No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register

No products in the basket.

Ultra Runner Mag
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • Elite and Athlete Interviews
    • Race Director Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Race Reviews
    • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
      • Footwear
      • Headtorches
      • Race Vest & Waistpacks
      • Running Head Torches
      • Running Poles
      • Running Watches & GPS Reviews
    • Nutrition Reviews
  • Training
    • Training Advice and Coaching
    • Training Plans
    • Injury Recovery
    • Nutrition Advice
  • Explore
  • Race Calendar
  • Magazine
    • E-Mag (2020-2023)
    • Sustainability – the Rights of Nature
    • Advertise
    • Article Submission
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • Elite and Athlete Interviews
    • Race Director Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Race Reviews
    • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
      • Footwear
      • Headtorches
      • Race Vest & Waistpacks
      • Running Head Torches
      • Running Poles
      • Running Watches & GPS Reviews
    • Nutrition Reviews
  • Training
    • Training Advice and Coaching
    • Training Plans
    • Injury Recovery
    • Nutrition Advice
  • Explore
  • Race Calendar
  • Magazine
    • E-Mag (2020-2023)
    • Sustainability – the Rights of Nature
    • Advertise
    • Article Submission
    • Contact Us
Ultra Runner Mag
Home Race Director Interviews

Race Director Interview: GB Ultras Glasgow to Edinburgh

It’s definitely a race that no one will forget…

16 October 2023
in Headline, Interviews, Race Director Interviews, Race Reviews, Running News
Reading Time: 6 mins read
0
Race Director Interview: GB Ultras Glasgow to Edinburgh

Credit: Rebecca Lee

As the final race of the GB Ultras Glasgow to Edinburgh season, the Glasgow to Edinburgh (G2E) solidified its spot as one of the wettest races of the year. Nevertheless, 361 runners raced up in the icy torrential rain one cold October morning to traverse 56 miles between two of Scotland’s most iconic cities. 

After taking over the race towards the end of 2019, the G2E finally had its first instalment in 2021. However, this year was the first edition with no COVID restrictions in place. 

Credit: Matchbox Productions

The route begins at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, next to the Tall Ship. Assistant Race Director Laura Yates admits this is one of her favourite start lines, as the modernness of the building next to the history of the ship is a beautiful paradox. 

Ultra Running Gift Guide Ultra Running Gift Guide Ultra Running Gift Guide
Credit: Matchbox Productions

The route is flat and fast compared to other GB Ultras events. It follows the River Kelvin up to Mary Hill Locks, where you join the Fourth and Clyde Canal. You follow the Forth and Clyde Canal up to Falkirk Wheel, where you enter the Union Canal and then the Union Canal up to the Water of Leith. Finally, you join the Water of Leith for just a mile and a half before reaching the finish line. 

Credit: Rebecca Lee

“As is tradition with all our finishes on a track, you have to run a lap of the track before you go through the finish. There is always lots of swearing at that point because You have to run past the finish line to return. It makes me laugh because it’s on the GPX; it’s not a surprise.”

Seven checkpoints are en route, all holding what is known as GB Ultras’ famous feeding stations, including their amazing salty potatoes. 

Credit: Ross Plant

“They’ve got the usual cola, water tailwind and all the food, snacks, and everything. I think I say it in every interview: food is the hardest thing to get right for these events.

“Because it’s a fast route and not many people hang around and eat, it was also dry. So this year, I’ve done the same amount of sandwiches and more than I did potatoes last year, and I think we covered it pretty well.”

Credit: Ross Plant

Despite being a fast route, Laura ponders that the rain encouraged some runners to stay at the checkpoints out of the rain for longer than they normally would, leading to more snacking in the shelter. 

“I am not a potato fan. Like in everyday life, I don’t eat a lot of potatoes. I think I’m a unique runner in that sense. I don’t like their texture, and it would be the last thing I would eat on an ultra, but here I am, boiling 42 kilos of potatoes before any of them.” 

Credit: Matchbox Productions

The rain was constant this year, with pictures only showing a fraction of the ongoing dampness the racers endured. Leading up to the race, organisers became aware the event would be wet, but no one truly believed it would be as soggy as it was. 

“It was a bit of a surprise, in that we knew the day before, whereas most of the time, the forecast is quite accurate, sort of four or five days out. So yeah, it was wet, very wet. We were lucky that it was dry until about 06:00 p.m. on Friday. So we got to set everything up in the dry for the start line.”

