Course description
Fully closed to traffic, with a rolling re-opening of sections when safe. The course is fully marshalled and we ask you NOT to wear headphones so you can follow instructions.
We’ve adjusted the course to take into account the new start HQ. Long standing entrants will recognise some of the changes reverting to previous courses at mile 1 and 10, the left turn around mile 8 on Smithy Lane cuts a corner off the previous course to comfortably fix everything down at the magical 13.1 distance. The map below shows agreed road closures, we keep the road closures to a minimum.
Step by step
- [new 2022] The course starts in the Helsby Community Sports Club grounds. After the gun you run along Callender Way – keeping to the left-hand side of the road – turn right at the traffic lights, onto the A56 (past the previous start).
- At the next lights – outside the Hornsmill pub – turn left and continue on the A56 towards Chester. This is the beginning of a mile long, but gentle uphill section. [adjustment] Stay on A56 skirt around the village of Dunham on the Hill until you reach the Dunham Arms with a sharp left turn onto country lanes, Church Lane – a short steep climb – into the village.
- When you reach the main village road turn right and continue through the village. On leaving turn left and immediately left again onto Manley Road, almost a hairpin. Following the road for about a mile – flat! Once the road straightens take another hairpin turn, but this time to the right onto Morley Lane (spectator hint: the route returns almost here in a few miles).
- Continuing along this flat road until a left turn takes you towards Barrow and Stamford Bridge, B5312. After about 3/4 mile, left turn onto Long Green; midway along this road is the first of three drinks stations. At the end of Long Green: left onto Barnhouse Lane and then right at the end onto the long and meandering Nortons Lane. This takes you past halfway.
- A left turn at the end of Nortons Lane onto Smithy Lane heading into Mouldsworth and the second water station at 8 miles.
- A steady uphill gradient to the first left turn [new] which takes you onto Well Lane; a left turn at the far end brings you onto Manley Lane [adjustment].
- Mercifully, the gradient levels out before dipping slightly. A right turn through the narrow Quarry Lane channels you to another right turn onto Sugar Lane and a gentle uphill to the third drinks station at 10 miles.
- [adjustment] After the drinks station turn left up School Lane, short climb, turning left onto the B5393, which undulates for just over a mile and then you can look forward to the downhill run of Towers Lane.
- However, at the bottom of the hill, there is a sting in the tail: a humpback bridge over the old railway line. Run, walk or crawl, but with only a mile left now is not the time to give up. The road turns right: through the golf course; right onto Primrose Lane; a swift left onto Latham Avenue (13-mile mark) followed by a left into Denbigh Close.
- I’m sure you’ll be relieved to see the finish line – so a quick sprint down the road and there you have it – you’ve done it! Not that tough, was it!? At least now you’ll know what to expect next time.
For GPS fans – 2022 GPX file, with updated turns at miles 1,8&10 [GPX, 22KB]