South Downs Way 100

Before you make plans

Plan for a 3,800 m chalk ridge, two start waves and crew access only at the published points. The opening miles are on private land.

The ridge, the waves and the cutoff

The page lists 100 miles and about 3,800 m of climb, from Matterley Bowl near Winchester to the track at Eastbourne. The finish limit is 30 hours, with a cutoff at every aid station. There are at least 12 aid stations. Hot food is listed at Washington and the finish.

Wave 1 starts at 05:30 and wave 2 at 06:30. Both keep the same 30-hour limit. Only wave 1 is eligible for the overall awards. You can change your estimated finish time until the waves are published, about three weeks before the race.

The first miles are a loop on the Matterley Estate before the route joins the South Downs Way. The page asks runners not to recce those opening miles, because they are on private land.

Crew, pacers and drop bags

Pacers are allowed from Kithurst Hill at mile 50. Only one pacer may run with you at a time, and each pacer needs the pacer bib issued at registration. Friends may join you for the last lap of the track.

You may have one crew vehicle. A crew pass is handed out at registration, and crews can meet you only at the points on the crew instructions. Drop bags go to Washington at mile 54, Housedean at mile 76, and the finish. The size limit is 50 by 30 by 30 cm.

The page says those bags can be collected at the finish between 08:00 and 12:30, and that anything left after 12:30 will be disposed of. It does not name the calendar date of that window, so confirm it in the final instructions. The entry list also includes overnight camping at the start.

Kit, and when the lights start

Lights are required from Washington, not from the gun. The rest of the mandatory kit applies throughout: a charged phone, at least one litre of fluid capacity, a survival blanket, a waterproof with sealed seams, a whistle, a cup, and a dry long-sleeved layer carried separately.

The qualification on this page is a 50-mile race within 15 hours, between 1 January 2020 and race day. That is a different start date from the Thames Path 100 rule. The fee is £225, or £227 if you are unaffiliated. The page describes general entries as open. Confirm that on the entry form.