There's a new event on the ultra race calendar for 2025, with Race Harborough's announcement that it will be staging the inaugural Three Shires Way Ultra on 21 June next year. The event will consist of 50 Mile Ultra and Marathon distance races through the quiet rural landscapes and ancient woodlands of Bucks, Beds and Northants along the scenic Three Shires Way.

Wide, uninterrupted trails, through quiet, country landscapes and ancient woodlands make for a quick course, with well-marked tracks to follow. Being a bridleway the routes are well way marked, so navigation is made fairly easy. Whether you’re stepping up in distance or looking for a decent challenge through wonderful countryside, both races are suitable for beginners and seasoned runners alike.

Organisers say: "Linking with the Swan’s Way at the start, the 49 mile Three Shires Way takes in the county boundaries of Bucks, Beds and Northants at Threeshire Wood, with a 12.4 mile loop around Grafham Water to finish. We’ve added a section to the village hall at Hanslope to get to the magic 50, and created a marathon route that starts at Yelden."

As both races are from point to point, we will be operating coaches from the Finish, at Marlow Park, Grafham Water. There will be prizes for top three male and female finishers in both races, and all finishers will receive a specially commissioned event medal.

Charity remains a focus for organisers as they explain here: "For 2025, the main focus of our charity support will continue to be the Jubilee Foodbank, Market Harborough, and the Weston Favell Centre Foodbank, Northampton. Everyone who enters a Race Harborough event in 2025 will be given the opportunity to make a donation to support these good causes and, we hope, our event community will rise to the challenge and help make a difference to those that need it most."

If you'd like to know more, visit the Race Harborough website.

Image: Race Harborough Facebook