Beyond Manchester Event Guide

Guide for participants in Beyond Manchester

Saturday 26 July

Event Guide 2025

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PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

BEYOND MANCHESTER is just around the corner and we can’t wait to welcome you!

This guide gives you all the key event information you need in the build-up to the day. A final race briefing with any additional information will be sent by email closer to the event.

This guide includes information on:

• The Route

• Rules

• The Start and Finish

• Supporters

• Feed Stations

• Parking

• Registration, Bag Drop and Start Times

• First Aid

• Risks and Dangers

• Mandatory Kit

• Race Bling

• Cut-Off Times

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MAPS

ULTRA 55

Here

Download the route GPX file

TRAIL 25

Here

Download the route GPX file

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THE ROUTE The multi-terrain route includes sections on footpaths, parks, woodland, pavement and roads. If weather conditions in the run up to BEYOND MANCHESTER are predominantly wet, parts of the route (mainly parts of the Irwell Sculpture Trail on the 55km route) may become muddy. The route is well signposted but will also include our own BEYOND MANCHESTER signage. The route takes in some of Manchester’s finest scenery, including the Bridgewater Canal, Irwell Sculpture Trail and Philips Park. At various points it is necessary to cross main roads. Care is required at all road crossings and designated crossings (e.g. pelican or zebra crossings) must be used at all times.

Please note: that sometimes these crossings may be a short distance off route (10 to 20 metres in most cases).

Please note: While the routes are advertised as 25km and 55km, actual distances may vary slightly on the day due to course conditions and route adjustments.

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Location: Castlefield Bowl Registration Time: 08.30hrs Bag Drop: 08.30hrs Start 09.30hrs ULTRA 55 REGISTRATION & BAG DROP Location: Castlefield Bowl Registration Time: 07:00hrs Bag Drop: 07:00hrs Start 08:00hrs ULTRA 55 TRAIL 25 REGISTRATION Please arrive for registration no more than 60min before your start time. All participants must register at the start to receive their race number. Please bring a copy of your entry confirmation email with you to registration (a copy on your phone is fine). Your mandatory kit may be checked (see page 9) before you are allocated your race number. BAG DROP Bags deposited with the event team will remain at the finish at Castlefield Bowl. Please note whilst we will make every effort to ensure all bags and belongings are stored securely, all participants leave belongings at their own risk. Please limit your bag to a maximum of 30 litres. START TIMES To ensure everyone gets off to a smooth start, participants are set off in small groups every 10 minutes. All participants will receive an email with their personal start time. Participants must be at the start 10 minutes before their scheduled start time so that the Race Director’s race briefing can be given. The start times are allocated based on your estimated completion time, with slower participants setting off before faster runners so that they have more time to complete the event within the cut off times (see cut off times page 10).

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START & FINISH

ULTRA 55

TRAIL 25

START Time:

START Time:

08:00hrs Location: Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR

09:30hrs Location: Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR

Castlefield Bowl is an outdoor events pavilion in the inner city conservation area of Castlefield. What3words location: ///rating.rams.olive FEEDSTATION 1 Waterside Bar, Manchester, M30 8AN What3words location: /// wonderfully.crew.slam FEED STATION 2 Leverhulme Leisure Centre, Bolton, BL2 6EB What3words location: /// scout.smug.closet

Castlefield Bowl is an outdoor events pavilion in the inner city conservation area of Castlefield. What3words location: ///rating.rams.olive FEEDSTATION 1 Waterside Bar, Manchester, M30 8AN

What3words location: /// wonderfully.crew.slam FINISH Location: Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR What3words location: ///rating.rams.olive

FEED STATION 3

Drinkwater Park What3words location: /// chops.forced.smile FINISH Location: Castlefield Bowl, Rice St, Manchester M3 4JR What3words location: ///rating.rams.olive

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FEEDSTATIONS

ULTRA 55 Three feedstations will be in place along the route, approximately every 15km. The locations of the feedstations are detailed on page 6 in this guide. TRAIL 25 One feedstation is located approximately 14.3km from the start. A variety of drink and food will be available at each feedstation and at the finish. Drinks will include water and cola (with some made flat). Food items will include savoury snacks and sweets – please see page 8 for a full list of feedstation dietary information.

