The Big Cheese.
The Big Cheese is a 15 mile fell race across the Mendip Hills, starting and finishing in Cheddar, and it allows no warm-up: from Warren's Hill you go straight into the biggest climb of the day. Prepare with the end in mind, though, because the steepest ramp and the long drop back into town only arrive after 18 km.
The Big Cheese 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop leaves Warren's Hill climbing at once, gaining around 200 metres in the first two kilometres. The top rolls briefly, then the route falls to about 130 metres by kilometre six and hands back nearly everything you earned. The second big climb, from kilometre 6.6, is slightly longer but steadier and takes you up to almost 290 metres.
The middle of the race is a staircase. After the next descent, two climbs follow in quick succession from kilometre 10.5, and at kilometre 12 you reach the high point of the day at just over 300 metres. From there the course loses height long and gently until kilometre 18 brings the hardest moment: just over 500 metres at more than 15 percent on average. You then stay high for a few more kilometres before the last two and a half drop almost without a break to the finish at Fairlands Middle School.
Underfoot you get paths, stretches of road and woodland, plus steep, rocky climbing. The route is marked and marshalled, so there is no navigating to do yourself. The ground can be muddy, which is why the organiser advises off-road trainers.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 1.9 km | 11.1 % | 17.3 % | +210 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 6.7 | 2.1 km | 7.7 % | 12.7 % | +159 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 10.5 | 1 km | 6.4 % | 14.7 % | +62 m | — |
| km 11.7 | 0.8 km | 10.7 % | 13.2 % | +80 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 13.4 | 0.4 km | 4.9 % | 7 % | +18 m | — |
| km 18.3 | 0.5 km | 15.5 % | 22.9 % | +81 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 Big Cheese 2027.
Start under control
The first trap sits just past the start line: fresh legs with the biggest climb of the day directly ahead. March the steepest parts of the opening two kilometres without guilt. Running them buys you little time and spends strength you will only miss at kilometre 18.
Hold your rhythm
The water stations set your rhythm, because each sits close to the next hard section. Mile 4 comes just before the second big climb, mile 7 in the middle of the staircase towards the high point. Mile 11 lies a little over half a kilometre before the steepest ramp, and there are snacks on offer too. Drink and eat there before the road tilts up, not once the ramp is behind you.
Spend what is left
The race is decided in its last third. The gentle downward trend from kilometre 14 tempts you to make up time, and that is exactly what you pay for on the ramp and the final descent. Hold a stride you can still control there, because anyone reduced to braking through the last two and a half kilometres loses more than on any climb.
Training plan for The Big Cheese 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
An age-group runner should expect to be out for roughly 2:45 to 4 hours. With just over 700 metres of ascent spread across several climbs, a steady rhythm never settles in: the base is long aerobic endurance, but the steep sections keep pushing you into short, hard strength efforts with a descent right behind them.
Train race pace
The phases that decide the day are about working on tired legs. Build your long runs so the hardest climbing falls in the last third, and finish them, where you can, with a steep pitch followed by a sustained downhill. That rehearses exactly what the ramp at kilometre 18 and the descent to Cheddar will ask for.
Rehearse the course
A weekly session on a steep slope pays off: several repeats of a few minutes, alternating running with strong uphill walking. Walking is no emergency measure here but part of the race, so practise it deliberately, with an upright torso and an active push-off. Add strength work for the thighs, because the course falls for more than half its length and asks more of your legs going down than going up.
Arrive fresh
A race on 4 April puts your main preparation in the winter months, and the race itself is run on ground that can turn muddy. Train regularly on soft, uneven paths and rocky terrain, and break in your off-road trainers there rather than meeting mud in them for the first time on race day. Use the long sessions to find out which snacks you can stomach on the move.
Courses
Download the The Big Cheese 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for The Big Cheese 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 Big Cheese.
How long is The Big Cheese 2027?
The Big Cheese 2027 is 24.14 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 Big Cheese 2027 have?
The Big Cheese 2027 has around 713 m of elevation gain over 24.14 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of The Big Cheese 2027?
The Big Cheese 2027 is classified as Hilly, averaging 29.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 9% of the route is flat, 19% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 18% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does The Big Cheese 2027 have?
The hardest climb of The Big Cheese 2027 starts at kilometre 0.2, runs for 1.9 km at an average of 11.1% and gains 210 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is The Big Cheese 2027 a loop course?
Yes, The Big Cheese 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the The Big Cheese 2027 course?
Yes. The The Big Cheese 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 Big Cheese 2027?
Preparation for The Big Cheese 2027 should account for 24.14 km, 713 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 Big Cheese 2027?
The pacing strategy for The Big Cheese 2027 should reflect 24.14 km, 713 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 Big Cheese 2027 take place?
The Big Cheese 2027 takes place on April 4, 2027.
Where does The Big Cheese 2027 take place?
The Big Cheese 2027 takes place in Cheddar, United Kingdom.
How do I register for The Big Cheese 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: cheddarrunningclub.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
