The MTC Oxford Ultra

Race Overview:

Oxford Ultra competitors must arrive for registration and equipment checks between 7.00am and 7.30 am.

Race start will be 8.00 am, following a race brief. The race starts from the Travelodge Oxford Abingdon Road, OX1 4XG.

From the Travelodge you reach the Thames Path after 0.5 miles at Donnington Rd Bridge then continue right with the river on your left. Soon you reach the spectacular Sandford Weir and then Culham and Cholsey.

A departure from the river bank brings us through Moulsford, but soon returns, going past Streatley and Whitchurch-on-Thames. A short deviation through the town of Purley Park, past Tilehurst, Reading, finally arriving at the Catherine Wheel, J.D. Wetherspoons, which is the finish of day two for Thames Challenge competitors, or the conclusion of The Oxford Ultra.

The Oxford Ultra benefits from three check-points; all of which will provide water and some nutrition.

The Oxford Ultra benefits from three check-points; all of which will provide water and some nutrition.

Example items which may change are:

Malt loaf, cake, jam, peanut butter, cheese or marmite sandwiches, sweets, various dried fruits, squash, cola and water.

We endeavour to cater for Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian and non restrictive diet competitors. When you enter please advise your choice. Dietary requirements outside these options must be provided by the competitor, but we will happily leave drop bags at CP Stations for you.

We would ask however that you do not rely on these alone and take only what you need with consideration for the other runners still to come in to the checkpoints.

CP Distances:

Start to Checkpoint 1 - 12.3 miles
Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2 - 12.7 miles
Checkpoint 2 to Checkpoint 3 - 13.4 mile
Checkpoint 3 to Finish - 9.7 miles

Oxford Ultra competitors must arrive at registration between 7.00 am and 7.30 am to collect their running number and present their kit for examination on request. Race start is 8.00 am.

Competitors must be self-sufficient in their transportation to the start of the race and also at completion of their race.

Registration & Entry Fees:

All deposits and payments are on a non refundable basis.

Run for FREE – Raise an agreed amount of money for our preferred charity and you can run for free, please ask for more information.

Individual – £90.00 / person

All Oxford Ultra Finishers will receive:

• A Bespoke Oxford Ultra medal.
• Either a Bespoke Oxford Ultra technical t-shirt, mug or hat.
• The first male and female finisher will receive a "Champions Trophy" each.

Please note that if you are a late entry (within four weeks of the event), you may not be guaranteed a Oxford Ultra medal as these are unique and made to order. You would however be offered one of the other Thames Challenge race day medals as an alternative.

The medal provides a to-scale impression of the route:

Click HERE for Day 2 Oxford Ultra Directions 2023

Click HERE for Day 2 Oxford Ultra Maps

It is imperative that entrants achieve a minimum of 4 mph (including stops etc).

If you fall below this minimum requirement you will get pulled out of the race and not be allowed to continue any further with the Oxford Ultra.

This isn’t debatable.

CP Closure times:

• CP1 - 3hr 5min after race start
• CP2 - 6hr 16min after race start
• CP3 - 9hr 38min after race start
• Finish - 12hr 8min after race start

Please visit our shop to see a wide range of race related products;

• Personalised Hoodies
• Personalised Shirts
• Personalised Caps
• Personalised Race mugs with your name and finishing time

By signing up to one of Ultra Running Ltd events you agree to abide by our general race rules;

The following are the race rules that apply to all Ultra Running Ltd events and should be adhered to by all race participants.

Each participant will be given a race number which must be clearly attached by safety pins to the front chest. If this is not clearly visible you may be delayed at checkpoints.
Teams must have pre-registered before the day and consist of at least three competitors who will also count as individual competitors amongst the rankings. For a Team to successfully complete the race, a minimum of three members of that Team must finish.

Each participant must make sure he/she is carrying all items detailed in the mandatory kit list

You cannot change your race entry category or team once the race has started.

