July has boasted some incredible races in the UK and worldwide. We saw some exceptional world records broken and many athletes battling against a surprisingly wet summer month. Here we bring you some of the highlights from this month:
Hope24 Trail Festival
The Hope Trail Festival, held by GB Ultras, had an amazing edition this year, with course records broken and many people attempting their first continuous timed run. With 12-hour, 24-hour and 36-hour options, racers will see how many 8.2km laps they can complete while enjoying the festival atmosphere.
Some of the winners’ names include Joe Beaton, Sandra Helk, David Parker, Claire Strong, Mark Stockman and Anna Stevenson.
More Information on Hope24 Trail Festival
Black Diamond Yr Wyddfa | Snowdon24
The Yr Wyddfa 24-hour challenge had an exceptional second edition this year. Always Aim High Events saw an incredible collection of solo athletes, pairs and teams take to the Llanberis path to see how many summits they could complete in a 24-hour period.
Robert Lang claimed the first position on the podium with eight laps in 22:11:16. He said: “The event was brilliant, really well organised. I loved the marshals all the way up; I thought having them up at 4 am was a nice touch. I nearly passed out halfway; three guys helped and encouraged me to continue. I would highly recommend this race to anyone.
“I had a pretty metronomic ideology when it came to this race. I would spend just twenty minutes at the base each time before going out and putting one foot in front of the other until I returned. I surprised myself; I’ve done one ultra before, and just getting into the flow of it helped me.”
More Information on Black Diamond Yr Wyddfa Snowdon 24
Eiger Ultra Trail UTMB
Standing at 3970m above Grindelwald, the Eiger invites world-class athletes to its surface to compete since the mid-1800s. Launched in 2013, the Eiger Ultra Trail UTMB celebrated its 10th edition, which saw the likes of Josh Wade, Daniel Weller, and Eleanor Davis take part over three ultramarathon distances.
Josh Wade had an exceptional race coming 3rd in the 101km race in an astonishing time of 12:17:15.
More information on Eiger Ultra Trail UTMB
Hardrock100
The Hardrock100 in Southern Colorado, USA, posed an exciting race as athlete Courtney Dawaulter just three weeks after her amazing Western States dominating win. The route follows 102.5 miles through Southern Colorado, taking in 33,197 feet of elevation on a mixed terrain of dirt trails, cross-country and roads. The 2023 edition saw a counter-clockwise route take place.
Frenchman Aurelien Dunand-Pallaz claimed the male first place at 23:00:30, with Benat Marmissolle claiming second (23:50:14) and Javier Dominguez achieving third place (26:12:01).
In the women’s race, Courtney Dawaluter came in at 26:14:12, with Anne-Lise Rousset Seguret taking second at 27:29:55 and Annie Hughes in third place (32:13:03).
Badwater135
The Badwater135 covers 217km non-stop through Death Valley, which has recorded the hottest temperatures on earth since records began. Known as one of the most challenging footraces in the world, starting at the Badwater Basin at 85m below sea level, travelling through 3 mountain ranges with a total of 4450m of ascent.
A diverse collection of athletes congregated at the Badwater Basin, all intent on battling the 50-degree Celsius heat to receive the world-renowned Badwater Buckle. Ashley Paulson came first overall with an amazing time of 21:44:35, followed by first male Simen Holvik (22:28:08).
Kaylee Frederick made history by becoming the youngest person in history to finish the Badwater 135 in an incredible time of 40:06:43.
Tahoe200
Held by Destination Trails, created by Candice Burt, the Tahoe200 is a 206.2 miles out-and-back course from Heavenly Stagecoach Lodge. With 36,857 + feet of ascent/descent, the route is fast becoming a favourite for ultra-endurance runners worldwide. Race Director Candice Burt is an ultra legend herself, after completing 200 ultras in 200 days earlier this year.
Claire Bannarth made history by becoming the first woman to come overall first in the race with a time of 62:24:42, just a week after coming fifth at the Hardrock100. Elsa Jaworski came as the second female with a time of 72:11:31.
Wes Ritner (USA) was the first male at 64:15:30, with Troy Croxdale (USA) coming second at 67:38:14.
More Information about Tahoe200 2024
Brecon Beacons 100km & 100m
What has felt like a very wet July for many UK residents was particularly noticed by those who took part in GB Ultras Brecon Beacons Ultramarathon. The weather was rain, rain and more rain; however, within that, participants prevailed setting new course records.
In the 100km race, both female and male course records were set by Clara Davies (18:56:17) and Simon Lewis (13:43:50). In the 100mile race Elizabeth Gatherer came first for the women’s race with 30:34:30 and Matt Tomlinson won with 24:02:12.
More Information on the Brecon Beacons Race
Emma Timmis Treadmill World Record
Emma Timmis sets a new world record for most miles run on a treadmill in 48 hours. Timmis, who lives in New Zealand, ran 211 miles, beating the former 200-mile record set by Sweden’s Kristina Paltén in 2014.
“It was all a bit of a blur … It was quite anticlimactic because I knew that I had to do more to be able to push the record further, and I was so exhausted by then,” Timmis told Radio New Zealand.
Montane Lakeland50 & 100
In the final weekend of July, we had the highly awaited Montane Lakeland series, held in the beautiful Lake District. So many athletes braved the quickly shifting weather and rose triumphantly. With 6300m of ascent, the route consists almost entirely of public bridleways and footpaths, the route does not pass over any of the ‘popular’ Lakeland summits. Instead, it weaves its way through stunning valleys, contours picturesque fells and cuts its own line through the amazing Lakeland topography.
Andy Berry gave us a nail-biting race, as he stayed in second place for the majority of the race, only overtaking to take first in the final few miles. Ukrainian athlete Dariia Bodnar had an incredible race coming second for the female athletes among mostly British athletes.
Lakeland 50
- M1 Neil Macnicol – 08:03:58
- M2 Robert Trigwell – 08:05:12
- M3 Dan Thacker – 08:08:45
- F1 Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn – 08:23:15
- F2 Victoria Thompson – 08:47:43
- F3 Lauren Graham – 08:56:26
Lakeland 100
- M1 Andy Berry – 20:03:11
- M2 Jarlath McKenna – 20:14:06
- M3 Rob Forbes – 20:56:36
- F1 Sabrina Verjee – 23:00:06
- F2 Dariia Bodnar – 26:46:59
- F3 Jodie Gauld – 28:43:39