Chester Ultra 50

Event overview

The Chester Ultra 50 is a 50-mile trail ultramarathon held on Saturday 28 February 2026 in the Chester area. The course has approximately 849m of ascent and places are limited to 500. The event is organised by GB Ultras and is held under a UKA permit and a 2026 Trail Running Association permit. The 2026 event is sold out; place transfers are permitted up to 07/02/2026 and there is no waitlist.

Course and checkpoints

The route links trails on the North Cheshire Way and the Sandstone Trail and passes Helsby Hill, Delamere Forest and Frodsham. The race uses a well-marked route with seven checkpoints. Checkpoint 1 (about 4 miles) is water only; several checkpoints have no support crew access. There is no facility for dropbags and participants must carry any additional items they will run with.

Entries, rules and logistics

Entry fee shown for the event is £119. The event applies a 17-hour overall cut-off. Qualifying criteria include being at least 20 years old and having completed an organised marathon prior to the event. No pacers or support runners are permitted. Dogs are not allowed at the start/finish venue or checkpoints except service dogs. Support crew access is restricted at specified checkpoints and a single vehicle per runner is permitted at the event. The event awards gold, silver and bronze finisher medals by finishing position.

Mandatory kit and safety

Mandatory kit must be carried and may be checked; missing items can lead to disqualification. Required items include a waterproof coat (sealed seams), long-sleeved base layer, a water container (minimum 1 litre), a charged mobile phone in waterproof cover, a foil blanket, a headtorch (minimum 75 lumens), a secondary headtorch and a whistle. The event notes route hazards such as road crossings, muddy or icy sections and proximity to water courses. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.