Races
Why every ultra suddenly has a cut-off nobody can explain
Cut-offs spread from one race to the next. A short history of a very copied rule.
Read: Why every ultra suddenly has a cut-off nobody can explain
October 18, 2026 · 14 min
Ten editions of one race, and the volunteers who never missed one
I met nine of them. One has marked the same course every September since the start.
Next issue: Sunday 15 November
Get the letter on Sunday morning
One long read from the mountains, a few short notes and your letters. Free, and it always will be.
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Interview
Dawn at the trailhead with a runner who never carries a watch
He leaves at five, carries a paper map and has a theory about porridge and pacing he would like you to hear.