Saddleworth Res’s.
The shortest loop of the Saddleworth Res’s takes you 26 kilometres through the high moors and valleys above Mossley. Paved paths, tracks and bog alternate underfoot, so what shapes your day is less the distance than how well you can keep running while the ground keeps changing.
Saddleworth Res’s 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The day starts without a warm-up: the first 600 metres alone gain about 80 metres. After that the loop stays low and rolling for a few kilometres until, just before kilometre seven, the longest climb sets in and lifts you more than 200 metres in under three kilometres onto the moorland. Just before kilometre ten you reach about 490 metres, the highest point of the day.
You stay up there for a long time. Until around kilometre 16 the course gives its height back only grudgingly, and this is where the character of the loop shows: the organiser warns of bogs, stream crossings and boulder fields, and the reservoirs in the name are only one part of this landscape of high moor and valley. Anyone expecting road-race rhythm will have to rethink it on this stretch.
The descent to about 240 metres runs into a short, steep rise of some 70 metres at kilometre 18. The final quarter then takes its own line away from the longer courses and falls steadily to a finish close to the start. Nowhere else does the course roll this evenly.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 0.6 km | 13.2 % | 16.7 % | +79 m | — |
| km 4.7 | 1.1 km | 4.1 % | 14 % | +46 m | — |
| km 6.6 | 2.8 km | 7.5 % | 20.1 % | +211 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 13.8 | 0.5 km | 4.7 % | 8.2 % | +22 m | — |
| km 17.9 | 0.8 km | 9.4 % | 17.2 % | +73 m | — |
| km 20.3 | 0.3 km | 7.6 % | 11.7 % | +25 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 Saddleworth Res’s.
Start under control
Do not let the steep opening set a line you pay for later. Walking those first 600 metres costs next to nothing and lets you start the easier kilometres behind them with a calm pulse. Up to kilometre six the only goal is to reach the foot of the long climb fresh.
Hold your rhythm
That climb and the high moor beyond it decide your race. The ramp from kilometre seven is steep enough in places that a strong hike often beats running. After it the slowly falling ground tempts you, but speed only counts up there while your footing stays sure: on bog and boulder fields a rushed passage burns more energy than it saves in seconds.
Spend what is left
The trap of this loop sits at the back. More than a third of the course falls gently, and the final quarter is properly runnable, but only if you still have legs after the rise at kilometre 18. Overcook the moor and you end up walking the fastest kilometres of the day.
Training plan for Saddleworth Res’s: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect to be out for roughly two and three quarter to four hours. That is a long aerobic effort but not a steady one: the steep sections spike your heart rate briefly, while the ground demands attention and strength even on the way down. Your training therefore has to cover both, duration and repeated changes of gear.
Train race pace
The key sessions copy the middle of the course. Run regularly over a climb of two to three kilometres, practise switching between hiking and running on it, and keep running on rolling ground straight afterwards. About 600 metres of ascent over this distance is no alpine figure, but it arrives in concentrated doses and just before the longest stretch on the high moor.
Rehearse the course
The ground is the real training task here. Take your long runs onto unsurfaced paths, soft ground and stones so ankles and feet know the load before they meet bog and boulder fields. Stream crossings can be rehearsed too: keep running in wet shoes and find out what your socks and shoes tolerate over several hours.
Arrive fresh
The date of 6 March puts your long runs in January and February. Build them to about 20 kilometres on comparable terrain and run the final kilometres deliberately fluently, because that switch from picking your footing to rolling along is exactly what the final quarter at Saddleworth asks for.
Courses
Download the Saddleworth Res’s course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Saddleworth Res’s 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 Saddleworth Res’s.
How long is Saddleworth Res’s?
Saddleworth Res’s is 26 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 Saddleworth Res’s have?
Saddleworth Res’s has around 605 m of elevation gain over 26 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Saddleworth Res’s?
Saddleworth Res’s is classified as Hilly, averaging 23.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 18% of the route is flat, 26% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 10% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Saddleworth Res’s have?
The hardest climb of Saddleworth Res’s starts at kilometre 6.6, runs for 2.8 km at an average of 7.5% and gains 211 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Saddleworth Res’s a loop course?
Yes, Saddleworth Res’s is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Saddleworth Res’s course?
Yes. The Saddleworth Res’s 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 Saddleworth Res’s?
Preparation for Saddleworth Res’s should account for 26 km, 605 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 Saddleworth Res’s?
The pacing strategy for Saddleworth Res’s should reflect 26 km, 605 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 Saddleworth Res’s take place?
Saddleworth Res’s takes place on March 6, 2027.
Where does Saddleworth Res’s take place?
Saddleworth Res’s takes place in Mossley, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Saddleworth Res’s offer?
Saddleworth Res’s offers 3 distances — 5 Res’s Trail Run: 26 km; 10 Res’s Off-road Marathon: 43 km; 15 Res’s Ultra Marathon: 62 km.
How do I register for Saddleworth Res’s?
Registration runs through the organiser: craggrunner.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
