Round the Rock Jersey.
At Round the Rock Jersey the ultra goes all the way round the island: from the Steam Clock in St Helier, anti-clockwise over 77 kilometres of coastal path and back into town. Prepare for a very long day on a route marked only at its junctions, where finding the way is as much your job as running it.
Round the Rock Jersey 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From the Steam Clock the route heads east, and the first 16 kilometres or so stay low and almost level. The real work starts at St Catherine's, the first checkpoint, with water only: through to about km 41 come seven climbs. Each is short, yet brings around 50 metres of gain and ramps up to 17 percent. Les Fontaines sits in the middle of that run, and it is the first place with drinks and food as well.
Grosnez, around km 45, marks the turn onto the west coast. The route then drops to sea level and stays there for several kilometres before rising again towards Beauport, the last checkpoint, near km 59. There is one more descent almost to the water and a final climb around km 62, with pitches up to 18 percent, before the closing stretch runs out flat into St Helier.
This is the only distance that covers Jersey's entire coastline, and it adds up to a little over 1,400 metres of climbing. You are on coastal trail and paths throughout, marked only at decision points, which is why you have to carry navigation and the route file. The finish is in the Jardins de la Mare, where the two shorter races also end.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 17.4 | 0.9 km | 5.9 % | 13.8 % | +51 m | — |
| km 23 | 0.5 km | 8.8 % | 16.8 % | +39 m | — |
| km 24.7 | 0.7 km | 9.1 % | 16.5 % | +66 m | — |
| km 29.3 | 0.7 km | 6 % | 14.6 % | +39 m | — |
| km 30.3 | 0.9 km | 6.9 % | 17.2 % | +62 m | — |
| km 35.3 | 0.6 km | 6.8 % | 15.5 % | +43 m | — |
| km 40.1 | 0.7 km | 9.7 % | 17.6 % | +63 m | — |
| km 62 | 0.5 km | 10.7 % | 18.2 % | +51 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 Round the Rock Jersey.
Start under control
The lap falls into three parts, and your strength does not belong in the first. The level kilometres to St Catherine's run so easily that this is the biggest trap on the course: every minute gained there is repaid several times over from km 17. Run this section at a pace that feels almost too quiet.
Hold your rhythm
The middle section to km 41 is about budgeting. Walk the steep ramps without debate and jog again straight away at the top, rather than fighting each of the seven climbs. The checkpoints offer only water until Les Fontaines, so whatever you eat up to that point, you carry yourself.
Spend what is left
The day is decided from Grosnez onwards. The sea-level kilometres need running, not walking, and the stretch from Beauport to about km 66 asks for one more effort when fresh legs are long gone. After Beauport there is no further checkpoint before the finish. Pause briefly at every junction and check the route: a wrong turn this late costs more than any climb.
Training plan for Round the Rock Jersey: 12-week build
Build the base
As an age-group runner, expect roughly nine to fourteen hours. That is mostly quiet aerobic work, broken again and again by short, forceful climbs, with few spells where the ground stays the same for long. Over that duration your peak ability matters less than how well you can keep eating, walking and starting to run again.
Train race pace
The core of the preparation is long runs loaded towards the end: start level, put the hills in the second half, and close with some flat kilometres at running pace. A session like that copies what the lap demands from Grosnez onwards. Two long sessions on consecutive days bring the fatigue without any single outing having to get out of hand.
Rehearse the course
The descents to sea level in the last third land on quads that have already worked for many hours. Build in regular downhill repeats and leg strength, and rehearse the quick switch between a brisk walk on the slope and a run at the top.
Arrive fresh
Since the route is marked only at decision points, navigation belongs in training: follow a track over unfamiliar ground, especially late in long sessions when your thinking has dulled. Practise self-sufficiency too, because the first food comes over 30 kilometres in and nothing follows Beauport. With the race in late July, your longest sessions fall in early summer.
Courses
Download the Round the Rock Jersey course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Round the Rock Jersey 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 Round the Rock Jersey.
How long is Round the Rock Jersey?
Round the Rock Jersey is 77 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 Round the Rock Jersey have?
Round the Rock Jersey has around 1,408 m of elevation gain over 77 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Round the Rock Jersey?
Round the Rock Jersey is classified as Hilly, averaging 19.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 27% of the route is flat, 31% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 7% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Round the Rock Jersey have?
The hardest climb of Round the Rock Jersey starts at kilometre 24.7, runs for 0.7 km at an average of 9.1% and gains 66 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Round the Rock Jersey a loop course?
Yes, Round the Rock Jersey is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Round the Rock Jersey course?
Yes. The Round the Rock Jersey 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 Round the Rock Jersey?
Preparation for Round the Rock Jersey should account for 77 km, 1,408 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 Round the Rock Jersey?
The pacing strategy for Round the Rock Jersey should reflect 77 km, 1,408 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 Round the Rock Jersey 2027 take place?
Round the Rock Jersey 2027 takes place on July 31, 2027.
Where does Round the Rock Jersey 2027 take place?
Round the Rock Jersey 2027 takes place in Saint Helier, Jersey.
Which distances does Round the Rock Jersey offer?
Round the Rock Jersey offers 3 distances — Round the Rock Ultra: 77 km; Round the Rock Marathon: 42.2 km; Round the Rock Half Marathon: 21.1 km.
How do I register for Round the Rock Jersey?
Registration runs through the organiser: roundtherock.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
