Race to the King

WEEKENDER:

The ultimate weekend exploring the trails and relaxing overnight at our halfway basecamp.

Route: Arundel to Winchester
Distance: 53.6 miles
Elevation: 5,051ft

With rolling hills, testing climbs and stunning scenery, this route really has it all! Setting off from Arundel on the Saturday morning, you will venture out in to the breathtaking South Downs to explore all it has to offer. Stopping overnight at our halfway point, you can rest up and relax at our fantastic basecamp before getting ready to head back out on to the trails the following day.

With the second half of your journey even more beautiful than the first (if you can believe it!) it won’t be long before you see the steps of the impressive Winchester Cathedral. An icon in British history, it is the perfect finish for such a monumental achievement.

NON-STOP:

53.6 miles. 1 day. An unforgettable journey.

Route: Arundel to Winchester
Distance: 53.6 miles
Elevation: 5,051ft

Beginning at Arundel, you will set off to explore the stunning South Downs Way, full of luscious greenery and breathtaking scenery.

With the incredible Queen Elizabeth Country Park full of impressive woodland, the beautiful Cheesefoot Head which is a natural amphitheatre and most importantly the iconic Winchester Cathedral where your journey will end, your experience promises to be rich in both history and in astonishing scenery.

Trekking along the trails, it is a real test of both mental and physical endurance to see if you can end triumphant and smiling at the finish line!

DAY 1:

23.4 miles through the undulating South Downs Way.

Route: Arundel to Basecamp
Distance: 23.4 miles
Elevation: 2,718 ft.

As you set off on your memorable journey across the South Downs Way, you can expect challenging climbs and constantly changing surroundings every step of the way.

With rolling hills, luscious greenery and fantastic wildlife, you won’t want your journey to end, even if it is at our fantastic basecamp! With food, bars and a chilled atmosphere waiting for you, there is no better place to celebrate your amazing achievement.

DAY 2:

30.2 miles along the iconic South Downs finishing at the historic Winchester Cathedral.

Location: Basecamp to Winchester
Distance: 30.2 miles
Elevation: 2,333ft

Setting off from the basecamp early Sunday morning, you will be trekking amongst some of the best countryside Britain has to offer. Heading through the Queen Elizabeth Country Park you will experience the impressive 1,400 acres of open woodland before going past the historic Cheese foot Head natural Amphitheatre.

Ending at the iconic Winchester Cathedral, it is the perfect finishing site for this incredible challenge. Standing under the shadow of this impressive building, there is no greater place to reflect on everything you have accomplished.

Adresses:

Start address: Gaston Farm, School Hill, Slindon, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0RS
Base camp (midway point and Day 2 start address): Hundred Acres Farm, Compton, West Sussex, PO18 9NN (the field is not exactly at this postcode, but close by – this is the main farm)
Finish address: Winchester Cathedral, 9 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LS

Age Limits:

Participants must be aged 16 years or above by the start of the event to be allowed to enter the event.

Participants under the age of 18 years (but over the age of 16 years) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for health and safety reasons.

Team Entry:

Teams of friends: as we need all medical and dietary info from each participant, we need each individual to register individually. There will be a section on the registration form that allows you to write in your team name, so that we can link you with your other team mates. This is important so that we know to put you in the same camping zone for the event.

Corporate teams: if you are interested in entering a corporate team, please contact us at [email protected] We can invoice your company for the places so the individuals don’t have to pay on registration when signing up. We will also let you know how we can support your pre-event experience on elements such as kit design and training days.

Race Packs:

Your race packs will get sent out 1 week before the event start date.

If you are travelling from overseas, you will not receive your pack in the post and you will need to pick it up from the registration desk on the day. This is also the case for anyone who registers after 22nd May.

The race pack will include your bib number with safety pins, a luggage label and your participant wristband. It will also include your parking permit if you purchased parking before 22nd May.

If you have any questions about your pack, please head to the Info Desk on the day of the event.

