MHU - Malvern Hills Ultra

The course is self navigation and tough - although it is all on the 'Worcestershire Way' which does benefit from 'WW' signage along the route. With the use of the GPX files, or the maps and the written directions you can eliminate navigation issues. For those less confident with these navigation tools, but still wanting to take on the challenge, running with a timelord is the way to go.

All competitors must register on-line prior to the event. Collection of race numbers and a safety brief will be at the start location half an hour before the start of the race, where competitors will present their kit for examination on request.

Participants will be given a race number which must be clearly attached by safety pins. If this is not clearly visible you may be delayed at checkpoints.

The course is very challenging and for competitors own safety and fairness the following rules must be adhered to. Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification from this and future events.

The event is under race conditions and entrants will be issued with race numbers

Checkpoints will be provided (5 in total) to (a) monitor times & well-being of competitors, (b) provide water and some nutrition.

Check point cut-off times are set which will allow completion of the event within a 13 hour period. Anybody who falls outside these times, at any of the checkpoints, will have failed to have completed the challenge and not be allowed to continue.

All entrants must be 20 years of age or over at the start of the race.

Each competitor must ensure that they carry with them all mandatory requirements needed to complete the race.

Every entrant must confirm that they have read these rules and other event information and therefore understand the nature of the event and that participation is at their own risk.

At the end of the race finishers will receive a bespoke Malvern Hills T-Shirt, and a bespoke Malvern Hills medal.

Hot food will be available at the finish.

Race Briefs:
Your race brief will be conducted at the location of your race start. The race brief will take place about 15 minutes prior to the race start which will be punctual, so please get to your race start location at least 30 minutes before the race.

Race Bibs:
On the day, each participant will be given a race number which must be clearly attached by safety pins, to either the back or front and be clearly visible. It is the competitors responsibility to ensure all CP stations have recorded their time as they pass through (this is in addition to the chip-timing system). Please arrive at your start location at least 30 minutes before the race to collect your Bib and attend a race brief. Late arrivals may not be allowed to start.

Please remember that the Malvern Hills Ultra is a 'CUP-FREE' race, so you need to bring your own reuseable cup. We do have some reuseable cups in our shop.

The MHU benefits from 5 CP stations which have a good selection of food items and drinks, but any personal requirements are the responsibility of the entrant.

Competitors must go through all check points and it is their sole responsibility to ensure that the check point attendant has recorded their race number; failure to do so at any check point will mean the competitor has failed to complete the race and will be disqualified.

Along the route, between Sally’s Place and Suckley – there are two Punch Points which are un-manned punch-points, where you must use your punch-card to confirm your arrival. Initial punch-cards must be handed over at Abberley, where a fresh punch-card will be issued for your return leg. On finishing, the second leg the punch-card should be handed over to a URL Marshall at the finish-line. Any competitor found to not follow the pre determined race route will be disqualified.

Toilets:
At the Start and Finish (Sally's Place, WR13 6DW), there are public toilets available just around the corner, less than a minutes walk.
At CP1 / CP5 (Suckley Post Office), there will be a Portaloo available.
At CP2 / CP4 (The Admiral Rodney, WR6 6PL) we can use their entrance toilet, but please remove your shoes if they are muddy.
At CP3 The turning point for the race, there will be a Portaloo.

Check Point Logistics:
Sally’s Place (Start) to Suckley Post Office (CP1) is 8.8 miles
Suckley Post Office (CP1) to The Admiral Rodney (CP2) is 7.2 miles
The Admiral Rodney (CP2) to Abberley Hall (CP3) is 6.2 miles
Abberley Hall (CP3) to The Admiral Rodney (CP4) is 6.2 miles
The Admiral Rodney (CP4) to Suckley Post Office (CP5) is 7.2 miles
Suckley Post Office (CP5) to Sally’s Place (Finish) is 8.8 miles
Total Out and Back distance is just shy of 45 miles
Please treat all Checkpoint Stations with respect. If you have any rubbish please use the black bags at that location - always ask a marshalling if you can't find what you are looking for. Littering is an automatic disqualification anywhere on the course, including CP Station.

In 2015 we introduced the timelords. These are entrants who try their best to run at specific times – 11, 12 and back of the pack 13 hours. Any novice ultra-runner or person concerned with navigation can simply join a timelord who runs at their own race pace.

It must be noted that the timelord’s principal role is to offer navigation assistance and endeavour to complete the race within their given time period of either 11, 12 or 13 hours.

A timelord has many considerations on the day including at least a 5 minutes stay at a CP for everyone to fuel and take a toilet break and ground conditions can play an impacting role also. A timelord may also choose to push harder at the start with a view to allowing a walk/run pace on the last leg – so there are many variables.

It may be that once a timelord has a formed group, the group unilaterally decides to increase pace and finish a bit earlier. On the flip side to this it may be that, during the later stages of the race (final leg), some members of a group require a slower pace which means the timelord arrival time may be delayed.

If you are considering following a timelord add an hour to your expected finish time. The Malvern Hills Ultra is notable as a tough, hilly course. If you choose either the 11 or 12 hour timelord, be prepared for a faster start than possibly you would have expected. This is due to initial bottlenecks which are likely with so many starters and the obvious issues caused if the faster timelords were caught at the back of a queue.

