the Zig Zag Marathon and Half: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
A single big road loop from the Suffolk Running Centre through the villages south-west of Bury St Edmunds towards Kirtling. It is never steep and never flat: the course rolls the whole way and keeps its most noticeable hill for the last 8 km.
Course & Elevation
The Kirtling route is an officially measured marathon on quiet open roads, run as one loop that starts and finishes at the campsite race base. Our profile of the organiser's track has about 380 m of climbing, spread over many short rises rather than a few big hills, with the ground between roughly 35 and 125 m above sea level.
The longest sustained rise comes around 13.5 km, about 1.3 km at 3-4 %. The one that hurts is later: at about 34.5 km a 750 m climb averages close to 4 % and briefly touches 7-8 %, exactly where marathon legs are least willing.
Aid is simple and sparse: drinks and snacks roughly every 10 km, and the race has gone cupless, so you carry your own bottle or cup. The roads stay open to traffic, so keep left and be visible.
Pacing Strategy
Treat this as an effort-paced marathon, not an even-split one. The constant small rises and falls cost a little time on every kilometre, so let the pace drift on the ups and recover it gently on the downs rather than chasing the same split everywhere.
Keep something in hand for the final quarter. The climb around 34.5 km is short, but on tired legs it can turn a steady finish into a walk; if you reach it still running within yourself, the last 7 km back to the campsite are where you gain places.
Training plan for the Zig Zag Marathon and Half: 12-week build
Most age-group runners will be out for three and a half to five hours, so the base is the usual marathon block of long aerobic runs - but do them on rolling roads, not on a flat towpath, so your legs learn to absorb hundreds of small ups and downs.
Build in marathon-pace segments that include short hills, and finish some long runs with a climb of 500-800 m in the last half hour to rehearse the late rise. Because the race is cupless with aid only every 10 km, practise drinking from your own bottle and carry your gels on long runs exactly as you will on the day.
Course Map
Profile Parameters
Slope Distribution
Climbs on Route
| Start (km) | Length | Ø Gradient | Max Gradient | Elev Gain | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM 2.8 | 0.4 km | 3.2% | 3.6% | +12m | — |
| KM 4.0 | 0.6 km | 3.6% | 5.1% | +20m | — |
| KM 13.4 | 1.4 km | 3.6% | 5.0% | +49m | — |
| KM 17.9 | 0.7 km | 3.2% | 5.4% | +21m | — |
| KM 34.4 | 0.8 km | 3.9% | 7.7% | +29m | — |
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.
Course as GPX
Download the Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Adaptive race preparation
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Zig Zag Marathon and Half 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.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Zig Zag Marathon and Half?
the Zig Zag Marathon and Half is 42.2 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 Zig Zag Marathon and Half have?
the Zig Zag Marathon and Half has around 382 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of the Zig Zag Marathon and Half?
the Zig Zag Marathon and Half is classified as Rolling, averaging 9.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 37% of the route is flat, 32% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does the Zig Zag Marathon and Half have?
The hardest climb of the Zig Zag Marathon and Half starts at kilometre 13.5, runs for 1.4 km at an average of 3.6% and gains 49 metres. 5 climbs are mapped in total.
Is the Zig Zag Marathon and Half a loop course?
Yes, the Zig Zag Marathon and Half is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the the Zig Zag Marathon and Half course?
Yes. The the Zig Zag Marathon and Half 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 Zig Zag Marathon and Half?
Preparation for the Zig Zag Marathon and Half should account for 42.2 km, 382 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 Zig Zag Marathon and Half?
The pacing strategy for the Zig Zag Marathon and Half should reflect 42.2 km, 382 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 Zig Zag Marathon and Half take place?
Zig Zag Marathon and Half takes place on May 9, 2027.
Where does Zig Zag Marathon and Half take place?
Zig Zag Marathon and Half takes place in Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom.
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