Nine Edges.
Nine Edges is an off-road challenge from Fairholmes to the Robin Hood Inn near Birchen Edge, crossing the high moorland and gritstone edges of the Peak District. You find the way with map and compass, and the hardest climb comes straight after the start, so your legs and your navigation need equal preparation.
Nine Edges 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
There is no warming up into this one. From Fairholmes the route goes straight uphill, a little over two kilometres at more than nine percent on average, with some very steep ramps along the way. A shorter second climb follows almost at once, and at kilometre 4 you reach the high point of the day at around 500 metres. The next five kilometres then hand most of that height back.
From kilometre 9 comes the second long ascent, far more even than the first and two and a half kilometres long, back up beyond 400 metres. From there the ground falls in long waves to around kilometre 25, broken again and again by short counter-climbs. The final quarter still holds two noticeable ramps before the way drops to the Robin Hood Inn, the lowest point of the course. Start and finish sit at almost the same height but in different places: there is no loop to bring you back.
The running is off-road, over high moorland and gritstone edges. The route is set up explicitly as a navigation task, so the decisions about the way are yours, made while your legs are working. Checkpoints divide the day and hand out water, bananas and jelly babies.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 2.3 km | 9.3 % | 24.5 % | +211 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 2.8 | 1.1 km | 7 % | 16.5 % | +77 m | — |
| km 8.8 | 2.6 km | 5.4 % | 8.6 % | +137 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 15.3 | 0.8 km | 4.2 % | 6.1 % | +35 m | — |
| km 20.2 | 0.3 km | 4.6 % | 6.6 % | +15 m | — |
| km 23.6 | 0.4 km | 3.1 % | 13.3 % | +12 m | — |
| km 24.8 | 1.6 km | 3.9 % | 10.1 % | +61 m | — |
| km 30.1 | 0.9 km | 5.3 % | 8.2 % | +48 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 Nine Edges.
Start under control
The opening decides the rest of the day. By kilometre 4 you have banked almost 300 metres of height on fresh legs, which is exactly where the urge to run the steep ground is strongest. Hike the ramps above Fairholmes briskly rather than forcing them. That costs seconds, while a redlined first hillside costs you the whole second half.
Hold your rhythm
The time is made between kilometres 12 and 25, where the ground mostly falls and real speed is possible. That is also the true trap: once you let this stretch roll, you stop reading the map. A wrong turn costs more than any climb, so run only as fast as lets you name your position at any moment.
Spend what is left
Keep something back for the last seven kilometres. The counter-climbs at kilometres 25 and 30 are short, but they land on thighs that have been braking downhill for a long time. Eat at the early checkpoints for that reason, not once things get tight.
Training plan for Nine Edges: 12-week build
Build the base
Depending on your fitness and confidence on rough ground, expect around four to six hours. That is a long aerobic effort with no steady pace to it: steep hiking, running over changing terrain and a lot of downhill, which asks more of the legs than your heart rate shows.
Train race pace
The day opens with its hardest task and closes with ramps on tired legs, and your long runs should reflect both. Start some of them directly on a steep climb with no warm-up, and practise powerful uphill hiking at a quick cadence. Put a hill at the end that you intend to keep running. That teaches you how much you can afford early on.
Rehearse the course
The long falling section through the middle demands durable thighs. Build longer off-road descents into your running over several weeks and add strength work for the quadriceps, so the last seven kilometres do not turn into braking. Do this on trails rather than tarmac where you can, because the ground here is no road surface, and sure footing saves energy too.
Arrive fresh
Navigation is a training discipline for this event. Practise with map and compass not fresh at the kitchen table but in the middle of a long run, when concentration fades, and scout parts of the route beforehand if you can arrange it. With the event in September, these sessions fall in summer. Use them as well to test whether your stomach copes with bananas and jelly babies for hours, or bring your own food alongside.
Courses
Download the Nine Edges course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Nine Edges 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 Nine Edges.
How long is Nine Edges?
Nine Edges 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 Nine Edges have?
Nine Edges has around 673 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 Nine Edges?
Nine Edges is classified as Hilly, averaging 20.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 17% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Nine Edges have?
The hardest climb of Nine Edges starts at kilometre 0, runs for 2.3 km at an average of 9.3% and gains 211 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Nine Edges a loop course?
No, Nine Edges is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Nine Edges course?
Yes. The Nine Edges 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 Nine Edges?
Preparation for Nine Edges should account for 32.19 km, 673 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 Nine Edges?
The pacing strategy for Nine Edges should reflect 32.19 km, 673 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 Nine Edges take place?
Nine Edges takes place on September 11, 2027.
Where does Nine Edges take place?
Nine Edges takes place in Bamford, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Nine Edges?
Registration runs through the organiser: edalemrt.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
