Springtide 50k.
The Springtide 50k at Arundel is an ultra trail with no single big mountain; it climbs in waves instead. Twice on the way round the loop drops almost to sea level, and both times it heads back up towards 200 metres. Your preparation therefore targets the hardest climb of the day, which only arrives after 27 kilometres.
Springtide 50k 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts almost at sea level and gets serious early: from kilometre 1.7 the trail gains just over 100 metres, briefly at nearly 19 percent, and hands all of it back by kilometre 5. Two longer, steadier climbs then carry you to 180 metres by around kilometre 10. The Gumber Bothy aid station at kilometre 13 is already on the way down, and from kilometre 16 the next climb runs for almost three kilometres up to the highest part of the course.
Between kilometres 18 and 22 the route stays around 200 metres, with the Bignor Hill aid station in the middle of this stretch. It then gives up all its height in five kilometres, passes the Houghton Farm aid station low down and is back almost at sea level at kilometre 27. Straight after that comes the biggest climb of the day: 150 metres over just over two kilometres, with ramps up to 20 percent.
On top the course hovers around 180 metres until kilometre 35, then runs long and gently downhill past the last aid station, Muntham Farm, at kilometre 38. A short counter-climb from kilometre 42.5 costs another 50 metres or so. After that it is down for good, and the loop closes as low as it began, on a flat final stretch.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.7 | 1.4 km | 7.7 % | 18.8 % | +106 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 5.4 | 2 km | 5.9 % | 11.6 % | +115 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 8.3 | 2.6 km | 4.3 % | 9.5 % | +112 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 15.7 | 2.7 km | 4.8 % | 9.6 % | +128 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 23 | 0.5 km | 5.3 % | 10.3 % | +26 m | — |
| km 27.5 | 2.4 km | 6.4 % | 20.2 % | +151 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 30.4 | 0.5 km | 6 % | 8.9 % | +30 m | — |
| km 42.5 | 1 km | 5.2 % | 12.7 % | +52 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 Springtide 50k.
Start under control
Just under 950 metres of climbing across 50 kilometres does not make this a mountain race, but rest is rare: only a quarter of the course is level, and the remainder splits almost evenly between up and down. Your rhythm therefore comes from the alternation. Walk the ramp near kilometre 2 without hesitation and keep the next three climbs well below threshold, because nothing is won here before kilometre 22.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided between kilometres 27 and 31. The descent beforehand feels like free time, yet it loads your quads right before the hardest passage. Run it loosely, eat and drink at Houghton Farm while your stomach still cooperates, and walk the steepest metres with no false pride.
Spend what is left
The real trap sits beyond that. From kilometre 35 the course falls long and gently, and that gradient only converts into speed on fresh legs. Overdo the big climb and you will be shuffling where others gain minutes, with a good twelve kilometres and the counter-climb still ahead of you from Muntham Farm to the finish.
Training plan for Springtide 50k: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes are out here for roughly five to seven and a half hours, depending on form. That is a long aerobic effort which the climbs keep breaking into shorter, harder blocks. You rarely spend long at your limit, but you seldom settle into an even pace either.
Train race pace
The key session follows from the decisive section: you need to get up a 20 percent ramp with power after more than half the distance. Put the hardest hill of your long runs into the final third rather than the start, and practise fast hiking there, hands pressing on the thighs. Repeated uphill efforts of ten to fifteen minutes cover the longer climbs.
Rehearse the course
Nearly 40 percent of the course goes downhill, and that shapes the second half. Build descents into tired sessions, for instance at the end of a long run, so your quads learn to absorb impact after hours on their feet. Follow them with a relaxed but deliberate stretch on a gentle downgrade, because that is what the race looks like from kilometre 35.
Arrive fresh
A race date of 3 April puts your longest sessions in February and March. Use them to rehearse fuelling as well: the gaps between aid stations reach 13 kilometres, which on this course can easily mean two hours. Find out what you need over that span, what you carry, and what your stomach still accepts at kilometre 26.
Courses
Download the Springtide 50k course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Springtide 50k dynamically
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Everything about Springtide 50k.
How long is Springtide 50k?
Springtide 50k is 50 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 Springtide 50k have?
Springtide 50k has around 948 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Springtide 50k?
Springtide 50k is classified as Hilly, averaging 18.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 25% of the route is flat, 31% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 6% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Springtide 50k have?
The hardest climb of Springtide 50k starts at kilometre 27.5, runs for 2.4 km at an average of 6.4% and gains 151 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Springtide 50k a loop course?
Yes, Springtide 50k is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Springtide 50k course?
Yes. The Springtide 50k 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 Springtide 50k?
Preparation for Springtide 50k should account for 50 km, 948 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 Springtide 50k?
The pacing strategy for Springtide 50k should reflect 50 km, 948 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 Springtide 50k take place?
Springtide 50k takes place on April 3, 2027.
Where does Springtide 50k take place?
Springtide 50k takes place in Arundel, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Springtide 50k?
Registration runs through the organiser: ukultra.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
