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entries openBreaking Strain
Run the Borders 109K
Run the Borders series
Next edition: Saturday, 21 August 2027 – Sunday, 22 August 2027Melrose, Scotland
A clockwise circuit of the Borders Abbeys Way from Melrose, visiting the four ruined abbeys and the region's historic towns on riverbank, farm track, trail and road.
Race area · approximate race area. Approximate race area. Check the organiser’s website for the exact start and race-day directions.
Location evidence
Existing saved event-to-place evidence reused; geography query derived from 'Melrose'. GeoNames exact settlement/suburb name match for 'Melrose', country Scotland, administrative area The Scottish Borders, region Scotland; population 2500 (zero means unspecified). Representative event-area point, not a venue address, exact start or radius guarantee. Directional catalogue locations use the first disclosed event locality only as EVENT_AREA; other route endpoints are not substituted. Geographic lookup does not reverify dates or non-location facts. GeoNames (https://www.geonames.org/), CC BY 4.0; transformed to event-area coordinates with separate event-source evidence.
Location checked 2026-09-14.
Official race site (opens in a new tab)
Optional device-only history; never synced to your account. Shared-device users can leave it off.
Distance67.7 mi
Ascent1,900m*
Climb / km17.4m
Cutoff20h
Cutoff pace11:01/km
Technicality3.8/10
Entry£110
FormatLooped
Next edition
21 August 2027 – 22 August 2027
This is the most relevant confirmed edition currently held for the permanent race family. Edition-specific facts should still be checked against the final organiser instructions.
Edition archive
This is the only edition currently stored for this race family. Earlier verified editions can be added without changing the permanent race URL.
Check the official race source (opens in a new tab)Plan your next race
Compare the route, time limit and entry requirements with other options. The first-ultra guide helps assess readiness; it does not imply this race is suitable for beginners.
Race For You difficulty
5.1/ 10
Moderate
High input evidence · 89% evidence coverage
The main recorded demands are balanced overall demands. Course difficulty and cutoff pressure describe different challenges: more approachable terrain can still require a demanding pace to beat the deadline. Neither score assesses your personal fitness, safety or readiness.
Scoring details and version
Difficulty V2's separate time-limit modifier adds 0.15 points here and is capped at 0.70; a broad limit cannot erase extreme intrinsic demand. This is independent of the public Cutoff Pressure V2 band. Evidence coverage describes the recorded inputs, not prediction accuracy or your likelihood of finishing.
Weather, conditions and individual preparation can change the real difficulty significantly.
How the score works Distance, weighted 30 percent5.3 out of 10
Climbing, weighted 25 percent3.7 out of 10
Technicality, weighted 15 percent3.8 out of 10
Accumulated burden, weighted 17 percent4.2 out of 10
Exposure & support, weighted 13 percent5.1 out of 10
Course analysis
What shapes this race
Expect largely runnable, non-technical surfaces.
trailroadmixednon-technical
Climbing density
17.4m per km
A more useful comparison than total ascent alone: it shows how consistently the course asks you to climb.
Cutoff analysis
High pressure
To finish inside 20h, the raw average required is 11:01 per kilometre (17:44 per mile), including every stop.
Raw pace11:01/km
PressureHigh pressure
Cutoff pressure compares the published time limit with distance, ascent and verified course demands. Lower pressure does not mean the race is easy. Raw pace includes checkpoints, food stops, navigation errors and any sleep; it is not a pacing plan.
Who this suits
First ultra?
A realistic target for a prepared runner with some trail or ultra experience, but not the softest possible introduction to the distance.
5.7/10 suitability
Navigation
fully marked
The route is described as marked, but runners should still read the final race instructions.
Exposure & kit
moderate kit
Significant overnight running is likely for many entrants. Lighting, temperature management and sleep strategy can materially affect the outcome.
Personal race predictor
Will you make the cutoff?
Use a previous result to estimate a realistic range for Run the Borders 109K, your potential buffer and the biggest change in demand.
Practical detail
Support & logistics
Aid stations12 listed
Support levelaid stations
LogisticsParking noted
LogisticsPublic transport possible
LogisticsAccommodation nearby
LogisticsBag drop
Logistics are only shown where currently recorded. Confirm parking, transport, crew access and final aid-station plans with the organiser.
Latest verification
Trust the source, see the gaps.
Data PartialThe organiser marks the 2027 date TBC while separate sections print provisional 21 August and 21–22 August windows, so no exact date or open-registration state is stored. The marketed 109K, alternate 108km wording, approximate ascent, 20-hour cutoff and full price are retained transparently. Field-scoped check 2026-09-28: Official entry opening 6 November 2026; date remainsprovisional. Only these facts were reviewed; other details retain their previous source dates. Field-scoped review 2026-10-28: The current organiser page no longer calls the date provisional and explicitly schedules both individual races for 21 August 2027 at 06:00. The 109km 20-hour race extends into the published 21–22 August weekend; the 50km has its own ten-hour limit. Entries open 6 November 2026; no exact opening time is supplied. Other facts retain their earlier verification dates.
- Successful source check
- 2 Sept 2026
- Catalogue record updated
- 28 Oct 2026
- Official source
- Available
Elevation is approximate or awaiting final confirmation.
Event details can change after a successful source check. Confirm the final route, kit, cutoff, price and entry terms directly with the organiser before entering or travelling.
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