Hathersage Hurtle.
The Hathersage Hurtle is a 20-mile loop of the Hope Valley that starts and finishes on the football fields in Hathersage. You can run it or walk it, and because the high point only arrives two thirds of the way round, your day turns less on the first climb than on what your legs have left for the long way down.
Hathersage Hurtle 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From the football fields the course heads uphill almost at once. A climb of nearly two kilometres begins after just 300 metres, and after a level stretch two shorter, much steeper ramps follow from km 3.3 and km 4.6, the second averaging over ten percent. The first high point comes shortly after km 6 at nearly 380 metres. Then the course hands it all back: around km 9 it drops more than 100 metres in under a kilometre, and by km 12 you are almost at start height again.
The real core begins at km 14.6. Over 2.35 kilometres you gain 167 metres, more than anywhere else on the day. After a short plateau the next step starts at km 18.4, and only just before km 22 do you reach the roof of the loop at a little over 440 metres. From there it falls almost without a break for eight kilometres, and the final two kilometres back into Hathersage are level.
The Hurtle is a small trail day with limited entries, open to runners and walkers alike. That sets its character: taking a ramp at a walk is no admission of defeat here, it is part of the format. Two stations with food and drink look after the field along the way.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.3 | 1.8 km | 5.4 % | 10.1 % | +96 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 3.3 | 1.1 km | 6.9 % | 15 % | +72 m | — |
| km 4.6 | 0.7 km | 10.3 % | 16.5 % | +67 m | — |
| km 9.9 | 0.4 km | 9 % | 14.2 % | +32 m | — |
| km 12.1 | 0.9 km | 3.4 % | 5.4 % | +30 m | — |
| km 14.6 | 2.4 km | 7.1 % | 11.1 % | +167 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 18.4 | 1.6 km | 5.1 % | 10.1 % | +83 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 21 | 0.8 km | 4.4 % | 6.3 % | +35 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 Hathersage Hurtle.
Start under control
Barely a tenth of the loop is flat, so there is no steady pace to settle into. Run the day on effort rather than the watch, and treat the first six kilometres as a warm-up even though they already hold nearly a third of the climbing. The ramps from km 3.3 peak above 15 percent: walking them costs little time and saves a lot.
Hold your rhythm
The Hurtle is won or lost between km 14.6 and km 22. Those seven-odd kilometres hold the three climbs that matter in the second half, and they arrive when the first half is already in your legs. Get there with something in reserve, walk the steep pitches without hesitation and jog the easier ground between them.
Spend what is left
The trap is on the way down. The steep drop around km 9 invites you to let go while your legs are fresh, and those same quads are what you need for the eight kilometres after the high point. If you can still run that descent under control you gain a lot of time, and the flat final kilometres then ask for one more running stride that overworked legs can no longer give.
Training plan for Hathersage Hurtle: 12-week build
Build the base
Runners should expect around three and a half to five hours depending on form, and walkers considerably longer. The effort is above all long and aerobic, but it is broken up by short, hard spikes, because the climbs are short and steep and there is little flat ground between them for recovery.
Train race pace
Preparation hinges on the stretch between km 14.6 and km 22. Build your long sessions so the climbing falls in the last third: an hour or two of easy time on your feet, then several climbs of about two kilometres at a controlled effort. Practise brisk uphill walking as you do so, because on ramps around 15 percent it is the faster way to move for most people.
Rehearse the course
Descending matters almost as much. Around 750 metres of climbing has to come back down, most of it on tired legs. Add longer descents to the end of sessions and include strength work for the thighs, such as lunges and slow step-downs. That accustoms the muscles to the braking load and keeps the final kilometres from turning into a hobble.
Arrive fresh
A mid-May date puts the build in winter and spring, so schedule the long hilly sessions early enough. With only two food and drink stations across 32 kilometres, it also pays to test eating and drinking on your long sessions, so you know what you need to carry yourself.
Courses
Download the Hathersage Hurtle course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hathersage Hurtle 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 Hathersage Hurtle.
How long is Hathersage Hurtle?
Hathersage Hurtle is 32.19 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 Hathersage Hurtle have?
Hathersage Hurtle has around 749 m of elevation gain over 32.19 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hathersage Hurtle?
Hathersage Hurtle is classified as Hilly, averaging 23.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 10% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hathersage Hurtle have?
The hardest climb of Hathersage Hurtle starts at kilometre 14.6, runs for 2.4 km at an average of 7.1% and gains 167 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hathersage Hurtle a loop course?
Yes, Hathersage Hurtle is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Hathersage Hurtle course?
Yes. The Hathersage Hurtle 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 Hathersage Hurtle?
Preparation for Hathersage Hurtle should account for 32.19 km, 749 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 Hathersage Hurtle?
The pacing strategy for Hathersage Hurtle should reflect 32.19 km, 749 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 Hathersage Hurtle take place?
Hathersage Hurtle takes place on May 15, 2027.
Where does Hathersage Hurtle take place?
Hathersage Hurtle takes place in Hathersage, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Hathersage Hurtle?
Registration runs through the organiser: hathersagehurtle.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
