Rose of the Shires Ultra & Rosebud Marathon

54 miles of beautiful Northamptonshire country trails, roads and towpath. The route is approximately 72% trail and 28% on road.

The Race start and finish is hosted by the Brixworth Country Park with plenty of room for parking, and only 20 minutes drive from the M1 Motorway. The race is a single loop making for easy planning and logistics. The route takes in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside with two country parks, Salcey Forest, the Grand Union Canal and 21 pretty villages and towns following parts of the Nene Way, the Midshires Way and the Northampton Round. There are 6 checkpoints at 6 to 8 mile intervals with support from the local running community. The event is fully tracked and interactive so friends and family will be able to follow your progress from the comfort of their armchairs – and also you can make sure that you are following the route!

We are proud to be an Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc index race.

The Rosebud Marathon is a section of the Rose of the Shires Ultra Marathon starting in Ashton Road, Hartwell and finishing at Brixworth Country Park just outside of Northampton in a wonderful central location. The route is a mix of footpaths, country trails, roads and canal towpath

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Finishers Medal, Event Merch, Tracker, GPX File

• Prizes for Male/Female 1,2,3
• Finishers Medal
• Fully tracked and interactive event

There are 6 check points, each will have water, and a selection of snacks, and Go Beyond Fruit Cake! A drink will be available for all athletes at the finish. Each checkpoint is manned by a local running club competing for the best themed checkpoint trophy so you will be asked to vote for your favourite check point at the finish!

The cut off time for the race is 13.5 hours. We have progressive cut off times from Checkpoint 3 onwards, details can be found on the Checkpoint information sheet.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male and Female Competitors. All finishers will receive a medal and T-shirt.

Registration is open from 6.45 am where you will collect your race number and map book. You will need to confirm your mobile phone number and be subjected to random kit checks.

The race will start at 8am.

As the event is a loop then most competitors will have their kit in their cars. For everyone else we will store your bag at the finish, so you have warm, dry clothes waiting for you . Your bag should be no larger than a UK airport carry-on bag size (56 x 45 x 25 cm).

The Geo Tracks GPS Tracker is lightweight and easily fits in a small pocket in your rucksack. Your family and friends can track your progress in real-time and you can use the Geo Tracks app combined with the tracker as an accurate tool for navigation during the event. The Event can be followed using the web link https://events.geotracks.co.uk/live/667 or via the app which can be purchased prior to the event for Apple or for Android. When opening the web link please click on start times and this will display a list of bib numbers (they are sorted alphabetically by surname). The GPS Tracking units upload your position every 10 seconds to the live view tracking map and are accurate to 5 metres. Batteries last for 70 hours . Don’t forget to drop it off at the finish!

Trail shoes are advised. There are sections of trail which can become very muddy in wet conditions. It is essential to carry the items below. There will be random kit checks prior to the race . Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times.

Fully Charged Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Director and Assistant Race Director (shown on your map book given at registration)
Map Book (provided)
Water Bottles/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum
Waterproof Jacket
Whistle
Headtorch or Body Torch
Spare batteries
Hat and Gloves
Long sleeved base layer or fleece top

NEW in 2024 – we were concerned that not enough people were enjoying the tour around our amazing county town of instead of the single option of 54 miles we have created the opportunity to enjoy the last 26.2 miles of the ultra marathon through beautiful Northamptonshire country trails, roads and towpath. The route is approximately 60% trail and 40% on road.

The Race registration and finish is hosted by the Brixworth Country Park with plenty of room for parking, and only 20 minutes drive from the M1 Motorway.
The race is a single line with us providing transport to the start (for a small fee) making for easy planning and logistics. The route takes in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside with the Grand Union Canal and 14 pretty villages, towns and hamlets following parts of the Nene Way, the Midshires Way and the Northampton Round.
There are 2 checkpoints at 9.5 miles approx. and 17.7 miles approx. with support from the local running community.
The event is fully tracked and interactive so friends and family will be able to follow your progress from the comfort of their armchairs – and also you can make sure that you are following the route!
For anyone wanting to stay overnight, Northampton offers a wealth of hotels to suit all budgets.

COURSE MARKING
The course follows a waymarked route but requires some navigation. We provide a tracker, voice cue navigation app and various resources to keep you on track. The course is covered by OS Maps 207 and 224

CHECKPOINTS AND AID STATIONS
There are 2 check points, each will have water, and a selection of snacks, and Go Beyond Fruit Cake! These are at approx. 9.5 miles in Gayton (CP5 on the list) and 17.7 miles in Nobottle (CP6 on the list). A drink will be available for all athletes at the finish. Each checkpoint is manned by a local running club

AWARDS
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male and Female Competitors. All finishers will receive a medal and Go Beyond Merch

REGISTRATION AND START TIME
Registration is open from 10.00 am where you will collect your race number. You will need to confirm your mobile phone number and be subjected to random kit checks. The bus will leave at 10:45am and the race will start at 11:30am at 2A Ashton Rd, Hartwell, NN7 2HW – you must register at Brixworth Country Park first

AGE LIMIT
Due to the strenuous physical demands of running 26.2 miles in one day and in accordance with UK Athletics guidance the race is restricted to competitors over 18 years of age only.

BAGGAGE TRANSFER
Most competitors will have their kit in their cars. For everyone else we will store your bag at the finish, so you have warm, dry clothes waiting for you . Your bag should be no larger than a UK airport carry-on bag size (56 x 45 x 25 cm).

TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION
For anyone wanting to stay overnight locally either before or after the event there is Airbnb or Northampton offers a wealth of hotels to suit all budgets
Arrival by car – If you are planning to drive then there is parking at the County Park Parking charges can be found here. Please allow adequate time to park and register.

CUT OFF
The cut off time for the race is 8 hours – you must make CP5 by 3pm and CP6 by 5pm

KIT
Trail shoes are advised. There are sections of trail which can become very muddy in wet conditions. It is essential to carry the items below. There will be random kit checks prior to the race . Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times.
Fully Charged Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Director and Assistant Race Director given at registration
Power bank to recharge your phone if needed
Water bottles/bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum
Waterproof Jacket
Whistle
Hat and Gloves
Long sleeved base layer or fleece top

• Registration from 10.00
• Bus Leaves 10:45
• Start 11.30 at Hartwell. Bus transfer is £10 or make your own way for free