Schedule

Friday 22nd May 2026, Helen Gardens, Eastbourne, BN20 7XL. What3Words location

5pm Registration 1 opens

8pm Registration 1 closes

‍

Saturday 23rd May 2026, Helen Gardens, Eastbourne, BN20 7XL

4.30am: Registration 2 opens.

5.30am: Registration 2 closes.

6am: Race start

12am: Race finish

‍

There will be two opportunities to collect Race Numbers (Bibs) Registration 1 will be on the Friday evening and Registration 2 on Saturday morning. While kit check can be done and numbers collected on the Friday, GPS Trackers can only be collected on the Saturday morning.

‍

Race start/finish location

Race registration/start will take part at Helen Gardens, Eastbourne, BN20 7XL

Race numbers will not be sent out in the post but, must be collected at registration along with a mandatory GPS Tracker.

The race will also finish at Helen Garden.

There will be plenty of parking in the nearby streets of Eastbourne. Some of this is free parking around the close by residential streets while parking on the seafront is pay and display. There will be a large marquee, toilets, seating, food/drink, and music at the start/finish.

‍

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

Most of the emissions created by events are from road vehicle travel. Eastbourne Train Station is located about one and a half miles from Race HQ so please do your best to come by train and walk or cycle from there and reduce the emissions created. The environmental impact of travelling by road is massively reduced if the vehicle is full so please do your best to car share with others where possible.

‍

Bus services

There will be a small shuttle service available after the race, which will transport all entrants that wish to use it, to the local train station and nearby hotels. This is free of charge and will depart every 30 mins.

‍

‍Runner Details

Please make sure that all the information you have given us is correct and updated if it has changed since signing up. This includes Next of Kin details, your mobile number, any medical issues and medication you are taking. This is all very important if a situation arises during the race. You can update this by going to your Eventrac account or if you don’t have one, then the confirmation email you received when entering will enable you to manage your entry. If you can’t find this email, then please get in touch and we can send you another.

‍

What3Words

On race weekend we will be using the App What3Words. We ask that all runners please download it to their mobile phone if possible and make sure the location setting is switched on. All runners will be wearing a GPS tracker however, if for any reason this stops working or signal is lost, then this app will allow everyone to give us their exact location if lost, or in an emergency. It’s very easy to use and could be very important.

https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app

‍

Route GPX

Please be sure to download the GPX file as close to race day as possible. This can be found below. There have been a few small adjustments made already to the route recently, and there is always the possibility of more diversions popping up beforehand. If you have downloaded it already, then please do so again and do it as close to race day as possible. Route GPX

‍

Awards

All finishers will receive a medal. Trophies will be awarded to the winners only, not second and third places.

Prizes will also be given to each age category winners only, not second and third place. The categories are male and female 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+. These will be sent out after the event.

‍

Aid Stations

There will be 7 very well stocked Aid Stations along the route which are listed below. Aid stations will carry a wide range of food and drink and will cater for everyone’s needs including vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. This list is what will be on offer as a minimum:

• Bananas
• Watermelon
• Dates
• Crisps (Vegan)
• Dissolvable electrolyte tablets

• Jam, cheese, cheese and pickle, Marmite sandwiches all made with vegan spread
• Homemade vegan/gluten free lemon drizzle cake
• Skittles (Vegan) and Jelly Babies
• Coke
• Soreen (Vegan)
• Chocolate
• Jaffa Cakes
• Flapjack
• Squash and Ribena
• Sausage rolls (Normal and vegan)
• Roasted salted potatoes (Vegan)
• Water

‍

Cut Offs

There is a time limit of 18 hours for the race and all runners must be finished by 12am. There are cut offs at some of the Aid Station locations. We will give you a little bit of wiggle room with these so please don't stress too much. If you are way over the cut off time then we will have to ask you to stop.

‍

Drop Bags

Runners will have the option of leaving a drop bag at registration. This bag will be transported to the 35 mile (56.7km) point at Housedean Farm where it will be kept safe and ready for your collection. Please keep these bags as small as possible. Please be aware that if you would like to transfer the drop bag to the finish line after using it then it will not be transported until after the last runner has left Housedean Farm. With travel time it should arrive at the finish by 5pm. If you finish before this and don’t want to wait, then we can hold the bag for collection the following week or post it to you if you are willing to cover postage costs. We suggest you have some spare clothes in this bag incase of bad weather, along with any snacks/drinks you might prefer that we don't provide.

‍

Crews and spectators

Crews and spectators are very welcome to come along and support their runners throughout the day. It is however very important for the future of the race that they behave in a sensible manner throughout. There are privately owned car parks along the route that can become overcrowded very quickly and spectators must take it upon themselves to follow the rules of any certain car park. Not following these rules by parking on grass verges and in places that are not official parking spaces etc just because they are there to watch the race will not go down well and could put the future of the race in jeopardy. If a certain car park is full then please just move on to the next one. Any crew not acting sensibly will result in the disqualification of their runner.