Credit: Ross Plant

Laura did laugh when she admitted the following day after the race when the organisers swept the route for markers, the weather was quite lovely: “So it’s a shame that couldn’t have come the day before.” 

Rain affects runners differently. Some prefer the rain to beating sunshine, whereas others may have benefited from the rain ceasing a little as it may have affected morale for some. 

Credit: Rebecca Lee

“I think there’s a bit of extra motivation that you want to get done and out of the rain, so it keeps you going. I think it’s always in any ultra anyway; it’s always about preparation, and those who are prepared are always the ones who succeed. So if you’re not prepared and you’ve not paid attention to the forecast, and you’ve not got the waterproof, maybe a coat change halfway through, something like that, then you’re going to struggle more than those ready for it.” 

Credit: Matchbox Productions

However, Laura hopes that many embraced the weather and that it made a good story for years. Many still discuss the Manchester to Liverpool 2018 edition that went down in history for experiencing every facet of weather. 

Scott Cunningham MBE Finishes the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra for Guide Dogs UK
In 1993, Scott lay in Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, having lost his eyesight over the course of three weeks due to a rare condition. Thirty years later, to the day, Scott stood on the startline to the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra, ready to take on his biggest challenge yet.  Now 53 years old, Scott Cunningham MBE has taken part in many running adventures, including the London Marathon and the Manchester Marathon. Most recently, he was the first to complete the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra alongside his guide and good friend David Mooney.  The Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra is a 56-mile […]

The GB Ultra’s volunteers remain essential to the team, with Laura stating her everlasting gratitude towards them. 

Credit: Matchbox Productions

“Once your shelter is set up, at least you’ve got some shelter to escape the rain. I think there were a few outfit changes throughout the day from some volunteers that got quite wet.

“A lot of them are runners, and they’ve done a race in the rain, and there have been other volunteers that have stood for them, so they’re kind of like, well, other people do it for me, so why should I not do it for them? Kind of thing.

Credit: Ross Plant

“We also had a couple of volunteers who came by train, so there was a major train disruption on Saturday. A lot of them were cancelled, and they still managed to get to where they needed to be, albeit a bit late, but I think it was just great to see that they still wanted to come and help at the event, even with all this sort of obstruction in their way of trying to get to it.” 

Credit: Rebecca Lee

Of the 361 racers that started that day, only 22% were female, a percentage that Laura hopes continues to rise in the 2024 season. While more female runners continue to take up ultrarunning, GB Ultras still advocates for women to join and show that women are far more capable than we believe ourselves to be. 

Jarlath McKenna of Tyne Bridge Harriers set a new course record in an astonishing time of 6:49:12. Second male David Shaw came in at 7:09:01, with Steve Daye finishing the male podium in 7:11:58. 

Credit: Rebecca Lee

In the female race, Emily Mills, no stranger to the GB Ultras events, came first place in 8:27:21, also beating the Couse Record for a female athlete. Jo Newens of Road Runners Club took second (8:45:01), with Emma Coffey finishing the female podium with 9:04:09. 

Credit: Rebecca Lee

Emma Coffey made an astonishing debut with third place; as Laura stated, this was Emma’s first ultramarathon. 

Glasgow to Edinburgh Results 2023

Credit: Rebecca Lee

Scott Cunningham MBE became the first blind runner to complete the route with his guide, David Mooney. Raising money for Guide Dogs UK, Scott started the event and finished at 13:18:19. 

Scott Cunningham MBE stated in an Ultrarunner Magazine interview: “I was just absolutely, very proud. It was very emotional because, for those reasons, I kept on thinking back to that day, 30 years ago, when I had lost my sight, and I was at rock bottom.

Credit: Ross Plant

“Then, 50 weeks ago, I was in a recovery unit after getting four stents inserted, and I didn’t know what my future was. To be able to feel so strong, fit and healthy and finish that race having that iconic Union flag that we, Jim, had brought down to London to finish the marathon. Yeah, you couldn’t put any words to that feeling.”

The Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra 2024 is now open for entries. You can find more information on this race and other GB Ultra Races on their website. 

