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King Offa's Dyke Race

August 23rd 2024

and The Mercian Challenge

Dyke2.jpg

Offa's Dyke is Britain's longest historic monument

Offa's Dyke is an impressive historical defence earthwork. Constructed with hand tools at the command of King Offa, it separated the ancient kingdom of Mercia from Wales. Today much of the Dyke still sits on the border of England and Wales.

Race History

In 2016, Beyond Marathon Ltd created the iconic biennial races. 2024 will be the 5th edition

Toss a coin to your runner.....

180 miles

Offa's Dyke Race

Starting near Chepstow, at the cliff-edge of the South Coast of Wales, a rock marks the start of the national trail. It's twin, lies in Prestatyn on the North Coast. At Chepstow you'll be given a King Offa coin which you must keep safe, to exchange it for your 180-mile award in Prestatyn. If you lose the coin, you'll lack the means of payment for your award.  Keep it safe

or the epic Mercian

100 Miles

The Mercian Challenge

Also starting near Chepstow, at the cliff-edge of the South Coast of Wales, a rock marks the start of the national trail. You'll be given a King Offa Coin where you must keep it sage to exchange it for your 100-mile award in Montgomery. If you lose the coin, you'll lack the means of payment for your award.  Keep it safe

Registration

100

Participants (limit)

You arrive on Friday afternoon at registration in Sedburgh.  After passing mandatory kit-check you will receive you bib, and your Track Trail® GPS Tracker.  There is a little time to get to know the other participants before the formal race briefing is delivered. Then you'll gather your pack, as well as your thoughts, as you walk to the cliffs as Sedburgh.

The Journey begins..at night

At sunset, on the cliffs at Sedbury, overlooking the Severn Bridge, collect your coin, touch the stone that marks the start of the trail and begin

Chepstow, Monmouth, Wern Gifford 

You will soon pass Chepstow castle. The path then follows the River Wye, much of it through forest, for 18 miles to reach Monmouth and our indoor checkpoint just after crossing the famous Monnow Bridge. You then strike West then North West for 17 miles, passing Whitecastle which will be lit up at night as you pass, onward to the village of Wern Gifford and indoor checkpoint 2.

The first (k)night

Though you'll first have to take on the Black Mountain. An 8-mile ridge, tackled through the early hours and morning towards, up to the highest point on the route, Twyn Llech (704m), before a welcomed descent into the famous town of books, Hay on Wye.  There you'll enjoy a hot breakfast, cereal, tea and coffee and perhaps forty winks.

Dawn Breaks..and breakfast served

It's flat, but not for long...

Departing from Mongomery soon brings a climb to Beacon Hill ring, before a descent and then 10 miles in the flat plain between Welshpool and next CP Llanymynech. It is straight back to hills as you leave Llanymynech and head on to Chirk, through the grounds of the famous castle, then onto Froncysyllte, where you can opt to cross the world heritage pontcysyllte aqueduct. Next are some spectacular skree landscapes as you skirt Llangollen, and head through the popular mountain bike forest into our campsite checkpoint near Llandegla

The Journey ends..

Ahh, the Clwydians. If you didn't know them before, you certainly won't forget them. 16 miles of relentless climbs up and down the ancient hill forts; Moel Vamau, Moel Arthur to name but two. You'll catch a glimpse of the sea but don't get ahead of yourself. There are more hills before you reach the wonderful haven of the Bodfari Woodland Skills centre, a log-cabin checkpoint in the woods, consistencly cited as everyone's favourite checkpoint.  Eat, sleep, charge your tanks for the final 12 miles up, up, over the hill and down to the sea and the twin rock that marks the ends of Offa's Dyke.

A few statistics

  • 5200m elevation on the 100-mile Mercian Challenge (MC)

  • 9200m elevation on the 180-mile King Offa's Dyke Race (KODR)

  • Average: 55% complete KODR 

  • Average 60% complete MC

Only 100 participants are accepted across both distances. FOR KODR we recommend a past 100-mile finish. For MC, we recommend a past 50-mile finish.

  • King Offa's Dyke Race (KODR 180 miles) - £375 + etchrock fee

  • The Mercian Challenge (100 miles) - £185 + etchrock fee

  • KODR: 9 x Indoor checkpoints. 1 outdoor campsite with checkpoint

    • Mercian: 4 indoor checkpoints plus indoor finish​

  • Food offered at every checkpoint. Hot food at most checkpoints

  • Medical support each day of the event

  • Live GPS tracking – by Track Trail ® Live

  • Award to all finshers of the King Offa's Dyke Race

  • ​Medal to all finishers of the Mercian Challenge

  • Drop bag movement to Hay-on-Wye (mile 50), Montgomery (mile 100), Llandegla (mile 150), Prestatyn finish

  • Be aware, if you might arrive at Prestatyn at night please organise in advance somewhere to sleep, or have a support crew to collect you as there is no indoor venue in Prestatyn

  • KODR: 90 hour time limit (2.05 mph average)

    • ​Mercian: 42-hour time limit (average speed 2.35 mph)

  • Comprehensive participant guide emailed one month before the event

  • Experienced race director of over 100 acclaimed and respected ultra events in the last 10 years

  • Download a copy of the previous event guidebook here

REFUND POLICY / TRANSFERS

  • No deferrals are allowed

  • The only way to be refunded is to sell and transfer your place to person that you find yourself. Transfer using Etchrock.com’s transfer function. Once the recipient pays, you will be refunded.

  • Note that merchadise costs are not refunded, but is transferred to the recipient automatically. If you wish to recoup those costs you must arrange private transfer of funds for the Tshirt. Shirts are ordered 14 weeks in advance. Sizes cannot be changed after 12th April 2024

Ready for the adventure?

What's Included?

That phrase will certainly be on your lips following this section.  The often confused Kington and Knighton are your first destinations. Kington will be a welcome sight following a traverse of the Hergest Ridge, and next are more spectacular sections of the dyke heading into Knighton which is also the home to the Offa's Dyke visitors centre.  Knighton usually provides a welcome respite to eat and sleep, to steel oneself for the fearsome Clun Hills, the most notorious section of the course. Steep and relentless climbs, often tackled at night bring you to the 100-mile checkpoint and finish line The Mercian Challengers) in Montgomery.

Well, if it's hills you want...Kington, Knighton, Montgomery

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