In 2015 event organiser Ultra Running (URL) introduced its first end-to-end road running race across Britain, from John O’Groats to Land’s End – aka JOGLE.
Held each March and although fully supported – with hotel accommodation, baggage transfers, breakfasts and evening meals, plus feed stations en route – the ultra marathon stage event is a notably tough challenge, with 17 daily stages (each of 50+ miles) to complete the total 854 miles.
In March 2024, Mount To Coast, an Asian producer of running footwear designed specifically for road ultra-distance running got on board with URL. Coinciding with its sponsorship of a number of URL events, including title sponsorship of MTC JOGLE, the brand’s first three models were launched on April 26, 2024.
As title sponsors, MTC also sent a film crew and personnel to record the race. The company also offered to supply each runner in March with two pairs of yet-to-be-released road shoes.
As seven runners lined up for the start in John O’Groats, nearly all decided to run in the MTC shoes (the only person not wearing them having unluckily been sent the wrong size).
MTC JOGLE is a super-tough event, with few starters completing the task. But 2024 saw three finishers. Justin Montague won in a time of 146 hours & 44 minutes breaking the URL organised JOGLE record by over 38 hours (wearing just one pair of MTC R1 shoes throughout).
Lucong Geng got to Lands End in second (using one pair of MTC S1 shoes) just ahead of Adrian Rewig in third.
As a result of extra attention, the next edition of MTC JOGLE in spring 2025 sold out its quota of 12 starting spots within a week following the conclusion of the 2024 event.
This set into motion URL’s long-term dream to launch LEJOG for autumn 2025. LEJOG will be the same route, but in reverse, going from Land’s End up to John O’Groats in Scotland.
www.ultrarunningltd.co.uk
www.mounttocoast.com
