The Summer Green Man Ultra.
The Summer Green Man Ultra takes you clockwise around the Community Forest Path, 72 kilometres from Ashton Park School outside Bristol and back to the same spot. There is not much climbing for the distance, but the longest hill is held back until after kilometre 60, and the navigating is yours all day.
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The grace period is short: after 400 metres the course climbs away from the school for almost two kilometres and stays high for a while. A sawtooth then shapes the opening hours. Twice the loop drops to around ten metres above sea level, and at kilometres 8.5 and 18 it turns straight back up, steeply. One more short climb arrives after kilometre 37, then the route gradually settles and reaches its flattest stretch around kilometre 50, barely 20 metres up.
Along the way woodland, open fields, hills and country lanes take turns, and you find the way yourself. At checkpoint two the Green Boy joins from its start in Hambrook. From there both races share route, checkpoints and finish.
The hardest ground comes last. At kilometre 58 a short, very steep ramp gains nearly 80 metres, and at kilometre 61 the longest climb of the day begins, 2.4 kilometres heading for the high point at just under 200 metres. A long descent follows, but at kilometre 70 one last hill with a short steep pitch stands between you and the drop to Ashton Park School.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.4 | 1.9 km | 4.7 % | 8 % | +88 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 8.5 | 1.2 km | 5.7 % | 9.6 % | +68 m | — |
| km 18.3 | 1 km | 6.2 % | 14.1 % | +62 m | — |
| km 37.5 | 1 km | 5.1 % | 11.6 % | +50 m | — |
| km 53.1 | 0.7 km | 6.3 % | 8.6 % | +46 m | — |
| km 57.8 | 0.7 km | 10.8 % | 16.8 % | +78 m | — |
| km 61.2 | 2.4 km | 5.1 % | 10.4 % | +122 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 70.2 | 1.3 km | 6.6 % | 19.2 % | +82 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 The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027.
Start under control
Around 1,050 metres of climbing sounds harmless over 72 kilometres, which is exactly what makes the first half dangerous. The sawteeth are short enough to run, and every time you do, you spend legs you will only miss much later. Walk the early climbs as soon as your pulse jumps, and take the descents loose rather than fast: about a third of the course goes down, and that counts too.
Hold your rhythm
The flat stretch around kilometre 50 is the real trap. After the restless opening the running suddenly flows, and anyone trying to win back lost time here arrives empty at kilometre 58. Keep the pace calm, eat and drink to plan, and treat those kilometres as preparation.
Spend what is left
The day is decided between kilometres 58 and 65. Plan to walk the steep ramp and much of the long climb, and keep enough focus for route-finding: a missed turn on a tired head costs more than any gradient.
Training plan for The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly eight to twelve hours depending on fitness. The effort stays aerobic and steady but is broken up again and again by short climbs: just under a third of the course goes up, another third goes down, the rest is flat. Pure climbing strength does not settle this race; how long you can keep running without fading does.
Train race pace
Your long runs should mirror the race and put the hills at the end. Keep the first hours flat to rolling, then add one or two longer climbs of two to three kilometres. The ramps after kilometre 58 and the hill at kilometre 70 arrive late in the day, so that is when to practise a brisk walk on steep ground. A session of many short hills at an even effort also rehearses the restraint the sawtooth of the first half demands.
Rehearse the course
Train on mixed surfaces, meaning woodland paths, fields and narrow lanes, and build descents into tired legs, because after the high point the course drops almost 140 metres in one go.
Arrive fresh
Navigation is part of the preparation: do several long sessions following a route on a watch or phone, tired head included. Add a plan for food and fluids across a whole August day from early morning into the late afternoon, and try it on runs close to race duration.
Courses
Download the The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for The Summer Green Man Ultra 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 The Summer Green Man Ultra.
How long is The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027?
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 is 72 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 The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 have?
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 has around 1,047 m of elevation gain over 72 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027?
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 is classified as Rolling, averaging 14.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 34% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 have?
The hardest climb of The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 starts at kilometre 61.2, runs for 2.4 km at an average of 5.1% and gains 122 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 a loop course?
Yes, The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 course?
Yes. The The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 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 The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027?
Preparation for The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 should account for 72 km, 1,047 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 The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027?
The pacing strategy for The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 should reflect 72 km, 1,047 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 The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 take place?
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 takes place on August 21, 2027.
Where does The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 take place?
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 takes place in Bristol, United Kingdom.
Which distances does The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 offer?
The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027 offers 2 distances — GMU45 — The Full Green Man Ultra: 72 km; GMU30 — The Green Boy: 47 km.
How do I register for The Summer Green Man Ultra 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: ultrarunningltd.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
