Runners take on 'legendary' islands ultra marathon

Organisers said 10 runners would be tackling the Five Islands Ultra this year

An "iconic" ultra marathon across the Channel Islands is back 10 years after it was last run.

The Five Islands Ultra is being staged by Run Jersey Events with 10 people tackling courses in Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm between Saturday and Monday.

Organisers said the race starts on Saturday with a 10-mile (16.1km) course in Alderney before runners take on a 10-mile course in Sark and three-miles (4.83km) in Herm.

On Sunday, runners will take on Guernsey's GU36 - another ultra marathon - covering 36 miles (57.94km) and finish with a 48-mile (77.25km) run in Jersey on Monday.

Race director Digby Ellis-Brecknell said organising the event can be a logistical nightmare with trying to get the runners across the five islands over the weekend.

He said this was part of the reason the event had not been staged for 10 years, but it was decided to run it again after interest around the race grew.

Mr Ellis-Brecknell said: "I had people come up to me saying they had heard about this legendary race and wanted to do it.

"It is one of those races that is iconic."

The last time the Five Islands Ultra was run was in 2014

Along with the distances covered, Mr Ellis-Brecknell said there were other challenges that runners might have to considered which is different to other races.

"You have to think of things like getting seasick while moving between the islands, because doing 10 miles then can become horrendous," he said.

'Very special race'

Mr Ellis-Brecknell said he had not initially planned to bring the event back regularly, but was approached by other people who said they would help organise future races.

"With all these kind of events, in the build up, you say 'never again' because the logistics of it are ridiculous," he said.

"But when I start having a chat with the runners and see them in the pub for the a pint afterwards, there's a buzz.

"It's a bit of a once in a lifetime event as there are very few races where you will get to go to give places that are completely different, so it is a very special race."