Relay team members: All originally designated members of a team must complete the leg they have chosen, and the following team member must not start the race until the person they are handing over from has arrived at that CP, otherwise automatic disqualification will apply. Changes to the team members and/or race order can only be made up until the team has signed in on the day of the race.

Competitors must go through all check points and it is their sole responsibility to ensure that the check point attendant has recorded their race number and entry/exit time along with any injuries; failure to do so at any check point will mean the competitor has failed to complete the race and will be disqualified.

All entrants must be 20 years or over on the start day of the race.

Mandatory Kit List

Competitors must carry the following items. Random bag checks will be made on registration. Anyone found not to have the correct kit will not be allowed to start the race

Backpack or equivalent
Head Torch with spare batteries
Ordnance Survey Map 150 (Our downloadable maps are ok)
Compass or GPS device
Whistle
Mobile phone
Emergency food pack consisting of a two chocolate bars,
Basic first Aid Kit

Competitor Retirement

If any competitor has to retire for whatever reason they must contact the race organisers immediately, either by advising a checkpoint attendant or by telephoning the emergency number which will be written on the race numbers of each competitor.

Time Constraints

The organisers want to give every competitor the opportunity of completing the race and will, where reasonable practicable, allow generous opening times of CP Stations; the allowance should be within an average of 4.0 miles per hour. If you fall below the 4.0 miles per hour you will be pulled from the race without concession.

Cancellation

In the event of Ultra Running Ltd. having to cancel the event, an alternative date will be provided. If re-scheduling of the event isn’t possible, or a competitor cannot make the revised date. URL undertakes to refund payments received, less any out of pocket expenses which are determined at 25%.

For all other circumstances, including Competitor cancellations due to personal reasons, refunds are not allowed. But at the discretion of the organisers an entry may be transferred to the following years race providing the request is within four weeks of the event date.

Any ‘transferred races’ or ‘reduced rate races’ are not refundable or transferable in any respect.

Race Photography

Ultra Running Ltd. reserve all exclusive rights relating to photographic coverage of their races. By entering an event, participants agree that Ultra Running Ltd may exclusively use any photographic or textual content captured during the event for advertisement purposes.

You are now able to add a Personal Cancellation Insurance Policy at the time of your booking.

The policy is provided through Event Protect Limited.

Please review what is covered under the policy HERE.

If you choose not to take out the Personal Cancellation Insurance Policy:

You still have the option to defer your entry until the following year through the entry system for just £15.00. This option is available up to four weeks of the event. After this time no transfers or deferrals are possible as URL commits financially to various race costs at this time.

Ultra Running Limited (URL) Terms & Conditions

The Agreement

This document constitutes an agreement between you (the Entrant) and URL (the Organiser). Entry into any of the URL races (the Events) is strictly conditional upon the entrant agreeing to all of the terms and conditions contained within this document (the Agreement). It is all entrants responsibility to have read and accepted this agreement before entering/registering for one or more of URL events. All entrants must be aged 18 and over.

Registration Process

Entrants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their personal records within the event database. Should any information change between registration and participation, it is the individual entrants’ responsibility to ensure that they contact URL to update their records accordingly.

Entry Fees must be paid in full before entry to the event will be confirmed.

All event fees are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.

By entering one of URL events, all entrants have acknowledged that they have read and agree to the event terms and conditions prior to their entry in to the event being confirmed. By doing so, the entrant is unreservedly accepting all of the terms and conditions of this agreement.

Use of Personal Data

The organiser or their agents will maintain a registration database for all entrants and their chosen emergency contact. All information will be collected, stored and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

The organiser may use the entrants contact information to keep them informed of the event or to notify them of other events organised or promoted by URL.

Entrants give permission for the organisers, their agents, or any other associated organisations to use any photographs, video tapes, motion pictures, website images, recordings, or any other record of the event. Such articles may be used or included on websites, social media publications, advertising, promotional information, or other publicly accessible sources.