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DIETARY INFORMATION

�eedstation Dietary In�ormation

Available at All �eedstations

Water

Available at All �eedstations

Coca Cola

Voom Nutrition Hydrate Electrolyte drink

Available at All �eedstations

Voom Nutrition Pocket Rocket

Available at All �eedstations

Available at All �eedstations

Jelly Sweets

Available at All �eedstations

Watermelon

Available at All �eedstations

Banana

Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo

Available at All �eedstations

Available at All �eedstations

Caramelised Biscuit Beignets

Walkers Ready Salted Crisps

Available at All �eedstations

�ree Nut �ree

Available at All �eedstations

Soreen Malt Loa�

Available at �S on request

Greggs Sliced White Bread

55K route Only �S 2 & 3

55K route Only �S 2 & 3

Sun-Pat Peanut Butter

Hartleys Strawberry Jam

55K route Only �S 2 & 3

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MANDATORY KIT LIST All participants (both ULTRA 55 & TRAIL 25) must carry the mandatory kit listed which is shown below. This may be inspected at registration, and we will not be able to issue your race number if any items are missing.

Please note: that unfortunately there will not be an opportunity to purchase any kit at the start so please ensure you bring all you need with you.

Hot Weather

Wet Weather

Cold Weather

Required

Fully charged mobile phone with Beyond Trails event control number saved on the phone.

Debit/credit card to enable travel on public transport if required.

Running pack to carry mandatory kit.

Cash/card for any required food/drink purchases on route.

Cup(s) for water & Cola (ideally collapsible) or a water bottle.

Minimum water supply: 1L.

Food reserve (recommendation: 500kcal minimum for example: 2 gels + 2 power bars).

Closed-toe running shoes.*

Sunglasses.

Cap.

Sunscreen.

Minimum water supply: 2L.

Waterproof running jacket.

Waterproof trousers.

Leggings.

Gloves.

*Based on current conditions, the route is suitable for road running shoes. If weather conditions change significantly (e.g. heavy rain), parts of the course may become more slippery or uneven. We recommend wearing road shoes or road-to-trail hybrid shoes to ensure comfort and grip in a variety of conditions.

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CUT OFF TIMES BEYOND MANCHESTER has strict cut off times that will be enforced. The cut off times are to ensure that all participants have completed the route by 19:00. CUT OFF POINT 1 (ULTRA 55 only): The second feedstation which is located at Leverhulme Leisure Centre has a cut off time of 14:30 regardless of the start time of the participant. Any participant who has not passed this point by 14:30 will not be permitted to continue. CUT OFF POINT 2 (ULTRA 55 only): The third feedstation, located in Drinkwater Park, has a cut off time of 17:30 regardless of the start time of the participant. Any participant who has not passed this point by 17:30 will not be permitted to continue.

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SUPPORTERS Supporters are encouraged throughout the event. However, please note that there is no dedicated event parking available for spectators along the route. We recommend planning ahead to locate nearby public parking options. There is also no vehicle access to feed station 3 in Drinkwater Park.

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TRAVEL TO THE EVENT Transport for Greater Manchester services include the local bus and tram network. You can find out the latest information from TfGM here . Their journey planner is available here . It may be appropriate to drive to a TfGM bus station and travel from there.

START AND FINISH OF BEYOND MANCHESTER

The closest car park to the BEYOND MANCHESTER start/finish at Castlefield Bowl is at Duke Street car park, 106 Duke Street, Manchester, M3 4RU. There are also other public parking options available; however, spaces cannot be guaranteed or reserved, so please plan ahead.

TRAIN, TRAM AND BUS

The TfGM website (which you can find here ) has great tools to plan your travel on the day. The closest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield which is a 5 minute walk from the start.

The nearest train station is Manchester Oxford Road, which is a 15 minute walk away.

ACCOMMODATION

As a City Centre event there are a wide variety of options available for accommodation if required. We recommend booking early, as Manchester is a vibrant city and can get busy over certain weekends.

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FIRST AID Medical support is provided at each feedstation and at the finish. However, due to the nature of the event, participants should recognise the physical challenge and should train and prepare adequately. If you have not been able to prepare properly please do not take part. For much of the route participants are expected to be self-supported. If you have a problem that requires medical attention and you can make your way to the next feedstation please do so. If you (or another participant you are attending to) require medical assistance or are unable to reach the next feedstation call Event Control. If emergency medical attention is required then please call the emergency services on 999 in the first instance and then call the Event Control. Please note that the event medical provision is put in place to ensure the welfare of participants and in order to maintain this level of provision we are not able to provide support to those not taking part. If urgent medical attention is required by supporters they should use public medical services.

