South Downs Way 50

Before you make plans

This is a point-to-point 50 miles with a marathon qualification. Crews and pacers are not allowed, apart from the finishing lap of the track.

A point-to-point race with a qualification

The route leaves Hillbarn Recreation Ground in Worthing, joins the South Downs Way near Chanctonbury Ring, and finishes with a lap of the track at Eastbourne Sports Club. Expect about 1,750 m of climb, a 13-hour finish limit and a cutoff at each aid station.

To enter, you need a marathon-distance race completed inside that event’s own cutoff, between 1 January 2022 and race day. The organiser may contact unqualified entrants about eight weeks before the start.

Build your schedule from the organiser’s aid-station table, which lists seven stops including the finish.

The finish is in a different town

Registration is at Worthing College, next to the start. Dogs are not allowed there, or at the Eastbourne track. A finish-line bag of up to 50 litres can be left at registration and is taken to Eastbourne.

The bag makes the trip for you, but you still need a way home from Eastbourne, or someone who can meet you there.

What you cannot hand over

Crews and pacers are not permitted. Spectators may be on the course, but they must not park at the checkpoints or hand a runner anything except encouragement. On the last lap of the track, friends may run with you.

The ridge is chalk and exposed. The mandatory list includes a headtorch and a backup light, both at least 100 lumens, plus a cup, hat, gloves and a dry spare layer. With an 08:30 start and a 13-hour limit, slower runners will finish in the evening. A missing item can bring a one-hour penalty, so pack from the organiser’s kit page.

The fee is £118, or £120 if you are unaffiliated. There are 650 places on open registration, and the race has sold out in previous years, so check the entry form before you plan around a place.