The Salmon Run Ultra, Relay and 5k

The route for the Salmon Run Ultra, starts in Exmouth. It follows the East Devon Way for a short while, before joining the Exe Valley Way and crossing the Exe to the other side, near Topsham. You will pass several current and former weirs as you run through Exeter.

The mid section also includes some tarmac, bridge and style crossings, with some lovely river valley sections before Tiverton (from Bickleigh) and as you get towards the Barle/Exe meet point, where you are on to the Two Moors Way, all the way to Tarr Steps.

The Exe Valley Way is made up of all sorts of surfaces, including footpaths, tarred cyclepaths and sections of road (some quiet, some not) and passes through amazingly quiet countryside and several beautiful villages with nice pubs! There are many parts when it travels close to the river and other parts where you get a view of the whole Exe valley. Travelling up river you get a real feel for the change of scale and environment that the Salmon navigates in her lifetime from wide, deep ocean currents and tides to floods or shallow tree lined, gravel bedded streams and waterfalls. There will be five feed stations along the way with refreshments, three of them with food.

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The Salmon Run Ultra is a 50 mile mixed terrain ultra on September 24th: Starts 8.30am..

It was born of Salmon Run, a team relay run launched with Tidelines in 2022 to celebrate the Exe Atlantic salmon and its epic journey struggle to reach the spawning grounds on Exmoor and to survive in an increasingly difficult global climate.

The route starts from Exmouth Mamhead Slipway and travels upriver through changing terrain to Tarr Steps on the edge of Exmoor following the salmon’s migratory route on its journey to where it began. We want to offer runners (experienced and new to ultra running) the chance to empathise with the salmon’s struggle!

The run will coincide with World Rivers Day and a special River Exe Celebration day. As well as the ultra 50 mile, there will a separate salmon relay run, which will start at the same time at Exmouth Mamhead slipway with a fish invocation marking the beginning of the journey. A hand-crafted salmon baton will be handed to the first relay team to be exchanged in series of relay teams. There will also be a family friendly 5k for all abilities in Exeter on the day of the event. The ultra run will be independent after the start at Exmouth.

What’s included?

GPS tracking
Five feed stations (minimum)
Prizes (podium and overall category winners) + spot prizes
Finisher’s souvenir
Transport back for solo runners only, from Tarr Steps (optional extra)

The relay is part of a community led project that brings arts, science, community and natural environment together to create inspiring ways to come together in collaboration to care for, restore, adapt and respond to a rapidly changing planet.
Although we have added an ultra race this year, The Salmon Run relay is community relay run of 50 miles (80 km) in 5 sections, from the coast at the mouth of the estuary, to the high reaches of Exmoor, following the migration of Atlantic Salmon from sea through the city of Exeter to the spawning ground. During the run, runners will pass hand-to-hand, a printed salmon ‘icon’ all the way from the sea at Exmouth to Tarr Steps in Exmoor. This follows the Exe Valley Way and a short section of the Two Moors Way.

Choose a section/leg that you would like to run:

There are five sections of between 8 and 11 miles. Runners will run each leg in teams of four or five, handing on the baton at each of the changeover points on route, to another team. Runners will join the salmon ‘swell’ at salmon Pool in Exeter where a community 5k will start. The baton will be conveyed from here to Exwick, before the relay continues on to Tarr Steps.

People are welcome to come along and support runners anywhere along the route or find out more about salmon on the Exe at pop-up info points in Exeter.

Changeovers

We all need to be flexible about changeover times – we’ve done our best to be as accurate as possible. There is a tracker in Samantha – the Salmon relay baton so we should all be able to see where the runners are. This will help estimate arrival times on the day.

There will be a brief change over ceremony at the end of each section and in Exeter, to coincide with the arrival and departure of each group of runners. On all routes we encourage people to run as a shoal i.e. to stay together. This is not a traditional ‘race’ and so please encourage and support one another while running. The ideal is that you all arrive at roughly the same time!

