FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Event overview

What is the Lighthouse Ultra 180?

The Lighthouse Ultra 180 is an ultra-endurance triathlon covering 180 miles:

40 mile run
10 mile swim
130 mile bike

Solo or relay athletes have 3 days to complete the event.

The coast to coast course includes climbing England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike summit, swimming England's longest lake, Lake Windermere, and a bike route across three national parks, making it one of the most challenging UK triathlons.

What is the course difficulty level?

The triathlon is rated as extremely difficult due to cut off times, ultra-distances, multi disciplines, high elevations and exposed environments. Applications go through a rigorous selection process to review athlete’s past ultra endurance experience.

Where is the Lighthouse Ultra 180 held?

The event is a scenic coast to coast route, starting at North Pier Lighthouse in Whitehaven and finishing at West Pier Lighthouse in Whitby. The course passes through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks.

When will the event take place?

Athlete solo and relay slots will take place between June and September 2026.

Due to limited spaces for this event, the application process will consider both 2026 and 2027 applicants, including a waiting list.

Registration and entry

Who can participate?

Applicants can either be a solo entry with significant ultra-distance experience, or a relay team entering as a 3-part relay each covering an individual discipline or a tag-relay with an open format changing at regular intervals.

A 2-4 person relay team will be considered.

What is the cost of entering?

2026 Pricing for Lighthouse Ultra 180 triathlon:

Solo entry: £1,650*

2-person relay entry: £1,750*

3-person relay entry: £1,850*

4-person relay entry: £1,950*

*Cost of GP medical checks and insurance is arranged separately

What is the deposit and payment options?

To secure slot, a £350 deposit is required before 1st December 2025 (non-refundable).

The remaining amount is payable in two instalments:

50% due by 1st February 2026
50% due by 1st May 2026

What's included in entry fee for athletes?

Access to the Event Director via Zoom calls to discuss training & logistics
3 nights 'base camp' accommodation with tent & camping equipment included
Thursday evening welcome pasta party, with safety briefing
Official event observer and safety checkpoints
Support boat for the swim observer & crew, including swim safety support
GPS live tracking on our website
Garmin inReach - S.O.S. safety device
Event t-shirt and swim hat
Bespoke finishers medal
Social media photos & progress updates
Website blog post advertising your challenge, sponsors and fundraising

What additional costs (not included in entry fee) are there to consider?

Athlete insurance and medical checks
Support vehicle (hire or own car) and fuel throughout the event
Accommodation and travel arrangements before and after event window
Additional accommodation for support crew during the event if required
Nutrition and fuelling throughout the event and food and drink for support crew (exception: pasta party included on welcome evening)
Clothing, safety gear and equipment for run, hike, swim and bike (recommended list is included in Athlete Pack provided)
Car parking fees incurred throughout the event
Accommodation upgrades on request
Bespoke content and social media packages on request

How are entry slots allocated?

Once registered, we will contact you to complete an application. This includes:

Previous sporting achievements, including past ultra or long-distance run, swim and bike
Motivation and reasons for attempting the challenge
Medical questionnaire
Preferred year for event slot

Applicants will be contacted for a short phone discussion before the final athlete start list is confirmed. If your application is successful, your deposit payment, signed contract and waiver are needed to secure the slot.

If unsuccessful, we will contact you to indicate the reason/s why, this is not personal, a cautious selection process is in place for safety.

Due to limited event slots, there will be a waiting list and applicants will be informed if a slot becomes available. We aim to provide a minimum of 4-5 months notice before an available start slot.

How do I register?

You can register interest for 2026/27 here.

Event Logistics

How long do I have to complete the event and cut off-times?

Athletes have 3 days to complete the challenge. Based on recommended event structure and logistics, the cut off times are advised:

Day 1:

Run: 13 hours to complete 40 mile run

Day 2:

Swim: 7 hours to complete 10 mile swim (*based on ~2.3km/hr swim speed)

Day 3:

Bike: 12 hours to complete 130 mile bike

How do I navigate the course?

A detailed course map will be included in the Athlete Pack provided once slot confirmed. We can provide downloadable maps (GPX files) to upload into GPS sports watch and bike computers. The course has designated checkpoints for safety and the official observer can assist with navigation for athlete and support crew.

Do I need my own support team and vehicle?

