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Cotswold Half Way 47 Mile Ultra Marathon
Think of this as the "Sprint" version of the full Cotswold Way Century if you can call 47 miles a sprint! The Cotswold Half Way takes on the first, and arguably hilliest, section of the famous National Trail, offering a spectacular point-to-point journey from Chipping Campden to Painswick.
Running alongside the 100 mile competitors, this race gives you all the atmosphere of a big ultra event without the daunting prospect of running through the entire night. It’s the perfect stepping stone for runners looking to tackle a long ultra on technical, rolling terrain.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is the "easy" option. The northern half of the Cotswold Way packs a serious punch. Over the 47 miles (76km), you will tackle approximately 2,000m+ of elevation gain.
Course
The race starts in the postcard-perfect town of Chipping Campden. You’ll head out past the iconic Broadway Tower, a fantastic early landmark, before taking on the major climbs.
The highlight for many is traversing Cleeve Hill, the highest point of the Cotswolds. On a clear day, the views here stretch all the way to the Malvern Hills and the Black Mountains in Wales. You’ll also navigate the steep woodlands around Cooper’s Hill (famous for the cheese rolling) before the final push towards the finish line.
The race finishes in the charming town of Painswick, often called the "Queen of the Cotswolds," where you can put your feet up while the 100 milers trudge on into the darkness!
This is a brilliant race if you want to experience the best views of the Cotswolds in daylight. The 11:00 am start is very civilised (no 4 am alarms!), and running alongside the Century entrants creates a fantastic, supportive camaraderie on the trail. It’s a tough, honest ultra that serves as a perfect introduction to the Cotswold Way or a hard training run for longer mountain challenges. Please visit the official race website for the latest up-to-date details, including registration info.