You are welcome to dress up, come in something colourful, silvery or spangley or fish-like.

Stage 1- Exmouth to Salmon Pool Weir, Exeter 16.16km (10 miles- part of Relay)

Stage 2- Salmon Pool Weir to Exwick, (3.1 miles/10k- not part of play) ** Were will be a brief stop at salmon Pool and Exwick while the baton is conveyed among the 5k runners, which starts at Salmon Pool/St James’ Weir.

Stage 3- Exwick to Thorverton (7.5 miles-part of relay)

Stage 4- Thorverton to Tiverton 7km (8.5 miles- part of relay)

Stage 5-Tiverton to Exebridge 16.8km (10 miles- part of relay)

Stage 6-Exebridge to Tarr Steps 16.6km (10 miles)

The 5k is a community event, suitable for anyone who wants to run 5k, including families and children as young as 12 or younger if accompanied by adults the whole way. i.e. Anyone who runs 5k can do it at their own speed.

The event starts at Salmon Pool (St James’ Weir), and ends at Exwick, passing Blackaller Weir along the way, and represents Stage 2 of the entire route.

Registration opens from 9.45am at Salmon Pool/St James Weir. The run starts at approximately 10.30am, depending on arrival of salmon from Exmouth.

For the ultra, we are providing transport for a small additional fee (unless you want to make your own arrangements). This will be in the form of a people carrier taken from the finish for up to 9 runners If there is a big discrepancy between first and last runner home, we will operate a shuttle for this bus.

Transport for relay runners Groups doing any of the runs outside Exeter should try to arrange their own transport. This could mean: one car with driver/4 or 5 runners and gear pick up and drop off or use of trains and public transport. If it is impossible to arrange for a team’s own transport we may be able to help but please try to arrange your own in the first instance. Train stops on the route include Tiverton Parkway (out of town) and Exmouth. The Exe Valley Way, which this runs mostly follows has good bus connections although it will be a Sunday (buses approx every 2 hours) https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey

I want to take part – how do i register and what does it cost?

Choose whether you want to take part in the 50 mile ultra, the community relay or the 5k in Exeter.

We want as many people as possible to know about and celebrate these remarkable creatures together and enjoy running together and we don’t want cost to be a barrier to participating, so we have tried to keep costs down to a minimum. To register you need to fill out the form with your details. Every person who is running, needs to fill out the form or have it filled our for them with all their details.

We do ask that you do your best to travel to and from the Salmon Run by public transport, on foot or bike. We want to try and keep the carbon footprint of this event as low as possible. Bus and train links are good along much of the run.

What will happen after I register?

We will contact you and arrange for you to get route maps and timings for the section/leg that you select. You will get a race number. If you are forming a team of 4 or 5 (+1), we will contact you to confirm team members and your team name.
It is important you let us know if you cannot come for any reason as we are restricting numbers to keep everyone safe and everyone will get a race number. Please ask us any further questions to [email protected]

What do I do when I turn up for the 5k run?

Go to the registration point at Salmon Pool (St James’ Weir) where you will get your race number. There will be stewards on hand to answer any questions you have and also Salmon guides with expert knowledge on Salmon to share with you. Feel free to ask them anything!
For the run from Salmon Pool Weir to Exwick Mill Field, you can leave your bag at the start point and we will transfer them to the finish.
We’ve built in some pause time between arrival and departure at SalmonPool Weir and Exwick Weir, so please be prepared to be flexible!

Ultra Runners will bypass the 5k and Salmon Pool by continuing on towards Tarr Steps.

What happens next for relay teams?

We will acknowledge your team entry, check all the info and then Ceri from Wild Running will get back to you with further info about your route and time of a briefing meeting to talk through any questions you have.

Is there an age limit?

Parents must run with their children (12 years old or less). If over 12, children can run independently but only for the short (Exeter section). This section will be well marked.

How will I know if the event is cancelled due to wet weather or other ?

An email will be sent round to all participants within 48 hours of the event, and posted on social media.

