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A Spectacular Trail Marathon Based in the Beautiful Scottish Borders
2020 Date: Sunday 23rd February
Entries Now Open
The event is part of a fantastic weekend of trail races with the Glentress 21k & 10k Trail Races scheduled for the Saturday.
A trail marathon event based in the beautiful Scottish Borders. Glentress Forest is described as the 'Gateway to the Tweed Valley Forest Park'. Perhaps more renowned for its mountain biking, Glentress also offers a superb array of forest trails, making it a fantastic location for trail running. The area features mile upon mile of waymarked trails including forest walks, woodland singletrack and heather clad moorland. A great way to explore all the unique aspects of this stunning forest.
Situated between the small Borders towns of Peebles and Innerleithen & just one hour away from Edinburgh, the location is second to none.
Date: Sunday 23rd FEBRUARY, 2020 Distance: 42K Ascent: 1500m
Start Time: 1000 Venue: Glentress Peel Visitor Centre, nr Peebles, EH45 8NB
Registration: This will be on Sunday 7:30am-9:30am. Registration is to be based from Glentress Peel café at the Glentress visitor centre.
Glentress Peel visitor centre is located in the heart of the Tweed Valley Forest Park between the small Borders towns of Peebles and Innerleithen & just one hour's drive away from Edinburgh.
Course: The 42km route comprises two 21km circuits starting & finishing at the Glentress Peel visitor centre. Utilising a fantastic variety of terrain from hard packed gravel trails to twisting forest singletrack...not to mention a challenging climb on the Black graded MTB route...this amazing course ofers something for everyone.
This is a great event to bring along family & friends with the route returning back through the finish area at the half way point, there's plenty of opportunity to offer encouragement.
The route will be fully marked so no navigation experience is necessary.
Entry Fee: £45 - Trail Marathon (Minimum entry age 17 years old.)
Event Terms and Conditions can be found HERE.
Participants must dress appropriately for the conditions with suitable clothing & footwear. Equipment List HERE. Please note this is mandatory for 42k & 21k participants.
Included: Professionally run event, qualified & experienced personnel at various checkpoints, qualified medical support, electronic timing, online registration, fully marked routes, commemorative race t-shirt & finishers medal, refreshments at finish, hydration & feed stations on the course, free event parking, 15% Run4it discount voucher.
Facilities: on site cafe, changing, toilets, showers, on site accommodation.
42k Time Limit: There will be an intermediate cut off time of 4hrs for the first lap and an overall time limit of 8hrs30 for the full event. (Based upon an average speed of 3mph/5km/hr). Anyone timed out after the first lap will still get a finish time for the 21k distance.
How to get to Glentress: Glentress Peel is located in the heart of the Tweed Valley Forest Park between the small Borders towns of Peebles and Innerleithen & just one hour away from Edinburgh. Glentress is just 1 ½ miles (2.4 km) east of Peebles on the A72. Click HERE for travel details
Competitor Feedback:
“Today's Glentress Marathon was definitely the most brutal race ever but I would like to say a huge thank you for a very well signposted route and to all the marshals and photographer for hanging about for me to come in. It really is appreciated as the last marathon runner to feel like i am as important as the first one finished” Caroline Ness
“Thanks for a great event yesterday at the Glentress trail marathon. Despite challenges with the weather before the event and conditions during the event it was well organised and all route marking was clear. I had a great day and hope to be back again next year!” Sarah Gilliam
To hear what others have to say about these amazing trail races click HERE
GPS Measurement: We try to ensure that we measure the courses as accurately as possible using a number of different recording devices & various recording settings. Please note that the actual distance and elevation gain can vary between +/- 5 % depending on the measurement method, i.e. make & model of watch/GPS unit, unit settings, tree cover, etc.
COURSE: Starting & finishing at the Peel Centre trailhead the route features sections of the waymarked walking trails including the Glen Trail alongside Glentress Burn, linking in with Buzzard’s Nest Trail, which winds through the magnificent Douglas firs. Then it's onto the Time Trail which passes the fortified iron age settlements, with spectacular views over the Tweed Valley & the Caddon Hills.
The route then explores further into the more remote parts of the forest incorporating sections of the Tower Trail & the Black graded mtb route, climbing high to the top of Glentress Forest, offering some stunning panoramic viewpoints.
A spectacular singletrack section leads across the heather clad moorland before descending back into the forest eventually rejoining the Buzzard's Nest Trail to finish with an exhillirating descent back at the Peel Centre trailhead.
The 42k is two circuits of this route.
Total Ascent:
21k: 750m/2,460' 42k: 1,500m/4,920'
Terrain: The Tower Trail & Black mtb trail incorporates several long and continuous steep slopes for over 500m. There's a great variety of forest singletrack, a few sections of open moorland & a few short muddy sections.
Please note: Sections of this route are on the black MTB trail which the Forestry Commission have given permission to use for the duration of the race. However we do not advise you to run this at other times when mountain bikes will be using the trail.
Hydration/Feed Stations: These will be located at:
Description Distance
1. Shieldgreen Tower: 11/32km Hydration/Feed Station
2. Soonhope Craig: 17/38km Water only will be available here located in containers.
3. Finish Area: 21/42km Hydration/Feed Station. In addition, if you'd like some of your favourite nutrition without having to carry it for the full duration participants will be able to leave any personal nutrition here.
(See course map for specific locations)
Feed stations will be well stocked with our delicious homemade flapjack (vegan), chocolate brownies (gluten free), jellies, bananas, peanuts, mixed fruit & nuts, savoury rolls, crisps, squash, coke, water & hot drinks (tea, coffee, chocolate).
Please Note: Previously, due to ice & snow on the trails we have needed to relocate the aid station &/or the water has frozen in the containers. If conditions dictate there will either not be an aid station on the course or it will be at a different location. It is important therefore that you don’t rely on the aid station as your only source of nutrition/hydration. Ensure you carry sufficient personal nutrition & drinks with you for the full route. To help minimize waste you will need to bring your own water bottle, bladder, etc.
Previous Results: 2017 2016
Course Records:
Rob Sinclair Insch Trail Running Club 3:10:35 Nicola Duncan 3:41:18
The event is part of a fantastic weekend of trail races with the Glentress 21k & 10k Trail Races scheduled for the Saturday.
We are pleased to announce that we have once again partnered with leading Scottish running retailer Run 4 It for our upcoming Glentress Trail Races. This includes both the November & February races. In addition to providing some fantastic prize vouchers for the events, Run 4 It will also be offering all race all entrants an exclusive discount voucher on selected products.