13 hr Timelord expected CP departure times will be inline with CP closure times:

A Timelord will try to run at a reasonably consistent pace. The below times are a rough guide of where they will be when, in order to achieve their target times. Based on a 07:00 race start:

Please remember – these guys are all experienced ultra runners and have exceptional knowledge of the course. They have a really difficult task trying to pace their run to their allotted times. At the start they may seem to go off a bit faster than they should – but this is purely to avoid bottle-necks at the early stages.

CP Closure Times:

CP1 will close at 09:00
CP2 will close at 11:30
CP3 will close at 13:30
CP4 will close at 16:00
CP5 will close at 19:00
Any competitor arriving at a CP after the above advised times will not be allowed to continue.

All finishers will receive an appropriate MHU race medal and a MHU Technical T-Shirt. (The size of the finishers medal will increase depending on the distance of the race you enter).

Mens & Ladies individual trophy for the MHU 45 race.

Mens & Ladies veteran trophy (over 55) for the MHU 45 race.

Mens & Ladies individual trophy for the MHU 37, MHU 30, & MHU 22 mile races.

Mens & Ladies winners of the MHU 46 will receive free entry into next year’s event.

These are non negotiable and already include an allowance.

The only exception to this is the 13 hour Timelord who is the official back-stop, shepherding home the ultimate group of runners. Anybody who is with the 13 hour Timelord doesn't need to worry about time as the timelord is technically "Mr Mop" at the back of the pack. If you find yourself at anytime behind the 13 hour Timelord then you are in serious trouble!

Please remember that the Time Lord role is to help you navigate the course in a particular time. In order to achieve the end-goal time, the Time Lord may choose to run the earlier stages slightly faster than the later stages, to compensate for tired legs later on!

CP Closure Times:

CP1 will close at 09:00
CP2 will close at 11:30
CP3 will close at 13:30
CP4 will close at 16:00
CP5 will close at 19:00

Any competitor arriving at a CP after the above advised times will not be allowed to continue.

These times are not debateable.

Backpack or equivalent
Head Torch with spare batteries
Ordnance Survey Map 150 (Our downloadable maps are ok)
Compass or GPS device
Whistle
Mobile phone
Emergency food pack consisting of a two chocolate bars, Mars or similar
Basic first Aid Kit

By signing up to one of Ultra Running Ltd events you agree to abide by our general race rules;

The following are the race rules that apply to all Ultra Running Ltd events and should be adhered to by all race participants.

Each participant will be given a race number which must be clearly attached by safety pins to the front chest. If this is not clearly visible you may be delayed at checkpoints.
Teams must have pre-registered before the day and consist of at least three competitors who will also count as individual competitors amongst the rankings. For a Team to successfully complete the race, a minimum of three members of that Team must finish.

Each participant must make sure he/she is carrying all items detailed in the mandatory kit list

You cannot change your race entry category or team once the race has started.

Relay team members: All originally designated members of a team must complete the leg they have chosen, and the following team member must not start the race until the person they are handing over from has arrived at that CP, otherwise automatic disqualification will apply. Changes to the team members and/or race order can only be made up until the team has signed in on the day of the race.

Competitors must go through all check points and it is their sole responsibility to ensure that the check point attendant has recorded their race number and entry/exit time along with any injuries; failure to do so at any check point will mean the competitor has failed to complete the race and will be disqualified.

All entrants must be 20 years or over on the start day of the race.

Mandatory Kit List

Competitors must carry the following items. Random bag checks will be made on registration. Anyone found not to have the correct kit will not be allowed to start the race

Backpack or equivalent
Head Torch with spare batteries
Ordnance Survey Map 150 (Our downloadable maps are ok)
Compass or GPS device
Whistle
Mobile phone
Emergency food pack consisting of a two chocolate bars,
Basic first Aid Kit

Competitor Retirement

If any competitor has to retire for whatever reason they must contact the race organisers immediately, either by advising a checkpoint attendant or by telephoning the emergency number which will be written on the race numbers of each competitor.

Time Constraints

The organisers want to give every competitor the opportunity of completing the race and will, where reasonable practicable, allow generous opening times of CP Stations; the allowance should be within an average of 4.0 miles per hour. If you fall below the 4.0 miles per hour you will be pulled from the race without concession.

Cancellation

In the event of Ultra Running Ltd. having to cancel the event, an alternative date will be provided. If re-scheduling of the event isn’t possible, or a competitor cannot make the revised date. URL undertakes to refund payments received, less any out of pocket expenses which are determined at 25%.

For all other circumstances, including Competitor cancellations due to personal reasons, refunds are not allowed. But at the discretion of the organisers an entry may be transferred to the following years race providing the request is within four weeks of the event date.

Any ‘transferred races’ or ‘reduced rate races’ are not refundable or transferable in any respect.

Race Photography

Ultra Running Ltd. reserve all exclusive rights relating to photographic coverage of their races. By entering an event, participants agree that Ultra Running Ltd may exclusively use any photographic or textual content captured during the event for advertisement purposes.