Event Control number is: 07712 300 536 and will also be on your race number.

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WHAT3WORDS APP

To help us locate you quickly and get you back on track if needed, we use a free app called what3words. This will be used if you require assistance during the event, so please ensure its downloaded to your smartphone in advance. This app is free to download from your smartphone’s app store, and we strongly recommend having it installed during the event. You can learn more about the app and how it works here – but don’t worry if it’s unfamiliar. If you need to use it, Event Control will guide you through it when you call.

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RISKS & DANGERS

TERRAIN Depending on the weather conditions leading up to the event and on the day of BEYOND MANCHESTER , parts of the route may be slippery, so be careful. Sections across parks and through woodland can be particularly muddy, rocky or have tree roots. Steps can also be more slippery than you might imagine. IF YOU GET LOST Please be aware that, even though we will put route signage out as late as possible, there is always the potential that signage may be removed or changed by those unconnected with the event. If you are unsure of the route, we recommend you retrace your steps to when you were last sure of the route, or wait for a following participant who may be able to assist with way finding. Parts of the route are quite technical in nature and it will be worth pausing briefly to check your GPX device and to ensure you take the correct path forward. If you get completely lost you can call Event Control and we will help you find you way back to the route. If doing this, it’s best to use the WHAT3WORDS app to help us pinpoint your location, or failing that find a road junction or at least road name so that the team can quickly locate your current position.

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RISKS & DANGERS

HEADPHONES It is important that participants are aware of their surroundings at all times. If you wish to wear headphones during the event it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of what’s going on around you. OTHER FOOTPATH USERS The course is on public footways and bridleways and will be in use by others unconnected with the event. Please give due consideration to other users to ensure that everyone can enjoy their use of the route. As always, watch out for dogs off leads, cyclists, and the occasional horse rider.

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GPX FILES

What is a GPX file? Essentially it’s a digital route file to help show you where to go.

What else do I need? Any smartphone can download a range of apps that these can be viewed on. Our favourites are to view in the OS Maps app, or download as a training run on your Garmin Connect. The app is essentially the map, and the GPX file is the route drawn on the map Importing the GPX file Depending on your device or app, the method to import the GPX file may vary. Typically, you can connect your device to a computer and transfer the GPX file directly to the device’s storage. Alternatively, if you’re using a smartphone app, you can often import the GPX file directly from your email or through the app’s import feature. Navigating the course Once the GPX file is imported into your GPS device or app, you can start using it to navigate the Beyond Manchester course. The device/ app will display the route on a map and provide you with real-time information about your location, distance covered, and remaining distance. It can also give you alerts or notifications when you deviate from the intended route.

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RUN WITH OTHERS We advise running/walking with others or to try to keep within sight of other participants. This can help with your navigation and safety As with any event and location there is a potential for anti- social behaviour to be present and may be a nuisance for participants. Participants are strongly advised not to engage in any situations. If you need to report an issue during the event, call Event Control. As always, if a situation requires emergency assistance participants are advised to call the emergency services on 999 in addition to calling the Race Director. PUBLIC HIGHWAYS There are several points on the route where participants are required to travel along, and cross public highways. Some of these are busy at all times of the day. It is extremely important that participants use footpaths and do not run on the roads. When crossing highways always use the designated crossing points where available, noting that sometimes these may be 10-20 metres away from the most direct route. None of the crossings are marshalled.

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RACE BLING The finish line is at Castlefield Bowl (W3W ///rating.rams.olive) and is the perfect place for your friends and family to watch you complete your BEYOND MANCHESTER challenge. Baggage and toilets are also located here at the finish. All finishers who complete the event within the cut off times will receive a medal and finishers’ t-shirt, unless you have selected to opt out of a t-shirt when registering (as shown below). You can also buy the Beyond Trails 2025 hoodie from our online merch shop to commemorate the occasion!

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T-Shirt Opt-Out icon If you opted out of receiving a finishers’ t-shirt, look out for this icon which will already be marked on your race number.

ULT

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RESULTS Your race results will be available on our website shortly after the event concludes on Saturday. Just enter your race number on the results page to view your results.

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GOOD LUCK & ENJOY YOUR RUN FROM THE BEYOND TRAILS TEAM

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