Westcountry Ultra Flat 50 Miler

Before we go any further let’s get one thing straight – The Westcountry Ultra Flat 50 Miler does have some hills. I mean, did you really expect 50 miles of splendid Somerset scenery to be 100% pancake flat? Compared to the Hilly 50 though, this route is basically as flat as they come. 15 miles of canal path to ease you in, very little elevation throughout, just some bumps in the second half. Something that may surprise you though is that running 50 flat miles can leave your legs feeling sorer than 50 hilly miles, because when you’re on the flat you’re using the same muscles and it’s not obvious when to ease off. Although there was only around half an hour between the winning times in the Flat 50 and Hilly 50 in 2019, the flat 50 is the one to run if you want a fast time or to run 50 less challenging miles. The Hilly 50 is a beast! However, the Flat 50 course is stunning in its own right – it’s just which one looks more appealing really

​Ok, so starting off in Taunton you will have around 15 miles of quaint canal path to get yourself moving. The scenery here is pretty varied, and you may spot some interesting wildlife – Kingfishers are frequently spotted along here, Otters have been known and by the time you get to the first aid station you will already feel like you’ve seen a real slideshow of tranquil scenes. After the canal is the meandering River Parrett – the muddy banks tell you that you’re nearing an estuary, but the long grass and rural splendour are a bridge between canal and coast

​Once you get to the West Somerset coast you will see the infamous Hinkley Point Power station (sorry, we can never get them to move it despite our best efforts!) and then you have the spectacular limestone formations of Kilve Beach and the surrounding coastline to marvel at. If you look out to sea you may spot the engimatic islands of Steepholm and Flatholm with the Welsh coast lying beyond them. If you look to your left when you get past Kilve you will spot the Quantock Hills, where Samuel Taylor Coleridge composed many of his best known poems

​You have an inland diversion through a little bit of pine forest to West Quantoxhead, through that pretty village and on to Lucke’s Lane, cutting across to Williton and then back to the coast at Watchet. You will already have glimpsed the gleaming white of Butlin’s Minehead from a couple of points if you keep your eyes peeled, and  this is where you are ultimately heading for, but not before the  expanses of Dunster Beach, where your final aid station before Minehead lies

​You will turn left just after Butlins and from there it’s around a mile to the finish, where plenty of refreshments await you along with a chance to reminisce in comfort with your fellow finishers. If you’re not in a rush to go anywhere why not hang around at the finish to see the Hilly 50, or even the 100 unfold?…

​There’s a coach to the start from the finish for anyone who needs it, which we encourage you to use if you aren’t getting picked up, but if you need transport back after the race we’ve sorted out lift shares the previous few years and this has worked well 

Elevation 1,385ft

CUT-OFF TIME: – 15 HOURS (This will require you to average a bit under 4mph the whole way – should be very doable on this course overall)

PRICE: – £60