How will I know where the runners are and whether the team has made it?

You will be able to track the runners on Tidelines facebook, Twitter and Instagram over the course of the day.

How will I or my team be allocated a section?
You can choose which section you or your team want to run. Sections outside Exeter will be allocated on a first come basis so if there is a section you want let us know if you have a team. There is a limit of 150 people for the 5k Exeter section, so we will have to close registration when this is filled. You don’t need to be a team for this section.

How does transport work?

For the ultra, we are providing transport for a small additional fee (unless you want to make your own arrangements). This will be in the form of a bus taken from the finish for the first 15 runners to finish. If there is a big discrepancy between first and last runner home, we will operate a shuttle for this bus.

Transport for relay runners Groups doing any of the runs outside Exeter should try to arrange their own transport. This could mean: one car with driver/4 or 5 runners and gear pick up and drop off or use of trains and public transport. If it is impossible to arrange for a team’s own transport we may be able to help but please try to arrange your own in the first instance. Train stops on the route include Tiverton Parkway (out of town) and Exmouth. The Exe Valley Way which this runs mostly follows has good bus connections although it will be a Sunday (buses approx every 2 hours) https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey

Is there a team of 4 runners for the Exeter 5k section?
No. The baton will be conveyed by a young runner thing part in the 5k, as far as Exwick, where the next long stage relay team will be waiting. There is continuity of teams of four or five main runners who carry the salmon ‘baton’ for a section each all the way from Exmouth to Tarr Steps on Exmoor. Feel free to apply to be that team!

Does my team of 4/5/6 need a spare runner in case of dropout?
Yes and probably a car and driver as well. (See above re transport). Clearly it is important that the teams of four or five are maintained; hence the spare.

Can the spare runner run with the team?
This will depend on transport. (4 or 5 runners plus one driver in a car). But yes they can run.

Are there any clothing requirements?

We will operate a kit list for the ultra which we will share nearer the time but will include water bottle (500ml), water resistant/seemed jacket, £20 cash, mobile device, tracker (included), map of route ( we can supply), trail shoes, snacks, run sack/skin
The teams of 4/5 runners will be given hi viz running bibs to which they will apply their number bib front and back.

What is the pace of the Exeter 5k run?
For the 5, running will be in a ‘shoal’ (or more of a column given the width of the path) so we will be running as a group with natural variations of running level. Everyone can run at their own pace,

What is the pace of the sections outside of Exeter?
As fast as you like! But you should stick together as a team.

Any other questions?

Contact [email protected]

Who are Tidelines?

Tidelines is a community-led organisation engaging people’s heads, hearts and hands through arts, science and citizen-led research in the changing Exe estuary at a time of environmental and climate emergency. We aim to create inspiring ways to come together in collaboration to care for, restore, adapt and respond to a rapidly changing planet. Tidelines is delighted to be working with Ceri Rees of Wild Running as run director for Salmon Run.

To find out about Tidelines other projects and sign up for their mailing list: www.tidelines.uk

How do I find out more about Salmon and other wildlife on the Exe and in the Estuary?

Come along on the day and speak to experts at Salmon Pool or Blackaller Weir in Exeter or:

Tidelines’ blog https://tidelines.uk/blog/the-incredible-salmon/
Atlantic Salmon Trust: https://atlanticsalmontrust.org/
Westcountry Rivers Trust Exe Weirs Project: https://wrt.org.uk/project/strategic-exe-weirs/
RETA (River Exe Tributaries Association) https://www.riverexefisheries.org.uk/
More generally about the Exe estuary: https://www.exe-estuary.org/
Wildlife in Devon and Exeter: https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/
Get involved in monitoring water quality in rivers: https://wrt.org.uk/project/become-a-citizen-scientist/
Get involved in Riverfly surveys:https://www.riverflies.org/
Visit the huge Salmon caught in the Exe in 1920s at Topsham Museum: https://topshammuseum.org.uk/