Country to Capital Ultra is a 45 miles / 72km ultra marathon in Wendover, United Kingdom. Distance: 72km. Elevation: 800m D+. Difficulty: moderate (Challenge Rating 29/100). DNF rate: 10%. Time limit: 14h. Surface: trail. Established 2008.
Country to Capital Ultra
Wendover, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
"45 miles from the Chiltern Hills to central London. The perfect first ultra."
A beloved January ultra from countryside to capital — the ideal first ultra.
The Course
A 43-mile (69km) point-to-point from the Chiltern Hills to Little Venice in London. The first half follows the Ridgeway — Britain's oldest road, a 5,000-year-old Neolithic trading route along the chalk escarpment. The second half joins the Grand Union Canal towpath, a flat, hypnotic corridor of narrowboats, locks, and urban decay that leads directly into central London. The contrast is the race's signature: ancient countryside gives way to industrial canal, which gives way to the surprising beauty of entering London by water.
rolling
point-to-point
6
Runner Experience
Standard aid station support with food, drinks, and basic medical assistance at regular intervals.
Warm, inclusive finish line with a strong community feel. Runners celebrate together regardless of finish time.
Race Day Weather
4°C
085%
50%
English winter — cold, damp, muddy.
Stats & Records
2008
400
09:30:00
Entry
£55
June
weeks
Lore & Trivia
Country to Capital is one of the UK's most popular 43-mile ultras — a January point-to-point from the Chiltern Hills to Little Venice in London. The route follows the Ridgeway (Britain's oldest road) before joining the Grand Union Canal towpath into the capital. It's many runners' first ultra: affordable, well-organised, and psychologically clever — you're running toward London, which gets more exciting as you get more tired. The canal sections in the final miles, with narrowboats and urban towpath, feel surreal after 60km of muddy countryside.
- ▸ One of the most popular first ultras in the UK.
- ▸ The course transitions from ancient Ridgeway paths to London's Grand Union Canal.
- ▸ January conditions mean mud — lots of it.
- ▸ Established in 2008.
- ▸ Total elevation gain: 800m.
Starting in the Chiltern Hills and finishing in London — the city gets bigger and more surreal as you get more exhausted. Perfect.
Notable Editions
January Ice
Freezing conditions turned the canal towpath into a skating rink. Runners who'd trained for mud found themselves dealing with black ice instead. The resourceful ones pulled their socks over their shoes for grip.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Country to Capital Ultra? +
Country to Capital Ultra is a 45 miles / 72km (72km) ultra marathon with 800m of elevation gain. The course is point-to-point on trail terrain.
How hard is Country to Capital Ultra? +
Country to Capital Ultra is rated moderate with a Challenge Rating of 29/100 (Moderate). The DNF rate is 10%. Runners have 14 hours to finish.
What is the weather like at Country to Capital Ultra? +
Average temperature is 4°C with 85% humidity and a 50% chance of rain. English winter — cold, damp, muddy.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Country to Capital Ultra? +
No crew access is permitted. Pacers are not allowed.
What is the average finish time for Country to Capital Ultra? +
The average finish time is 09:30:00. About 400 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 10%.
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