Yes, all athletes are required to have a support team with a minimum of two people for solo entry (a driver and support crew) and one person for relay entry (a driver).

For the run, a support runner is required for accompanying the athlete on Scafell Pike ascent and decent. If athlete can not provide support runner, the ULTri Event team may be able to assist. Safety on the mountain is critical and an alternative route will be used in the case of bad weather.

For the swim, there is a maximum limit of two support crew or three relay athletes allowed on the boat at one time. Support crew is responsible for feeding.

For the bike, it is not permitted to be accompanied by another cyclist due to safety reasons.

A support vehicle is mandatory to assist athletes throughout the triathlon with fuelling and nutrition, as well as equipment, safety gear and clothing.

Training and preparation

How should I prepare for the Lighthouse Ultra 180?

The ULTri events team will arrange calls with athletes to prepare logistics and provide training advice. For coaching, we offer bespoke triathlon packages on our website with training programmes designed for this event by our ULTri Coach. Find out more here.

What packing essentials, equipment and safety gear are required?

A recommended packing checklist is included in the Athlete Pack provided. Here are the essentials:

Suitable clothing and shoes for all weather conditions for run, hike, swim and bike
Athlete bike and maintenance equipment, helmet and bike lights
Swim float, swim hat, optional wetsuit, towel and Vaseline
High visibility reflective vest for run and bike
Sufficient nutrition and fuelling with appropriate running hydration vest
Personal insurance documents, identification, medications
First-aid kit and emergency repair kits
Sun-cream, sport glasses and running cap
Mobile phone to be carried on athlete during run and bike

Safety and rules

What are the safety measures and race rules?

See race safety and event rules here

Do I need insurance?

Yes, solo and relay athletes attempting Lighthouse Ultra 180 are strongly advised to take insurance cover for this event.

For athletes based in UK, Sportscover Direct offer an Ultratriathlon insurance cover in the Sports Travel website section or can be arranged over the phone on 01494 484800.

Relay team members who decide to compete in individual discipline can select either ultramarathon, road cycling or open-water swimming insurance as relevant.

Refund and cancellation Policy

Can I receive a refund if I no longer can participate?

A £350 deposit is due 1st December 2025 - this is non-refundable.

The remaining balance is subject to the below terms:

Before the 1st May, you are eligible to cancel your slot and seek a 50% refund on your second payment (not including the original £350 deposit). After the 1st May, there are no refunds available, but please discuss transferring your slot to a future year with the Event Team.

What if poor weather occurs during my slot?

If poor weather is forecasted and assessed as unsafe to start, the Event Director will re-arrange an alternative slot with athlete(s) and entry fee will be transferred.

If weather conditions are assessed as safe, the Event Director is permitted to change the course route at any point before or during the event.

If Event Director decides to cancel the event at any point due to weather or events outside Athlete(s) control, the ULTri events team will re-arrange a new slot with athlete(s) and entry fees will be transferred.

What happens if I become injured before the event?

If injured, notify the ULTri events team as soon as possible to review situation and check possible refund or transfer options.

Other information

Can I enter and raise money for charity?

Definitely! We actively encourage fundraising for your chosen charity and can help advertise your attempt and charity on our instagram and website feeds.

How do I track a solo or relay team?

The event uses a GPS tracking devise to give real-time updates on the athletes progress. As some parts of the course are remote and out of mobile phone reception, the event director will use a satellite communication device to give updates to the support crew.

The ULTri event team will also post regular updates on Instagram for followers to track athlete(s) progress.

Can spectators attend?

Spectators can attend, but must park vehicles responsibly and wear high vis jackets when roadside at all times. Spectators are strongly discouraged from climbing Scafell Pike, as this section is best supported with an experienced support runner.

Can I apply if I live outside the UK?

The event is open to all Nationalities and ULTri events team can advise you with your travel arrangements ahead of your attempt. Due to the challenging terrain and changing weather, it is strongly advisable to book your travel leaving several days either side to allow for adverse weather. The British Summer is not always predictable.

What is the approximate lake temperature?

The lake temperature varies every year, but typically the water will be approximately 14degC at the start of the season in June, and will warm up towards 19degC later in August. During September, the water is normally at it's warmest, but the daylight hours are less. Non-wetsuit attempts are typically July onwards, depending on individuals cold-water experience.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Event Logistics

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