The Rosebud Marathon

Rosebud Marathon

The Rosebud Marathon is a 26.2-mile section of the Rose of the Shires Ultra Marathon in Northamptonshire. The race finishes and registers at Brixworth Country Park and starts on Ashton Road in Hartwell. Entry fee is £46 and includes a GPS tracker. The event is restricted to competitors aged over 18. Prizes are awarded to the first three male and female finishers; all finishers receive a medal and Go Beyond merchandise. The overall cut-off for the race is 8 hours.

Course and logistics

The route is a mix of footpaths, country trails, roads and canal tow path. Distances by surface:

• 14 miles cross country trails
• 10.4 miles roads
• 1.8 miles canal tow path

Elevation gain is +1241 ft (+378 m) and descent -1308 ft (-399 m). The course is waymarked but requires some navigation and is covered by OS Maps 207 and 224. There are two checkpoints at about 9.5 miles and 17.7 miles; each checkpoint provides water and snacks and is manned by local running clubs. A drink is available at the finish.

Transport to the start is provided for a fee or competitors may make their own way. Parking is at the lower meadow car park at Brixworth Country Park. The event uses Geo Tracks GPS trackers for live tracking; units upload positions frequently and have multi-hour battery life. Mandatory kit includes a charged mobile phone, power bank, at least 1 litre of water, survival blanket (minimum 1.4 x 2 m), waterproof jacket, whistle, hat and gloves, and a long-sleeved base layer. Trail shoes are advised. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.