break.
Training plan for Hardcoast 50: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect somewhere around 12 to 17 hours on the move, depending on your form. That makes this a calm aerobic effort which the hills turn into a mix of running and brisk walking. Hard speedwork decides little here; endurance across a whole day, and the patience that goes with it, decide far more.
Train race pace
The phase that shapes the race comes late: the final sections to Whitby, with many hours already in your legs. The best preparation is two long sessions on consecutive days, the second starting on tired legs. Put the hills deliberately at the end of your longest runs, so you learn to keep hiking well uphill and running with control downhill when it counts.
Rehearse the course
Your focus belongs on paths rather than tarmac. Treat fast hiking on inclines as a skill of its own and gather ascent regularly, because more than 2,200 metres of climbing on a route that stays near the coast means just as much descent for your quads.
Arrive fresh
Rehearse the checkpoints as well: eat to a plan on long runs, pack and use a drop bag as you would on race day, and find out what you really need in it. The 3 July date places your longest sessions in May and June. And since you finish in Whitby rather than back at the start, sort out your travel in good time.
Courses
Download the Hardcoast 50 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hardcoast 50 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 Hardcoast 50.
How long is Hardcoast 50?
Hardcoast 50 is 85.3 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 Hardcoast 50 have?
Hardcoast 50 has around 1,616 m of elevation gain over 85.3 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hardcoast 50?
Hardcoast 50 is classified as Hilly, averaging 18.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 23% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hardcoast 50 have?
The hardest climb of Hardcoast 50 starts at kilometre 66, runs for 1.7 km at an average of 5.1% and gains 85 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hardcoast 50 a loop course?
No, Hardcoast 50 is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Hardcoast 50 course?
Yes. The Hardcoast 50 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 Hardcoast 50?
Preparation for Hardcoast 50 should account for 85.3 km, 1,616 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 Hardcoast 50?
The pacing strategy for Hardcoast 50 should reflect 85.3 km, 1,616 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 Hardcoast 50 take place?
Hardcoast 50 takes place on July 3, 2027.
Where does Hardcoast 50 take place?
Hardcoast 50 takes place in Fraisthorpe, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Hardcoast 50?
Registration runs through the organiser: hardmoors110.org.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