Credit: Ross Plant
Credit: Ross Plant
Credit: Ross Plant

Credit: Ross Plant
Credit: Ross Plant
Credit: Rebecca Lee

Credit: Rebecca Lee
Credit: Rebecca Lee
Credit: Rebecca Lee

Credit: Rebecca Lee
Credit: Rebecca Lee
Credit: Rebecca Lee

Credit: Matchbox Productions
Credit: Matchbox Productions
Credit: Matchbox Productions

Credit: Matchbox Productions
Credit: Matchbox Productions
Credit: Matchbox Productions

Tags: gb ultrasGlasgow to Edinburgh UltraScotlandScotland ultra runningScottish trailsUK RunningUK trails
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Scott Cunningham MBE Finishes the Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra for Guide Dogs UK

Next Post

Gorewear Contest Daily Tee – Test & Review

Related Posts

Kim Collison wins the Men’s Montane Winter Spine Race!
Headline

Kim Collison wins the Men’s Montane Winter Spine Race!

by ULTRARUNNER MAG
15 January 2025
Allen and Kershaw win 108 mile Montane Winter Spine Challenger South
Explore

Allen and Kershaw win 108 mile Montane Winter Spine Challenger South

by ULTRARUNNER MAG
13 January 2025
361° Lynx Running Shoes Review
Footwear

361° Lynx Running Shoes Review

by ULTRARUNNER MAG
12 January 2025
Next Post
Gorewear daily contest tee for ultra races

Gorewear Contest Daily Tee - Test & Review

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All Articles

Upcoming Races

Current Month

may,2025

Event Type

All

10 Hour

100 km

100 Miles

1000 km

12 Hour

120km

125km & 50km

125km/2days

130 km

135 Miles

150 - 199 Miles

164miles

19km

2 Day Option

200 km

200 Miles

21km

24 Hour

24hrs

250km/5days

250km/6 days

268 Miles

26km

280 km

293 Miles

30 - 49 Miles

300 Miles

35km

36 Hour

37 miles

40

40 miles

43km

45km

47miles

50 km

50 Miles

500 Miles +

60km

64km

66 miles

666km

70

75 Miles

78miles

80km

82miles

84 miles

Last Person standing

Event Location

All

Abergavenny

Atlantic Coast Path

Bamburgh Castle

Barrowford

Betws Y Coed

Blackpool Tower

Chester

Coed-y-Brenin

COLNE VALLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE

Denbies Wine Estate

Devon Coast Path

Dorset Coast Path

Eco Park, Porthtowan

Edale Village Hall

Exhibition Hall

Frickley Country Park

Glasgow

Grimsthorpe Castle Estate, near to Bourne in South Lincs

Heaton Park

HQ is situated on the disused-railway behind The Woodbridge Public House

Jurassic Coast Path, Dorset

Llanbedr Hall

LLANBERIS

Malham

oxford

Portballintrae and North Coast

Portpatrick

Sandy Farm Business Park

Sani Mountain Lodge

St Johns Town of Dalry

Talybont-on-Usk

The Peak Centre at Champion House

Event Organizer

All

26Extreme

ACS Super Sports Club

Albion Running

Always Aim High Events

Annapurna 100

Apex Running

Aravaipa Running

Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Oliena Outdoor

Badger Trail Events

BB Ultra

Beyond the Ultimate

Bog Dog Racing

Boghopper Races Ltd

Bowel Cancer West charity

Bowland Ultra

Brutal Events

BSI (Run in Budapest)

Camino Ultra

Canalathon Ultra

Castle Race Series

Centurion Running

Čertovskej ultratrail

Cockbain Events

Combat Stress

CraggRunner

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Plymouth

Davy Newell

Destination Trail

Due North Events Ltd

Durty Events

ecoDevshilt

Ely Tri Club - Events

Embrace Ultra

Endurance Day

Endurance Life

EPIGONOS ORGANIZATION

Essex Trail Events

Essex Way Ultra

Footlesscrow Enterprises Ltd

Fortitude Racing Ltd

Freedom Racing

Fylde Coast Runners

GB Ultras

Gert Lush Events

Go Beyond

Go Beyond Challenge

Grant Wilson

Green Events

Grossglockner Ultra-Trail

Hellfire Events

High Peak 40

Hillside Outside

Himalayan Run & Trek Pvt. Ltd.

