As the season changes to autumn, here is a sign of the times – the first runABC South preview for an event in 2025! The Country to Capital Ultra by Go Beyond is no ordinary race. The next event is the first ultra-marathon of 2025 and will start from The Shoulder of Mutton pub, Pound Street, Wendover at 8:45am on Saturday, 4th January.

We make no apology for this early reminder of the dark evenings and chilly winter conditions to come as Country to Capital Ultra is a perennial sell-out event and entries are pouring in for the 43-mile point-to-point race from Buckinghamshire coutryside, via the Grand Union Canal, finishing on the tranquil Little Venice Canal basin in central London, close to both Paddington and Royal Oak Tube Stations.

For the reasonable fee of £78 you get a free Geo Tracks tracker and full support. If one ultra-marathon simply isn't enough, why not go for the Grand Slam Ticket for all four races in the Go Beyond Challenge – including the Rose of the Shires, the Shires and Spires, and the Thames Trail Ultra. You get one chance to go for the discounted Grand Slam Ticket and the included custom hoodie to pose in for your social media boast post!

Country to Capital Ultra is a well established season-opener that attracts ultra-marathon newcomers as well as international stars. Last year's winners were Kallum Pritchard (5:01:29) and W40 Caroline Turner (5:39:58) and there were 356 finishers in 11:19:04 – just over the official cut-off time of 11 hours. There were competitors from France, Belgium, Spain, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  

The course record has been held since 2019 by Luke Delderfield (4:56:35) and the women's record was set in 2020 by Carla Molinaro (5:32:33).

There are five checkpoints with water, snacks and the legendary Go Beyond Fruit Cake that it is said is all you need to power your way from Wendover to Chesham, Uxbridge, Southall, Northolt and on to the capital.

The route is 11 miles of trails (26%), 12 miles of roads and paths (28%) and 20 miles of canal towpath (46%). Total elevation gained is 1,375 feet (419m) and the descent is 1,720 feet (524m). It can be muddy (see the genuine Country to Capital footwear photo above).

Full details are at the Go Beyond Challenge website here.

Previous results and reports are at the runABC South race listing here.

Photos courtesy of Go Beyond Challenge/Country to Capital website