Ultra X Donates Over £40,000 in Event Places and Commits to Giving Away 1,000 Places in 2026

January 30, 2026

January 30, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Ultra X, the global trail running series committed to making endurance sport more inclusive and accessible, has today announced a major milestone in its access initiatives.

Six months on from launching its Under-23 free entry scheme across UK events, Ultra X confirms that in 2025 alone it has given away more than £40,000 worth of event places, helping remove financial barriers for young and underrepresented runners to take part in trail and ultra running.

Building on this momentum, Ultra X has also confirmed an ambitious commitment for the year ahead. In 2026, the organisation is targeting the donation of over 1,000 event places across its UK and international calendar, significantly scaling its efforts to broaden access to endurance events, and is in search of brand partners that are interested to be a part of this.

These donated places include entries awarded through the Under-23 scheme, as well as Ultra X’s wider Pay It Forward programme, which enables runners and partners to fund places for individuals who may otherwise be unable to participate. The Pay It Forward scheme runs alongside Ultra X’s core events and allows the community to directly support access to the sport.

“Six months ago, we said we wanted to remove cost as a barrier and see what was possible,” said Sam Heward, Co-Founder of Ultra X. “The response has been overwhelming. Seeing young runners on start lines who may never have had this opportunity has reinforced why this matters. Donating over £40,000 of places in a single year is something we are incredibly proud of, and committing to more than 1,000 places in 2026 is us doubling down on that belief.”

The Under-23 initiative applies to all distances at Ultra X UK events, while the Pay It Forward scheme extends access further by supporting runners from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. Together, these programmes form a core part of Ultra X’s long-term commitment to growing the sport responsibly and inclusively.

Ultra X continues to work closely with community organisations and partners who share its mission to diversify trail running and create pathways into endurance sport that are supportive, safe and welcoming.

Each Ultra X event provides fully marked courses, regular aid stations, comprehensive safety planning and on-site medical teams, ensuring that accessibility is matched with high standards of event delivery and participant care.

For more information on the Under-23 initiative or the Pay It Forward scheme, visit
www.ultra-x.co or contact Sam Heward.

Media Contact:
Sam Heward
Co-Founder, Ultra X
07585 707521
sam@ultra-x.co