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Lamplighter 40 Mile Ultra Marathon
Run the shortest night of the year in one of the most atmospheric ultra marathons on the calendar. The Lamplighter 40 isn't just about covering distance, it’s about racing the sun itself across the wild North York Moors.
Brought to you by the creative minds at Silverback Trails, this event embraces the magic of the Summer Solstice. It’s a nocturnal adventure that starts when the village lamps are lit at dusk and challenges you to finish before, or just after, the sun rises over the horizon.
This is a race steeped in storytelling. There is no standard gun start here. Instead, you gather at the village hall as twilight falls. The race begins only when the "Lamplighter", a character straight out of folklore, appears to light the lamp outside the hall. Once that flame is lit, you are released into the night.
Your goal? To navigate the moors in the dark and return to Goathland as the new day breaks. It’s a true "dusk ‘til dawn" experience, designed to test your night navigation and your ability to keep moving when the world is asleep.
Course
The 40 mile circular route takes you on a tour of the open moorland, forestry tracks, and ancient trods of the North York Moors National Park.
Expect a mixture of good running trails and rougher, wilder sections. You’ll be running under the stars (cloud cover permitting!), visiting local landmarks and checkpoints hidden in the darkness. While the route is generally marked with flags, you will need a decent level of navigational competence, everything looks different by headtorch light.
