We are proud to welcome Vasque as our title sponsor and continue with Thorlo Socks, OMM Packs and Cliff Bar Nutrition as supporting sponsors. We are also delighted to welcome three new supporting sponsors - Capestorm Clothing and our new Retail partner Lakes Runner.

Nutrition Packs Socks Clothing Retail Partner

In its first year, the MUC saw some tough competition – 2 new course records, some head to head racing and the overall ladies winner only hit the leader board in the final race of the series. Already though, for the Vasque URC 2008 it looks like competition is hotting up. People like Lizzy Hawker, overall ladies winner of the Tour de Mont Blanc race and world 100km champion will be the person to beat in the ladies category and is the sort of talent that could easily feature in the top few overall. For the men, there are some fearsome new names signed up like Sean Ketteridge and Jez Braggs (3rd overall in 2006) will be hunting for success knowing that a better run in the short category could have secured victory last year.

Some sharp teams are taking shape too and with prizes for the top 3 men’s and women’s teams it’s all to play for. 2006 and 2007 winners – team Montrail – will be putting out a strong team again for 2008, with their new Team Sponsor Vasque so, c’mon, get out there and try to beat our guys!! The girls team Run Like a Girl put up a good performance last year but will be fighting for top places this year with teams from Macc Harriers, Goyt Valley Striders and the new Team Krypton Girls, we're sure there's more girls teams out there to give the top spots a run for their money!

The Series Explained

The series consists of 12 races grouped into three distance classes - short, medium and long. There are 4 races in each distance class.

Simply by completing races in the series you will get a score in the Championship. To be eligible for prizes and awards you will need to register - see the left hand side of your brouser for registration details.

There are several ways to be a winner in the Vasque Ultra-running Championship

· Overall winners - the main category counts your 4 best scores across the series. These have to include one at each distance.

· High Points Winner - fancy doing all 12? This category features prizes for the highest point scorers across all 12 races in the series. You don't have to do every race to qualify but the more you do the more points you can get. Everyone who completes all 12 races in the series will receive a souvenir “Grand Slam” t-shirt. In 2006 only one of these was awarded for this significant achievement and 2007 saw Si berry try for the T-shirt but injury got the better of his legs - take the challenge in 2008 and try all 12 races for that "Grand Slam".

· Individual Races – there will be great prizes for the first 3 men and women home at each race in the series plus a further 8 spot prizes at each race. So, you don’t have to be at the leading edge of the race to walk away with a some Thorlo socks, an OMM pack, a box of ClifBars, some clothing from Capestorm or a voucher from Lakes Runner.

· Spot prizes - throughout the year there will be lots and lots of lucky spot prize winners through this site – pairs of Vasque shoes, Thorlo socks, boxes of ClifBar and OMM packs. To be eligible you simply have to register for the Championships or check your existing 2006 and 2007 registration to make sure your details are correct and that you have ticked the 2008 registration box.

The races

It all kicks off in March with the 32 mile Wuthering Hike. Old timers will remember this is as the Howarth Hobble. It’s fearsomely fast on a good day.

Over Easter weekend, the action moves to the Isle of Man for the Manx Mountain Marathon. This 30.5 mile classic attracts fell-runners and distance runners from all over the UK. So, that’s two “short” events out of the way, time to step up the distance a little for the 37 mile Calderdale a few weeks later. Regulars of the Calderdale Way relay will know the terrain here – rough moor, green lanes and steep sided valleys.

The 61 mile Fellsman has seen some battles over the years and 2008 is shaping up to be one of them. It’s the event’s 46th year and Mark Hartell will be seeking a record 11th win. With good conditions and some fierce racing we could see the Fellsman record finally move under that decisive 10 hour barrier. The first “medium” distance race in the series takes place down South just one week later and covers 33 miles of great running terrain with fantastic views.

June gives Vasque URC racers a bit of a break or, more likely, a chance to tackle some even longer challenges like Bob Graham rounds before the action resumes on the North York Moors in July for the Osmotherley Phoenix. This excellent 33 miler takes place in the middle of a whole family festival of fun. 2006 saw the Phoenix racers facing one of the hottest days of the year and Vasque team member Stephen Watts, suffering heatstroke, taking 35 minutes to cover the final mile before collapsing over the line severely dehydrated and 2007 saw weather just as hot. At the end of July, the focus heads back south for the super fast Downland Challenge, an out-and-back course on the South Downs.

At the beginning of August, we've got a new event for 2008, the Devil O'The Highlands, a liear route following part (43 miles) of the West Highland Way.

The Bullock Smithy is another long-standing event originally restricted to the Scout movement. These days it’s a fairly fast and pretty competitive blast around the Peak District with Tony Okell turning out every year and winning it most years. Not as fast, however, as the 40 mile High Peak 40 later in September.

A week later is the last of the short distance races for the 08 series. The Pumlumon Challenge is a fairly new event but one with excellent terrain, slick organisation and good backing from the Welsh Tourist Board. The Long Mynd rounds off the year on the first weekend in October. This is a massively popular event and one which filled all its 480 places well before race day in 2006 and all 500 amonth before the event in 2007. Its also surprisingly tough and many underestimate just how much of a punch Shropshire can pack into 50 miles. Newcomers should note that the event doesn’t start until 1pm so whilst you get the benefit of a lie-in, it means that everyone can expect to finish in he dark – or in daylight the next day!!

And that’s it, in a nutshell. 2006 and 2007 saw blood, sweat, tears and joy and we can expect more in 2008. We will be keeping you up to speed with regular updates through the year.

Get out there and…run further and step beyond in 2008.