Friday 14th July 2028, Eastbourne.
6.30am: Registration opens
8am: Race start
12pm: Race finish (Tuesday 18th)
Race HQ will be in Helen Gardens, Eastbourne, BN20 7XL. The race will start and finish here.
Race numbers must be collected at registration along with a mandatory GPS Tracker.
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.
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
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
All finishers will receive a 200 mile finisher buckle. Trophies will be awarded to the overall men and women 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.
There will be 16 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:
There are no cutoffs for this race for the first 50km but there are at some other stations from this point on but not all. Runners must be finished by 12pm on Tuesday July 18th giving 100 hours to finish.
There will be three sleep stations at miles 53, 110 and 152. They will have a place to sleep, toilets, showers (2nd and 3rd only), USB charging ports, WiFi, hot food and drinks. There is a maximum time of 3 hours for the first station and 6 hours per station for the second and third. There will also be the option of sleeping in personal vehicles along the route. When stopping to sleep in personal vehicles, runners must make us aware they are stopping by calling Event Control or the Race Director.
Crews, pacers and supporters are allowed for this race. Crews and supporters are welcome along the route but please not at Aid Station locations. This is very important due to Landowner requests. We will disqualify runners if their supporters turn up at these locations. Pacers can start running from mile 50. Only one pacer at a a time. Pacers can come into the sleep stations with their runners but cannot sleep there or wait for their runners while they sleep.
These are the only points crews can meet their runners:
1. Seven Sisters Car Park, mile What3Words
2. Bo Peep Car Park, mile What3Words
3. Firle Beacon Car Park, mile What3Words
4. Southease, mile What3Words
5. Saddlescombe, mile What3Words
6. Summer down Car Park, mile What3Words
7. Beeding Hill Car Park, mile What3Words
8. Botolphs Lay-by, mile What3Words
9. Findon, mile What3Words
10. Arundel, Mill Road Car Park, mile What3Word
11. Eartham woods Car Park, mileWhat3Words
12. Trundle, Hill Car Park, mile, What3Words
13. Walderton, mile What3Words
14. Rowlands Castle Car Park, mile What3Words
15. Old Winchester Hill, mile What3Words
16. Butser Hill Car Park, mile What3Words
17. QECP Car Park, mile What3Words
18. South Harting, mile What3Words
19. Cocking, mile What3Words
20. Bignor Hill, mile What3Words
21. Houghton Farm, mile What3Words
22. Kithurst Hill Car Park, mile What3Words
23. Chantry Hill, Car Park, mile What3Words
24. Devils Dyke, mile What3Words
25. Saddlescombe mile What3Words
26. Clayton Windmills, mile What3Words
27. Ditchling Beacon, mile What3Words
28. Lewes Town Centre, mile What3Words
29. Glynde, mile What3Words
30. Alfriston, mile What3Words
31. Butts Brow, mile What3Words
Runners are allowed three drop bags which will be taken to the three major sleep Aid Stations along the route.
Runners will have the choice of leaving their finish line bag in Helen Gardens where it will remain safe until collected.
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 light 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 at any time during and after the race.
It is not mandatory, but we do suggest you bring a foldable cup to drink from as the race will be cup less.
The route will be well marked with UK Ultra arrows and ribbons throughout. The route largely takes place on the South Downs Way and Monarchs Way trails which are both well signed. These markers will be the main source of navigation along with the GPX but we will mark difficult to navigate areas and also any time the route deviates from one the these two main trails.
Even though the course will be 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 your GPS device or mobile. Unfortunately, sometimes markers do get removed by members of the public or turned in the opposite direction so having the route downloaded is very important as a back up.
Even though we will mark the route, please don't rely on this. Having the GPX downloaded will save you a lot of hassle in this situation as it is very accurate, and you can easily navigate the route with this alone if markers are tampered with. This doesn't happen very often however, all it takes is for one marker to be removed to send you in the wrong direction.
There are many 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.
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.
Please be sure to read through these RULES
Race 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.
South Downs 200 miles will be a UTMB Index Race. 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.
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.