Northern Traverse takes place on Sat, Apr 3, 2027 in St Bees, United Kingdom. The main route is 300 km.
- Date
- Sat, Apr 3, 2027
- Start
- St Bees 🇬🇧
- Distance
- 300 km
- Climbing
- 6,500 m
- Level
- Open to all
The Northern Traverse is a 300km ultra running and walking race following Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route across the north of England from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay with approximately 6,500m of ascent.
Official event pageWhat this race demands
The Northern Traverse demands continuous forward motion across 300 km and 6,500 meters of ascent on foot, testing multi-day endurance and sleep management in early April conditions.
Extreme Distance
Covering 300 km requires exceptional physical and psychological durability to sustain forward movement over multiple days.
Climbing Volume
Accumulating 6,500 meters of ascent places a sustained load on the lower limbs, requiring specific climbing strength and descending efficiency.
Spring Weather Exposure
Racing across the north of England in early April exposes participants to cold temperatures, precipitation, and potentially challenging terrain over extended hours.
Given the multi-day duration, athletes must commit to a consistent hourly intake of 60 to 90 grams of carbohydrates to maintain energy balance.
Estimated finish times
Estimates by level, not promises. Your own number depends on your fitness on the day.
Your road to race day
Race day at Northern Traverse is 32 weeks away. This is how a coach divides that time. The first phase starts now.
01Base20 weeks · Aug 23, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027
Aerobic foundation: mostly steady endurance work that grows the aerobic engine and the durability the later phases stand on.
02Build6 weeks · Jan 10, 2027 – Feb 20, 2027
Progressive overload: training load climbs in waves, with harder weeks stacked on the base and planned recovery weeks that let the gains land.
03Peak3 weeks · Feb 21, 2027 – Mar 13, 2027
The hardest weeks of the plan: race-specific intensity at nearly full training load, sharpening exactly what this race asks for.
04Taper2 weeks · Mar 14, 2027 – Mar 27, 2027
Volume drops while intensity stays: short, sharp efforts keep the legs awake as fatigue drains away.
05Race week1 week · Mar 28, 2027 – Apr 3, 2027
Openers, rest and logistics. The work is done; the job now is arriving fresh.
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