Hobo Pace

Horizontes -Turismo Desportivo

How Hard Can It Be Events

Its Grim Up North Running

James Bingham & Quentin Brooksbank

James Bingham and Quentin Brooksbank

Jan Turner

Jilly walstow

KAEM

Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathons

Legendary Sports Association

Limitless Trails

Longtown Mountain Rescue Team

Mad Hatter Sports Events

Malcolm Street

Marlborough Running Club

Matthew Hearne

Maverick Race

MDS

Mud Crew

Neil Kirby

New Era Boxing

Nice Work

Northern Fell Running/Cheviot Trail Events

Off The Tarmac

OMM - Original Mountain Marathon

Only Footprints Events

Origins Events

Orion Trail Events

OutFit

Patagonia

Pegasus Ultra Running

PELXTR-Pelister Xtreme Trail Running

Pendle Way in a Day

Phoenix Running

Positive Steps Fitness and Wellbeing Ltd

Purple Gecko Events

Qswim Adventure

RACE - Resch Alpine Competition Event GMbH

Race Harborough

Racesolutions Limited

Racing Patagonia

RacingThePlanet

Ranger Ultras

Rat Race Adventure Sports

Redway Runners

Revel Festivals

Ripon Runners

Rock Solid - Aegean Island Trail Running

Rocketship Events Ltd

Run Walk Crawl

Run2Paris

Runaway Racing

Runbelievable Challenges

Running Adventures

Running Tribe

Runningmonk Trail Events

RunSandringham24

Sandnes Ultra Trail

Sandnes Ultratrail

Saturn Running

Scurry Events

Scurry2Bridges

Severn Valley Events

She strides events

SilverBackTrails

Solamon Serpent Trail

Spine Race

Stride Out Events

The Gurkha Welfare Trust

The Spine Race

The Ultra Loop

Threshold Sports

Town and Country Harriers

Trail Run West Midlands

Trail Running Sussex

Trail-Run Explorers

TRIBE (in partnership with Rat Race)

UKOCR ltd

Ultra Challenge

Ultra Running Limited

Ultra Trails

Ultra Violet Run

Ultra X

UTMB

Votwo

VšĮ "Triatlono taurė"

We Run Wild NI

WESWIMRUN

Wild Running Events

Wilderness Development

Wildhorse 200

World Trail Majors

XNRG

Youth Sport Omagh

ZigZag Running

Zone Events

Ultra Runner Mag

We take you to the heart of all the latest Ultra-marathons with Race Reviews from all over the UK and the World. Shining the Spotlight on Solo Adventures and Personal Journey's.

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Charity
  • Discounts & Competitions
  • E-Mag
  • Elite and Athlete Interviews
  • Explore
  • Featured Event
  • Footwear
  • Free to read
  • Freebies
  • Headline
  • Headtorches
  • Health
  • Injury Recovery
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition Advice
  • Nutrition Feature
  • Nutrition Reviews
  • Other Sports
  • Podcasts
  • Race Director Interviews
  • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
  • Race Reviews
  • Race Vest & Waistpacks
  • Running Brands
  • Running Head Torches
  • Running News
  • Running Poles
  • Running Watches & GPS Reviews
  • Training
  • Training Advice and Coaching
  • Training Plans
  • Travel
  • Ultimate Guide to Trail Footwear
  • Ultra Women
  • Uncategorized

Browse by Tag

charity Courtney Dauwalter events Fastest Known Time fell running FKT gbultras gb ultras gear gear reviews health inov-8 inov8 Lake District marathon marathon des sables mental health mindset montane mountain runner mountains nutrition Pennine Way race kit race reviews Running Scotland Spine Spine Race tips trail trailrunning trail running trainers training travel UK Running ultra ultramarathon Ultrarunner Ultrarunning ultra running UTMB Wales Winter conditions

Links

  • Subscribe
  • Article Submission
  • Advertise with Ultra Runner Magazine
  • Change of address
  • Contact Us

UltraRunner Magazine © 2022 Website Design by DROLL

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • Elite and Athlete Interviews
    • Race Director Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Race Reviews
    • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
      • Footwear
      • Headtorches
      • Race Vest & Waistpacks
      • Running Head Torches
      • Running Poles
      • Running Watches & GPS Reviews
    • Nutrition Reviews
  • Training
    • Training Advice and Coaching
    • Training Plans
    • Injury Recovery
    • Nutrition Advice
  • Explore
  • Race Calendar
  • Magazine
    • E-Mag (2020-2023)
    • Sustainability – the Rights of Nature
    • Advertise
    • Article Submission
    • Contact Us

UltraRunner Magazine © 2022 Website Design by DROLL

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
Go to mobile version
X
X