All of the pre race information is shown below so please make sure to read ALL of it carefully.
Saturday 27th September 2025, Plumpton Racecourse, Lewes, BN7 3AL
What3words location for Race HQ
4.30pm: Registration opens
6pm: Registration closes
6.15pm: Race start
Race numbers (bibs) will not be sent out in the post but must be collected at registration. We do not allow changes of race on the day so moving up to the 50k on the day cannot be done. Please do not turn up on the day and ask this question as the answer will be no.
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. There are no GPS Trackers for this race so having 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
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
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.
Race registration and start will take place at Plumpton Racecourse. There will be signs to direct you from the main road. There are two entrances to the racecourse but please use the one to the Northern end where Plumpton Train Station is located. What3Words entrance location
The race will also finish at the Racecourse.
There will be free parking available at the racecourse along with free camping on the Saturday night, male/female toilets and showers.
Most of the emissions created by events are from road vehicle travel. Plumpton Train Station is located literally about 400 meters from Race HQ so please do your best to come by train 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.
Camping is available onsite and is free to all. Tents and camper vans are allowed but please no motorhomes or large camper vans. You will be allowed to camp anywhere on the grass near to Race HQ in the middle of the racecourse. There are plenty of toilets and showers onsite.
The race track around the outside is completely out of bounds for everyone over the weekend so please make sure to stay well away from it and make supporters and crew aware. This includes dogs. Race HQ will be based in the middle of the racecourse and the only way to cross the racing track if needed is via the crossing points.
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+
There will be 1 aid station along the route serving water, High 5 gels, coke, sweets, water melon, bananas, crisps, vegan/ gluten free polenta cake, chocolate.
There are no cut offs for this race along the route but runners must be finished by 10.15pm.
There are no crew or pacers allowed for this race and no spectators out on the route. The reason for this is that there really isn’t anywhere along the route for them to watch runners without upsetting the locals and landowners. There will be refreshments at the finish line and plenty of parking so please ask supporters to wait there to see off and welcome home their runners.
Runners will have the choice of leaving their finish line bag at the start area where it will be safely held ready for your collection.
While we appreciate runners want to run as light as possible for a distance this short, with it being in the dark its necessary to bring a few items for safety reasons. Runners will need to carry the following items:
• Route downloaded on a GPS device or mobile phone
• Fully charged mobile phone
• Head torch or chest torch (min 300 lumens) must be fully charged
• Whistle
• It is not mandatory to carry these items, but we do suggest you bring the following:
• A foldable cup as the race will be cup less
• A race vest or waist belt with your own water bottles (500ml)
• A waterproof jacket
We ask all runners to please not wear earphones during the race. This is purely for Health and Safety reasons when crossing roads, if we try to call and hearing instructions from Marshall’s. As mentioned, if we need to call you for any reason during the race then it is important you can hear your phone. Bone Conduction are allowed.
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.
We will mark the route thoroughly with our reflective 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. Unfortunately markers can occasionally be tampered with by members of the public by either turning them in the wrong direction or removing them completely. This is why it is very important and mandatory to have the route downloaded as a back up option.
There are several road crossings along the route, some of which are very busy and potentially dangerous. It is your responsibility as runners to always navigate these road crossings safely. Please pass along and cross these as you normally would by using the Highway Code and staying on the righthand side against the flow of cars when on country lanes. A few small sections will entail running on country lanes without pavements, so please stay on the right and be cautious. There will be marshals at some of these crossings however, the majority will be unmanned, so please take your time and be sensible when navigating them.
There are also small carparks along the route that can potentially be dangerous. Please be cautious of vehicles when approaching and passing through these.
If you must drop out of the race at any time and feel you cannot continue, then please do all you can to make it to the closest aid station where you can inform the aid station captain that you wish to stop. At this point you must hand over your race number and you will be officially taken out of the race. If you are attending the race by yourself, without friends or family, and feel that you cannot continue and make it to an aid station, then it is essential you call the Race Director. If you are injured or unwell, then please contact the Race Medic. In an emergency always call 999.
If you feel you want to drop out while not at an aid station and are collected by friends/family or want to make your own way home, then it is again essential that you make your way to the nearest aid station to hand in your Race Number. If you leave without informing us, and handing these in, you will be classified as lost, and this will result in the initiation of Search and Rescue which you the runner will be charged for.
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.
We have teamed up with Mick Hall Photos to cover the event. These images will be FREE to all runners and will be available a few days after the event. Due to the entire event taking place in darkness, there will only be start and finish line photos where appropriate lighting can be used.
Please do not get in touch asking when they will be ready. This has nothing to do with us unfortunately and they 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.
The Dark Downs Half Marathon is a UTMB Index Race. Results will be sent to UTMB 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 them then please let us know.