Crews and spectators can meet runners along the route, however please not at aid station locations. This is by request of the landowners and is very important we abide with this. We will disqualify any runner whose crew/spectators turns up at these locations. They must also be aware to keep noise down during the early morning hours in residential areas.

‍

SWEEPER BUS

There will not be an official sweeper vehicle in operation during the event to collect runners that can no longer continue. We will do all we can to help, but there is often a long waiting time for this, and there is only so much we can do to support runners in this situation. It is essentially the runner’s responsibility to plan ahead in the situation they do have to drop out of the race, to arrange support and transport to get home. Our main priority when runners drop out is with runners still in the race. We will do what we can to help but, please plan ahead for this by arranging your own transport and it is mandatory to bring cash and a bank card for local transport/taxi. If we are able to arrange transportation it will only be able to take you to nearby aid stations, local transport locations etc. It will not be able to take you to the finish line unless you decide to drop out late into the race and the journey is not too far.

‍

Finish Line Bags

Runners will also have the option of leaving a finish line bag at registration. This is limited to one bag per runner. The bag will be transported to the finish line area safe and ready for your collection. Please ensure the bag is clearly marked with your name and bib number. We recommend that runners bring some warm, dry clothes to change into after finishing. If any bags are not collected, then we can hold them for collection until the following week, or post them if you are willing to cover postage costs.

‍

Pacers

Pacers are not permitted during the race.

‍

Mandatory Kit

The course is predominantly on easy going trails with small road sections as well. At the time of year the race takes place, the ground should be dry and hard. We therefore suggest that both road running and trail shoes are suitable.

Runners must carry the following equipment with them at all times and, will be disqualified for failing kit checks. Inspections will take place before, during and, after the race.

• Fully charged mobile phone including the numbers for the Race Medic, Race Director and Event Control which will be available at registration.

• Foil blanket or Emergency survival blanket.
• Hydration system capable of holding one litre of liquid.
• Whistle
• Fully charged headlamp (300 lumens minimum) with spare batteries or charger pack
• Waterproof jacket with a hood and taped seams (10,000 rating minimum)
• Base layer top (Must be long sleeved and must be kept dry in your race pack, not worn from the start)
• A bank card and £50 cash. Apple Pay on a phone as an example can replace one of these options. You must though have a payment option and a backup
• The route downloaded to a GPS device or mobile

It is not mandatory, but we do suggest you bring a foldable cup as the race will be cup less as well as items such as a warm hat, gloves, spare base layer in case of bad weather. These can be left in your finish bag or with your crew if you decide before the race that they aren't necessary.

‍

Route Markers and Navigation

We will mark the route thoroughly with UK Ultra arrows and UK Ultra ribbons. A map and compass are not necessary at all although, never a bad idea. Even though the course will be thoroughly marked, it is the runner’s responsibility to navigate it successfully. We do however suggest you try and recce the route as much as possible and it is mandatory to download the GPX file onto a GPS device or mobile phone.

‍

Trail etiquette

Please be aware that the race route follows trails, paths and fields that will be shared by other members of the public and livestock. It is very important to be polite, courteous, and kind at all times. Just because you are in a race does not give you priority over them. Please be cautious when running through fields with livestock. Please approach and pass them slowly and cautiously.

 The route backs onto homes at many points during the race, but please be especially considerate at nighttime and in the early morning where the race passes through residential areas. There must be absolutely no littering along the course. Anyone seen doing so will be disqualified. There will also be times where the race passes through farmers’ fields with livestock in, and it is essential that all gates are please closed after using them. Failure to do this will obviously mean livestock can potentially escape. Anyone seen not closing gates will be disqualified. It is that important.

‍

Rules

Please be sure to read through these RULES

‍

Medical

There will be an experienced team of Race Medics available to runners before, during and after the event including First Aid Teams, Response Cars and Ambulances. There is the possibility due to some locations on the course that the medical team might take some time to reach you. In this situation you should call 999.

‍

Photography

We have teamed up with The Graphic Corner Sussex to cover the event. These images will be FREE to all runners and will be available a few days after the event.

Please do not get in touch asking when they will be ready immediately after the event. This has nothing to do with us and the photos will be ready once the photographer has had time to process them all. As soon as they are ready they will be made available on the website and sent out via email.

‍

UTMB, ITRA and DUV Statistics

South Downs 100K is a UTMB Index Race and has been awarded 3 ITRA points. Results will be sent to UTMB, ITRA and DUV about a week after the event has finished so please be patient with this. If you would not like us to share your results with any of these three then please let us know.

‍

Medical

There will be an experienced team of race medics available to runners before, during and after the event including first aid teams, response cars and ambulances. There is the possibility due to some locations on the course that the medical team might take some time to reach you. In this situation you should call 999.

‍

‍