Personal Ability to Participate

It is the entrants’ responsibility to ensure they train appropriately and have the requisite level of fitness to be able to complete safely.

Entrants must ensure their personal health is suitable for participating in the event. If in any doubt the entrant should consult their doctor.

It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure the organisers are informed at the point of entry of any medical conditions that could be relevant for any first-aid treatment.

If a participant believes that it is unsafe for them to continue in the event, it is their duty to notify an event official as soon as practicable.

Participants must be competent runners & confident in their ability to complete the course safely.

Participation in the Event

The event is a race. Athletes compete within their respective age and gender category. Relay Teams compete against each other as separate categories.

Prizes are awarded to podium finishers in all categories except where a low number of entrants means it is impractical to do so. This is down to the organisers discretion.

All finishers will receive the stated prize, as per each individual race.

Participants must act in accordance with the law and adhere to both the Highway Code and the Country Code, where applicable.

Participants are responsible for competing safely and with due respect for others.

Participants must comply with the instructions of the organisers and other course officials.

The majority of URL event routes are NOT signed, the onus of remaining on course rests with the athlete. Marshall’s are places in appropriate places, according to the individual event and are there for your safety.

Should circumstances dictate, or in the interest of safety, the organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the published event routes as may be deemed necessary at their absolute discretion. In the event of the landowner e.g. the Forestry Commission or National Trust deeming it necessary to close access to the public, we the organisers reserve the right to a) reschedule or if this is not possible b) cancel the event. This will, in all cases be a last resort.

The organiser reserves the right to require a participant to retire from the race where their conduct is considered to be inappropriate. If required to retire the participant must surrender their race number to an event official and take no further part in the event.

Participants have a duty to report to an event official as soon as practicable, anything that they see or hear which they reasonably believe may impact on the safety or welfare of themselves or others, connected to the event or otherwise.

Whilst appropriate risk assessments will be carried out before the event, competitors assume full and complete responsibility for any injury or accident which may occur whilst travelling to or from the event, during the event, or whilst on any premises related to the event.

Racing in public places can be dangerous, all participants in this event must agree to waive, release and forever discharge the event organisers, sponsors, promoters, and each of their agents, representatives, successors and assigns, and all other persons associated with the event, from any liabilities, claims, actions, or damages that they may have against them arising out of or in any way connected with participation in this event. This includes any claims, whether caused by negligence, the action or inaction of any of the above parties, or otherwise.

Cancellation & Refunds

Entry fees for all URL events are NON REFUNDABLE under any circumstance.

Should circumstances dictate, or in the interest of safety, the organisers reserve the right to make such changes to the published event routes as may be deemed necessary at their absolute discretion. In the event of a force majeure, we the organisers reserve the right to a) reschedule or if this is not possible b) cancel the event. This will, in all cases be a last resort.

Entry fees are only valid for the original event, for which they were purchased. Places can be deferred to the next edition of the event (an additional cost of £15 is charged), where the event is more than four weeks away. After this point, this option is no longer available. In special circumstances, the organisers may be able to transfer names of individuals to another events. This is at the organisers discretion. Transfers can be requested by email up to 4 weeks before the event in question. No runner is permitted to enter or participate using another persons details.

If, for any reason what so ever, an entrant finds themselves unable to participate, they should notify the organisers as soon as reasonably practicable of their intention to withdraw from the event. This will allow the vacancy to be reallocated to anyone who may be on the event’s reserve list.

Entrants must exercise their own experience and judgement regarding their ability, equipment and preparedness to cope with the prevailing elements before they commence.

General Provisions

This agreement constitutes the whole agreement between the parties and any prior agreement, oral or written, are excluded.

Any failure by any party to enforce or to exercise at any time any term or any right under this agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of that term or right and shall not affect that party’s right to later enforce or to exercise it.

If any term of this agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable it shall be deemed to be omitted from the agreement and shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the agreement.

Nothing in this agreement confers any right on third parties to enforce the provisions of this agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.