Rose of the Shires is a 54-mile ultramarathon, scheduled for April 10, 2027, starting and finishing at Brixworth Country Park in Northamptonshire. It is a mixed trail, road and towpath loop. The separate Rosebud Marathon covers the final 26.2 miles; choosing that entry does not enter you in the full ultra. Checked October 18, 2026 against the organizer and official entry listing.
Which race are you choosing?
The organizer's distance-specific Rosebud instructions give 11:30, even though the combined registration page has an 08:00 event header. Use the instructions for the entry you bought. For the shorter individual event, see the separate Rosebud Marathon guide. The ultra's approximately 86.9 km conversion is arithmetic from the advertised 54 miles, not a claim that this is a measured 100 km race.
Cutoffs and navigation change the plan
The organizer gives a 13.5-hour overall limit, six checkpoints and progressive checkpoint limits. That implies a 21:30 finish limit from the published 08:00 start. The entry listing describes waymarking that still requires navigation and a tracker; download the current course and checkpoint sheet rather than relying on another runner's route. Race information; entry and equipment details.
At the advertised distance, 13.5 hours divided by 54 miles equals 15:00 per mile including stops. This is a boundary calculation, not a recommended target pace or permission to arrive late at an intermediate checkpoint. For example, a 45-minute total stop budget leaves 12 hours 45 minutes of movement, about 14:10 per mile. Build your own split sheet around the actual checkpoint limits, with room for slower terrain and navigation mistakes.
Preparation that fits a long mixed-surface day
Use a familiar long outing to record how much time you spend moving, refilling, finding the route and changing layers. A road marathon result alone does not tell you how these interruptions will accumulate. Use the fueling practice guide to organise rehearsal notes rather than guessing a new race-day schedule. Practise opening your route file without mobile coverage and handling your bottles and food while wearing the pack you intend to use. These are planning suggestions, not additional organizer requirements.
The published entry equipment list is more detailed than the organizer's short summary: it includes a charged phone, supplied map book, at least one litre of carrying capacity, survival blanket, waterproof, whistle, torch and spare batteries, hat, gloves and a warm layer. Recheck that list and the final briefing before packing. Do not treat a generic trail checklist as a substitute. Official entry requirements.
Before paying or booking travel
Confirm that your ticket is for the solo ultra, marathon or relay and read the corresponding transport instructions. The event pages checked here advertise the 2027 edition; the final runner briefing can still change operational details. Registration capacity, your successful checkout and a future weather forecast are not established by this guide. Use the organizer's entry link for the live transaction and allow time for registration and parking before the ultra start.