Rat Race | The Wall

Timetable

• Friday evening | Registration in Carlisle
• 07:00 Saturday | Event begins
• 09:00 Sunday | All participants must finish by this time

Walkers

The Wall is hailed as an ideal entry level 100+ km ultra. It is a mix of undulating trails and road and although stunningly rural you are never far from shelter or assistance.

All participants have 26 hours to complete the challenge in one continuous effort, starting at 7am on Saturday and finishing by 9am Sunday. Whilst the event is primarily designed as an ultra-run, The Wall has been completed by fast walkers in the past. It requires an average speed of 3mph (just under 5km per hour) to allow time for refueling and breaks at Pit Stops. These will be reflected in the cut-off points for each Pit Stop.

Navigation

It is fully waymarked meaning you do not need to carry a map or follow a GPS watch.

Kit list

A mandatory kit list is readily available.

Dogs

Sorry, dogs are not permitted.

Event HQ

Carlisle Castle
Castle Way
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA3 8UR
UK

Getting to the start

The Wall is a one way journey so you'll have to plan your logistics if you do not have supporters with you.

Most people park their car at Newcastle Train Station and get the train over to Carlisle on Friday afternoon for registration. 

After you finish there is a shuttle service to the train station/city centre hotels if needed. 

(Please note that the train station does not reopen until 0730 on Sunday morning with no services running before that time.)

GPX route

The route is displayed on the map above.

Overview

From Carlisle Castle to Gateshead Baltic Quay, The Wall was designed to be completed at a walking pace of 3mph.

This UK ultramarathon is the perfect adventure for running your first ultramarathon and seasoned pros alike.  This UK ultramarathon’s route is a classic, shrouded in myth, legend and enveloped in glorious English countryside, moor, river and valley. The route then culminates in a dramatic finale amongst the bridges of the Newcastle Gateshead quayside.

The format for this UK ultramarathon comprises a continuous and fully supported journey, with expert waymarking and the now legendary Pit Stops – fuelling you up from Carlisle to Newcastle with the most unbelievable spreads you have ever seen in an Ultramarathon. If you don’t come for the views, come for the snacks!

Map

Pit stop and checkpoints

• PS1 Lanercost Priory  CA8 2HQ 15 miles
• PS2 Walltown Quarry Pit Stop CA8 7HF 24 miles
• PS3 The Sill Pit Stop NE47 7AN 30 miles
• CP Newbrough Checkpoint  38 miles
• PS4 Hexham Pit Stop NE46 3SG 44 miles
• CP Styford Toll Checkpoint 49.5 miles
• CP Ovingham Checkpoint  55.5 miles
• PS5 Newburn Pit Stop NE15 8ND 63 miles

Cut offs

Cut offs are as generous as possible. They are enforced and apply to your departure time, not your arrival time into the location: 

• PS1 Lanercost 1230
• PS2 Walltown Quarry 1530
• PS3 The Sill 1800
• PS4 Hexham 0000 (midnight)
• PS5  Newburn 0600 (Sunday)
• FINISH 0900 (Sunday)

Environmental pledge

This event has made a firm commitment to really elevate its approach to a sustainable and environmentally aware way of working. Each activity has been assessed to improve its environmental impact, including:

• race t-shirts to be collected at the event and not shipped across the world
• wooden medals instead of metal
• phasing out single-use plastics
• local event catering
• tighter recycling activities

This event is on track to achieve carbon-neutral in its day-to-day business activities and is making progress with carbon off-setting for worldwide travel, including ground-breaking ways to make a difference in some of the host locations.

Included

• Waymarked and supported route

  Fully waymarked meaning no navigation required plus Pit Stop support on route.

• Safety and support

  Professional 4x4 support vehicles, safety staff, medical and welfare. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.

• Transfer policy

  Flexible transfer policy up to 1 month before the event.

• Medal and Kit

  High quality eco medal and rat rag for all participants.

• Shuttle service

  From race registration back to Carlisle Centre.

Optional extra

• The Wall t-shirt £20

Pit stops

• Water
• Salty snacks – such as crisps and peanuts
• A fruit option – either oranges or bananas
• Sweets – such as Haribo and Skittles
• A variety of sandwiches, pastries and cakes
• Hot drinks will be provided at Pit Stops from Walltown Quarry onwards

Event leader

Rob is your event leader. He's a highly experienced Operations Director with a wealth of leadership and safety knowledge.

Age

16 and 17 year olds will be considered on an individual basis, if taking part with a responsible adult.

Instalment plan

eg. £25.91 per month.

Choose how many months you want to spread the cost over, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan a recurring payment will be set up and your card will be debited on the same date each month.

Refund protect

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance.

Entry fees

I’d really recommend The Wall, especially as a first ultra of this sort of distance.  

An incredible day. A wonderful route, through spectacular country. Whatever discomfort felt is temporary, whilst the achievement is forever.

My first Ultra. The run was brutal, but the support was great and everybody smiled. I really like my medal with a low carbon footprint.

An Epic Event! Well catered, varied terrain, well supported!

A fabulous event super well organised impossible to get lost. The section over the wall is stunning. Top feed stations and the best support crew. Definitely recommend. It the sense of achievement at the end is unreal.

Epic. Just beautiful route, amazing volunteers and so worth the pain!! This was a dream come true to see so much of Hadrian's Wall!! I found out just how tough I really am and enjoyed every minute!

Great event, first time I had ran over 20 miles so hadn’t much to go off at the start line but learnt a lot throughout. The food options were amazing and the staff were superb.

A superb very testing event both physically and mentally. Great scenery and route but even for an ultra a brutal but ultimately rewarding experience.

Excellent route with wonderful pit stops (food and people)!

A fantastic experience, from friendly ratrace staff and volunteers to the easy to follow way signs.

Once there the race was exceptionally well organised. The pit stops were amazingly well stocked and full of atmosphere. The volunteers were superb, thank you. It was an incredible feeling running over the bridge to the finish line. I have never been happier during a race. Thank you.