Ring O' Fire.
The Ring O' Fire circles Anglesey on foot: 130 miles of the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path, clockwise from Holyhead back to Holyhead, between 3 and 5 September. The high point is a modest 220 metres, so the difficulty lies in the sum of sand, pebbles, stiles and endless small undulations, and that sum is what your preparation has to target.
Ring O' Fire 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at Breakwater Country Park in Holyhead, and between them the course follows the coastal path once around the island, divided by nine checkpoints. The first 25 kilometres or so stay just above sea level before the coast turns restless. The first longer climbs arrive at kilometres 62 and 66, each over a kilometre long, ahead of Moelfre, where the sister race Firelighter 50 ends.
Between kilometres 92 and 111 the ground tightens into three solid rises, and the last of them, at kilometre 110, is the biggest single climb of the lap at nearly 100 metres. After that the Ring lies down: from kilometre 130 to 200 the route stays close to sea level almost throughout, with one isolated ramp at kilometre 154. Kilometres 207 and 208 then bring two short, very steep stabs before you are back in Holyhead.
None of this makes it flat. The 2,949 metres of ascent come almost entirely from small undulations, since even Holyhead Mountain, the roof of the course, stands at just 220 metres. Underfoot, sandy and pebble beaches alternate with coastal path, and stiles keep interrupting your stride. The result is a lot of runnable ground on which a rhythm rarely settles.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 62.1 | 1.1 km | 7.5 % | 10.4 % | +84 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 66.4 | 1.5 km | 4.7 % | 8.7 % | +72 m | — |
| km 92.1 | 1.1 km | 6.8 % | 25.1 % | +74 m | — |
| km 96.2 | 0.9 km | 8.1 % | 15.8 % | +69 m | — |
| km 110.3 | 0.9 km | 10.6 % | 18.7 % | +96 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 154 | 1 km | 5.1 % | 13 % | +50 m | — |
| km 207.2 | 0.7 km | 7.6 % | 9.3 % | +49 m | — |
| km 208.3 | 0.9 km | 9.9 % | 27.6 % | +84 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 Ring O' Fire.
Start under control
Nearly 40 percent of the course is flat, and the rest flips constantly between briefly up and briefly down. So steer by effort rather than by kilometre average: sand, pebbles and stiles cost time without adding a metre of climbing. Think in sections from checkpoint to checkpoint, a little over 20 kilometres on average, instead of in 209 kilometres.
Hold your rhythm
The lap is decided between kilometres 92 and 115. That is where the strongest cluster of climbs meets legs already carrying some 100 kilometres of coast. Walk the steep parts without argument and only pick the run back up at the top: stay controlled here and you can actually run the long low stretch that follows rather than merely survive it.
Spend what is left
The main trap sits right at the start, because the opening kilometres beside the sea feel like a gift. Every minute banked there gets repaid from kilometre 130, when easy ground would only be easy on fresh legs. Keep something back as well for the two stabs at kilometres 207 and 208, which hit you with a whole island in your thighs.
Training plan for Ring O' Fire: 12-week build
Build the base
Depending on form, expect roughly 35 to 50 hours on the move, spread across 3 to 5 September. It is aerobic work almost throughout, with many short spikes at every undulation and every stile, so never a steady cruising pace. The key quantity is therefore less your threshold than how little those small interruptions cost you over many hours.
Train race pace
The core of preparation is long runs on consecutive days, because the race spans three calendar days and you carry the fatigue of its early sections into the later ones. In those blocks, put the hilly parts deliberately into the second half of the session and rehearse the alternation of walking and running again that kilometres 92 to 115 will demand.
Rehearse the course
Around 30 percent of the course goes downhill, mostly in short pieces. It sounds harmless, yet it adds up to nearly 3,000 metres of descent and loads the thighs just when the low kilometres after halfway ask you to keep running. Build strength endurance in thighs, hips and calves, and practise running downhill cleanly when already tired.
Arrive fresh
The surface can only be prepared outdoors: run regularly on sand and loose pebbles if you can, and work fence or wall crossings into your long loops. Test shoes, socks and foot care in exactly those places, because sand in a shoe is no detail at this distance. With the race in early September, your main block falls in summer.
Courses
Download the Ring O' Fire course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Ring O' Fire 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 Ring O' Fire.
How long is Ring O' Fire?
Ring O' Fire is 209.22 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 Ring O' Fire have?
Ring O' Fire has around 2,949 m of elevation gain over 209.22 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Ring O' Fire?
Ring O' Fire is classified as Rolling, averaging 13.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 39% of the route is flat, 26% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Ring O' Fire have?
The hardest climb of Ring O' Fire starts at kilometre 110.3, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 10.6% and gains 96 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Ring O' Fire a loop course?
Yes, Ring O' Fire is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Ring O' Fire course?
Yes. The Ring O' Fire 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 Ring O' Fire?
Preparation for Ring O' Fire should account for 209.22 km, 2,949 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 Ring O' Fire?
The pacing strategy for Ring O' Fire should reflect 209.22 km, 2,949 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 Ring O' Fire 2027 take place?
Ring O' Fire 2027 takes place on September 3, 2027.
Where does Ring O' Fire 2027 take place?
Ring O' Fire 2027 takes place in Anglesey, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Ring O' Fire offer?
Ring O' Fire offers 2 distances — Ring O’ Fire 130: 209.22 km; Firelighter 50: 75.64 km.
How do I register for Ring O' Fire?
Registration runs through the organiser: ringofire.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
