Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race

Results: 2026

55 runners finished.

Official timing shows the same distances. The organizer's results PDF rounds them to 254.04 km and 217.38 km and ranks 56 runners, marking some as withdrawn; DUV counts 55 finishers (40 men, 15 women) and lists the race as the UK national 24-hour track championship. The organizer has not announced the 2027 date or venue.

Source: DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics — 35th Self-Transcendence 24 h Track Race, Tooting Bec. Checked September 24, 2026.

Event Overview

Incorporates the British 24-Hour Championships 2026. An IAU Bronze Label event limited to 55 experienced ultra-runners, held on the Tooting Bec Athletics Track — the race's long-standing London home.

Course & Terrain

Fixed-time 24-hour race on a standard athletics track at Tooting Bec.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• British 24 Hour Championships 2026
• IAU Bronze Label and UK Athletics permit
• Direction changes every four hours
• Live results, lap counters, and hourly scoreboard updates

The track makes distance control and support easy, but it amplifies repetitive-load stress and mental fatigue.

The track is floodlit overnight; runners still need layers and wet-weather planning for a full September day and night in London.

Format & Support (as run)

Why This Race Matters

Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race is a useful reference point for runners comparing 24-hour events. Its format, terrain, and support model shape the kind of preparation required: not just fitness, but pacing discipline, nutrition planning, foot care, and the ability to make good decisions under fatigue.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• Men: Donald Ritchie, 268.25 km, Copthall Stadium 1991
• Women: Therese Falk, 236.8 km, Tooting Bec 2017

Preparing for a Race Like Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race

The 24-hour race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• 24-hour races explained: How the format works and what to compare before entering.
• How to train for a 24-hour race: Progression, walking, night-gear practice, fueling and tapering.
• 24-hour race pacing strategy: Conservative starts, run/walk options and late-race reassessment.
• What to eat during a 24-hour race: Food choices, stomach problems, hydration and caffeine.

Best Fit

• Experienced 24-hour runners targeting national-standard competition
• Athletes who want precise pacing and lap-count support
• Runners comfortable with strict track etiquette and no pacing

Planning Notes

• Start conservatively and use flexible process checkpoints for effort, walking, food, fluid, alertness, and symptoms instead of forcing one hourly distance target.
• Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
• The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Browse the curated 24-hour race calendar
• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Browse the 24-hour race calendar
• Open the 24-Hour format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist