The CANALATHON RUNNING FESTIVAL is based in Sowerby Bridge and its courses transverse the Rochdale Canal passing through Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The event welcomes many people from throughout the UK competing in 100km, 50km, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km races. Participants will be visiting the Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden areas with many seeking overnight accommodation, eating out and entertainment over the weekend. It is an event that started in 2014 and is continuing to grow in size.
WHATS THE FUSS ABOUT*?
- Ultra running is one of the fastest growing sport in the UK. The audience of 13,000 entrants are affluent, healthy and lifestyle conscious (aged 25-45). 50% of people taking part in Canalathon Ultra will be new to the sport.
- Participation in Ultra running has increased by 345% in the last 10 years from 137,234 to 611,098, and 17.8 times over the last 23 years (from 34,401 to 6 1 1,098 runners). There have never been more ultra-runners.
- The average age of ultra-runners has decreased by 1 year in the last 10 years. It has changed from 43.3 years to 42.3 years. There has never been more women in ultrarunning, 23% of participants are female, compared to just 14% 23 years ago.
- A record amount of people travel abroad for ultra-running events. 10.3% of people travel abroad to ultra, for 5Ks this percentage is just 0.2 %.
*The State of Ultra Running 2020 Report based on analysing 5,010,730 results from 15,451 ultra-running events over the past 23 years.
Did you know
- Female ultra-runners are faster than male ultra-runners at distances over 195 miles. The average female pace is 17:19 min/mile, which is 0.6% faster than the average male pace of 17:25 min/mile.
- Women are as fast as men in long-distance ultras. The longer the distance the shorter the gender pace gap. In 5Ks men run 17.9% faster than women but on a 100miler the difference is just 0.25%.
- All age groups have a similar pace, around 14:40 min/mile. Which is unusual compared to the past and to other distances.