Start Times:

SATURDAY – 
We will be running a staggered start so as to reduce congestion on the first part of the route. You will have chosen your start time when registering for the event.

The start times for 2020 on the Saturday morning are between 7:30am-8:35am with the faster runners setting off in the earliest wave groups. We recommend you arrive 30-45mins before your start time.

You are able to change start wave up until one month before the event. This needs to be a request sent by email.

SUNDAY –
On the Sunday, participants can start any time between 6am and 7am (there are no designated start times per person).

Prizes:

We will be awarding prizes for the fastest males and female for each distance.

To compete for first place, and be in with a chance of winning the trophy you will need to set off in the first wave group (A).

If you have chosen a different wave group but would like to qualify for a chance to win, please let us know a minimum of one month in advance of the event so that we can put you in the correct wave group.

Bag Transport:

We will transport your bags for you from the start to your final destination each day. In your registration pack you will be given a luggage label with your participant number on it to attach to any luggage so it is easy to find at the end of the day. You’ll just need to drop bags with us in the morning and it will be there for you to pick them up at the other end.

We would advise that you carry a small rucksack with you containing essentials such as a water bottle, first aid kit, spare pairs of socks and another layer of warm/waterproof clothing in case the weather changes.

Camping:

Your tent will be pitched ready and waiting for you when you arrive at basecamp and you will collect your sleeping mat when you check in to tent allocation.

You will need to bring your own sleeping bag.

Tents are 2 man pop up tents (allocated one per person) so if you are participating in a couple you can opt to put your bags in one tent and yourselves in another.

You are not permitted to provide your own tent and camp on site.

All basecamp space is reserved for the event set up and event vehicles. If you wish to camp overnight on site you will need to book the relevant package.

Pit Stops:

NON-STOP – 
For those running Non-Stop there will be approximately 7 pre-determined pit stops.

WEEKENDERS/1-DAY – 
Each day there will be approximately 3 pre-determined pit stops.

All the pit stops provide snacks, drinks, toilets and first aid facilities. These are designed to give you a short rest break (max. 20 mins) and refuel you for the next stage of the event. The exact distances and cut off times will be shared with you in the lead up to the event.

Please note: we ask that you don’t arrange to meet friends and family at pit stops as they can become very crowded if each participant has supporters there as well. Instead we recommend they meet you at the base camp or away from the event pit stops.

Cut-Off Times:

NON-STOP – 
The route is open from 7.30am on Saturday 20th June, until Sunday 21st June at 8.00pm

WEEKENDER/1-DAY – 
The route is open from 7.30am – 10.00pm on Saturday 20th June, and Sunday 21st June from 6.00am – 8.00pm

Please note: Each pit-stop will have a cut off time (determined closer to the start of the event). If you miss the cut off time, regardless of the route opening times, you will be liable for disqualification.

Friends and family are more than welcome to come support.

How much training am I expected to do?

This is dependent on how much exercise you do currently. We provide you with comprehensive training plans for all distances for both running and walking.

You will also be provided with training advice to ensure you are in the best possible shape. Other than that we recommend regular, consistent training – give yourself enough weeks to train but don’t overdo it!

Will there be live tracking?

In partnership with Open Tracking, you can now hire a GPS tracker for the duration of the event!

Your tracker will provide accurate location data, available online for your friends and family to view, so they can see how well you’re progressing along the route. This is NOT linked to your event timing but it does mean your supporters can see more accurately where you are throughout the event and how close you are to the finish line!

Links to book this will be made available closer to the event.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs (aside from assistance dogs) are not permitted on the route as part of the event, due to the volume of people on the trail and the challenging nature of the course. Participants will do a lot of training in the run up to the event, and we cannot ensure that dogs have the stamina to complete the route or be responsible for them.

Dogs are only allowed on certain basecamps due to the health and safety regulations on the farms, so please email us directly if you would like to find out which basecamps they will be able to visit.