TrailFest | Salcey Forest | Half Marathon

Timetable

• 07:00 | 50km Registration
• 08:00 | 50km Start
• 07:00 | Marathon Registration
• 08:30 | Marathon Start
• 08:00 | Half Marathon Registration
• 09:00 | Half Marathon Start
• 08:00 | 10km Registration
• 09:00 | 10km Start

Fitness level

The key thing is that these events are for everyone. There is no such thing as too slow!

Dogs

As the event is run under a UK Athletics/Trail Running Association license there are no dogs allowed.

Support team

You can have crew, they’re really helpful for longer events but you cannot have pacers. To be clear, that means no-one can run with you or walk alongside you for any period of time except in the final 100m or so. 

Spectators and supporters are encouraged but they must not move along the trail with you. They can pop up all over the course though - or just stay in the cafe all day!

There is a large grass area near the HQ that can be used to put a gazebo up if your team, club, or supporters wish to. This must be pre-arranged.

GPX route

The route is displayed on the map above.

Overview

The different routes all use similar sections of the forest. The majority of the routes are along well-maintained pathways. There isn't a meter of asphalt (except at 2 road crossings for the longer events!), and the pathways are mainly crushed stone or very well-trodden open forest floor. 

The previous editions of this event have been in mid-spring, we’ve moved to the summer to give a “better” underfoot experience - no trench foot hopefully in June! If it’s been raining, the ground may be soft as there are sections of grassland. Expect a hard-packed trail for the vast majority of the route, however. Watch the video for full details.

If the weather has been typical of the season, you could run this event in road shoes, although a light trail shoe is probably ideal given the uneven stony surface that covers most of the route. Personal choice of course!

Cut off

7pm.

For the 50km event, that means an 11-hour cut-off - 21min/mile pace. 

All other events have the same 19:00 cut-off, so that’s 10 hours to do the 10K!

Event HQ

Salcey Forest
Wootton Road
Northampton
Northamptonshire
NN7 2HX
UK

Salcey Forest is a Forestry England site with a café and toilets near Northampton.

By car

Use the post code NN7 2HX for Sat Navs. It is 18 minutes from Northampton and 9 minutes from Junction 15 of the M1.

By bus

The number 33 bus stops inside Salcey Forest (just after 9am) and goes between Northampton and Milton Keynes (check for Sunday times).

By rail

The closest train station is Northampton.

Included

• Finishers' medals
• A choice of Big Bear drink

The route was very well marked and the volunteers at the stations were amazing and lots of snack and drinks to choose from. Judith

My first 50K. A great event with the perfect mix of feeling alone in a beautiful forest with great aid stations and supportive marshals. Even the mud was not enough to dampen spirits, it’s a trail event afterall. Simon T

A huge thank you to all of the organisers involved in making this event happen. The marshalls were friendly and supportive. Aid stations very well stocked. Really enjoyed the whole thing despite the appalling weather and muddy conditions! Paul did brilliantly to give us required information in advance and made us all feel relaxed on the day. Delighted to have completed my first ultramarathon here! Holly G

The Salcey 50 was such a fabulous day out. The first thing to mention in my review is the wonderful volunteers - the tambourine cheer squad at the on course aid station was just magic, there was all the encouragement and support wherever you looked.. Thanks Big Bear for helping me achieve my goals! Kaz K

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck

Entry fees