QE Country Park Trail Run.
The longest distance at the QE Country Park Trail Run covers 21.6 km of ancient woodland and tree-lined gravel tracks in Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Horndean. The loop falls back almost to start level three times and keeps its steepest climbing for after kilometre 14, so preparing for this race mostly means preparing for its final third.
QE Country Park Trail Run 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish sit at around 117 metres, and the ground tilts upward at once: a steady kilometre and a half, then a shorter pitch at kilometre 2 that reaches almost 190 metres. By kilometre 5.5 the course has handed all of it back. The middle section earns the height again in stages, first with a kilometre of climbing, then from kilometre 9.8 with two ramps in close succession, the first averaging almost eight percent. They top out near 200 metres before the third long drop.
The race is decided between kilometres 13 and 16. Out of the last dip come three climbs with barely a pause: the second is only 450 metres long but averages close to ten percent, and the third adds almost 60 metres of height in 750 metres, lifting you to around 233 metres. The course stays rolling at that level until kilometre 18, then falls to the finish in two steps, split by a small rise at kilometre 20.
The park itself sets the character. Tree-lined gravel tracks alternate with trails beneath the trees of ancient woodland, so one loop takes you across several surfaces. The race is timed, more than 1,000 runners are expected across the three distances, and the 21.6 km goes off first.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 1.5 km | 3.8 % | 9 % | +55 m | — |
| km 1.9 | 0.5 km | 5 % | 8 % | +25 m | — |
| km 5.5 | 1.1 km | 4.9 % | 7.3 % | +51 m | — |
| km 9.8 | 0.7 km | 7.8 % | 12 % | +55 m | — |
| km 10.7 | 0.8 km | 5.1 % | 10.6 % | +41 m | — |
| km 13.2 | 1.2 km | 4 % | 11.5 % | +47 m | — |
| km 14.7 | 0.5 km | 9.9 % | 16.7 % | +44 m | — |
| km 15.5 | 0.8 km | 7.8 % | 14.3 % | +59 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 QE Country Park Trail Run.
Start under control
Only about a tenth of this course is flat; the rest is going up or coming down. A target kilometre split is no use here, so steer by effort. Until kilometre 13 the climbs mostly run at four to five percent and stay runnable, with the ramp from kilometre 9.8 the one exception. Take them all at a level where you don't need the top to get your breath back.
Hold your rhythm
The trap lies in the descents before the closing section. From kilometre 11.6 you lose around 75 metres in little more than a kilometre, and the temptation to let go is strong. Every hard landing there gets billed shortly afterwards on the steepest ground of the day.
Spend what is left
From kilometre 14.7, only 300 metres separate the two steep ramps, which peak close to 17 percent. A brisk hike there is often as fast as a strained run and far cheaper. What counts is running again the moment it levels off: if you still have rhythm on the rolling stretch to kilometre 18, the last three kilometres of downhill give you the time others leave on the course.
Training plan for QE Country Park Trail Run: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 2:15 to 3:00 hours depending on fitness. The effort is mostly aerobic but never steady: eight climbs keep adding short spikes, and between them the quads work on the way down. A road half marathon is therefore the wrong model, not least because the course runs a little past the classic 21.1 km.
Train race pace
Everything comes down to whether you can still work uphill on steep ground after 14 km. Build long runs so that the hilliest part comes at the end, not the start. Two ramps of 300 to 700 metres, repeated several times after ninety minutes on your feet, match the closing section better than any interval session on fresh legs. Use them to practise the switch from hiking back to running as the climb eases.
Rehearse the course
Controlled downhill running on tired legs matters just as much. The course falls nearly as far as it rises, and three longer descents come before the hardest part. Put regular downhill stretches into the second half of your long sessions and keep your stride and posture tidy rather than simply braking.
Arrive fresh
A late-January date places the whole build-up in the winter months. Even so, move as many long runs as you can onto gravel and woodland paths, because the change of surfaces is part of this race and cannot be practised on tarmac. The water points on course are refill stations, so try out beforehand how you drink and top up over this distance without losing your rhythm.
Courses
Download the QE Country Park Trail Run course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for QE Country Park Trail Run 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 QE Country Park Trail Run.
How long is QE Country Park Trail Run?
QE Country Park Trail Run is 21.6 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 QE Country Park Trail Run have?
QE Country Park Trail Run has around 486 m of elevation gain over 21.6 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of QE Country Park Trail Run?
QE Country Park Trail Run is classified as Hilly, averaging 22.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 38% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 6% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does QE Country Park Trail Run have?
The hardest climb of QE Country Park Trail Run starts at kilometre 15.5, runs for 0.8 km at an average of 7.8% and gains 59 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is QE Country Park Trail Run a loop course?
Yes, QE Country Park Trail Run is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the QE Country Park Trail Run course?
Yes. The QE Country Park Trail Run 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 QE Country Park Trail Run?
Preparation for QE Country Park Trail Run should account for 21.6 km, 486 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 QE Country Park Trail Run?
The pacing strategy for QE Country Park Trail Run should reflect 21.6 km, 486 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 QE Country Park Trail Run take place?
QE Country Park Trail Run takes place on January 30, 2027.
Where does QE Country Park Trail Run take place?
QE Country Park Trail Run takes place in Horndean, United Kingdom.
Which distances does QE Country Park Trail Run offer?
QE Country Park Trail Run offers 3 distances — 21.6k Half Marathon: 21.6 km; 15.2k: 15.2 km; 7.9k: 7.9 km.
How do I register for QE Country Park Trail Run?
Registration runs through the organiser: ukrunningevents.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
