Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon.
The Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon sets off from Sutton Scarsdale on a January afternoon and runs out and back through Sutton Spring Wood and along the Five Pits Trail, so the homeward half is run into the dusk. Its 200-odd metres of climbing arrive as short waves, and the race turns on what you still have after the turning loop for ramps you already met on the way out.
Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is at race HQ on Rock Lane by Sutton Scarsdale Hall. The opening kilometres drop gently into a dip, and from km 2.6 the first real climb lifts you out of it: just under half a kilometre at a little over five percent. The trail then rolls before the ground starts rising gradually from km 7.5. Around km 9 comes the steepest pitch of the day, a short ramp that touches almost ten percent. The highest stretch, the turning loop and the aid station sit around halfway.
The return retraces the same route in reverse. What climbed on the way out now descends, and the trail loses height overall until shortly before the finish. The dip from the start is still waiting, though: at km 18.35 you climb back out of it over roughly 350 metres at about five percent, and one last small wave carries you home to race HQ.
The race is set up as a run into the dusk, named for the January Wolf Moon, and uses the same route as the organiser's other lunar trail half marathons. Runners who expect to be close to the time limit can start half an hour early. At the finish there is cake and hot drinks by a campfire.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.6 | 0.5 km | 5.3 % | 6.5 % | +24 m | — |
| km 3.7 | 0.3 km | 3.3 % | 4.1 % | +10 m | — |
| km 7.6 | 0.5 km | 3 % | 4.1 % | +14 m | — |
| km 9.1 | 0.4 km | 5.6 % | 9.6 % | +22 m | — |
| km 10.7 | 0.4 km | 3 % | 4.2 % | +13 m | — |
| km 18.4 | 0.4 km | 5.3 % | 7.8 % | +19 m | — |
| km 19.3 | 0.4 km | 3.2 % | 4.1 % | +11 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 Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon.
Start under control
The effort is lopsided: the outward leg gains height all the way to the turning loop and the return gives it back. Even effort therefore means a slower first half and a quicker second, and running for equal splits means overspending on the way out.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided in the last three kilometres. The ramp at km 9 is steeper but comes on fresh legs; the climb out of the dip at km 18.35 is shorter, yet it arrives after 18 km of trail and is followed straight away by one more rise. On the steepest metres at km 9, a brisk power-hike is fine wherever running costs more than it gains.
Spend what is left
The trap is the start. The first kilometres tilt gently downhill, the field is fresh and the pace feels free until the first climb arrives. On top of that, the homeward half is run into the dusk, where the footing is harder to read. Keep some time in hand for that rather than spending it on the way out.
Training plan for Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
A typical age-group runner will be out for roughly 1:50 to 2:50. The effort is mostly steady and aerobic but broken up constantly by short waves: close to a third of the route runs gently uphill and another third gently down, while genuinely steep ground amounts to only a few hundred metres. What it asks for is endurance that absorbs small changes of pace without losing rhythm.
Train race pace
The race-deciding spots are the ramp at km 9 and the climb out of the dip at km 18.35. Put hills of 300 to 450 metres at the end of your long runs so the late climb is not the first time you meet a rise on tired legs. Because every outward climb becomes a descent on the way back, relaxed downhill running under fatigue belongs in the plan too.
Rehearse the course
This is a January race that runs into the dusk. Schedule some long runs for late afternoon so you get used to trail footing in fading light and to the temperature drop, and use them to settle what you actually need to wear once the race is under way.
Arrive fresh
The core sessions are out-and-back trail runs with a deliberately faster second half, plus a weekly set of short hill repeats. Together they rehearse this course's pattern: a held-back outward leg, one late climb and a runnable return.
Courses
Download the Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon.
How long is Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon?
Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon is 21.1 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 Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon have?
Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon has around 203 m of elevation gain over 21.1 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon?
Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon is classified as Rolling, averaging 9.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 37% of the route is flat, 31% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon have?
The hardest climb of Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon starts at kilometre 2.6, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 5.3% and gains 24 metres. 7 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon a loop course?
Yes, Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon course?
Yes. The Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon 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 Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon?
Preparation for Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon should account for 21.1 km, 203 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 Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon should reflect 21.1 km, 203 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 Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon 2027 take place?
Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon 2027 takes place on January 23, 2027.
Where does Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon 2027 take place?
Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon 2027 takes place in Sutton Scarsdale, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Wolf Moon Trail Half Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: firstlightadventure.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
