South Downs Way 100 2012

Entries

The event is now closed for entries. 

Cut Offs

100 mile runners must finish within a 30 hour time limit. All runners must have left the 53 mile aid station at Washington within 15 hours or by 9pm on Saturday 30th June. There will be additional cut offs on route which will be announced nearer to race date.  

Start/ Finish Location

Registration and the race start is at Chilcomb Sports Ground, Winchester. Details of how to get to the ground can be found under Travel and Accom. 

The race finishes at Eastbourne Sports Club Athletics Track. Runners will enter the track through the gate and complete a 2/3 lap of the track to finish. Runners will be permitted to run the track section with friends, family and crew accompanying them.

Route

The route is a reversal of that of the preceding South Downs Way Race - predominantly to offer runners a chance to run with the more common westerly winds. The 2012 race follows the South Downs Way footpath for it's duration with one or two minor exceptions that will be clearly marked on race day. The race starts at Chilcomb sports ground, approximately 1.5 miles from the most westerly point of the SDW trail. The route follows the footpath all the way to Eastbourne, only deviating from the standard course at the points listed on the course page. 

A map of the route can be found at the bottom of this page. The exact distance of the route is 100 miles.

Awards

100 mile Finisher Buckle & Race Shirt to all finishers. Runners finishing the course in under 24 hours will receive special '100 miles - One Day' buckles commemorating their achievement. Runners finishing between 24 and 30 hours will recieve '100 mile - Finisher' buckles.

Aid Stations

There will be 15 fully stocked aid stations along the length of the course. Aid stations carry as a minimum: water, coke, Gu Energy Gels, chocolate, sweets, sandwiches and other sweet and savory snacks. Some of the aid stations will have hot food and drink, those aid stations will be listed and confirmed to all entrants well in advance of race day. 

Drop Bags

Drop Bags must be deposited at the race start before 5:30am on race morning. Drop bags will be accessible at various points along the course and will be returned to the race finish by (and not before) noon on Sunday 1st July. Drop bags must NOT exceed 30cm x 20cm x 20cm in size ie. the size of a shoe box for any one aid station. They must be labelled with your name, aid station it is to go to and race number. Runners need to leave a different drop bag for each aid station, each bag will be transported to the aid station listed and then to the finish only. Drop Bag Locations: 

MIle 53: Washington

Mile 69: Clayton Windmills

Finish: Eastbourne

Course Markings

The course is marked by South Downs Way marker posts which come in different forms but always displaying the acorn which is the key symbol and guide on this route as with all National Trails. 

In addition to the fixed markers as above, the course will also be marked with red & white tape, fluorescent arrows and lightsticks for runners heading into the dark but at major junctions only. It is always possible that course markers may be removed or vandalised, in which case please use the National Trail marker posts as the guide. There are a number of road crossings to negotiate, some of them are extremely busy. There will be marshalls at the busier junctions but not all of them as this would be logistically impossible so please be extremely careful when you are crossing roads of any nature.

It is ultimately the runners responsibility to navigate the course successfully, with or without course markings. We strongly recommend that you take the time to recce the route before race day. A map of the route is part of the mandatory equipment and runners must carry one at all times. The Harveys South Downs Way map is an excellent guide. 

Pacers

100 mile runners are permitted pacers from the 53 mile point. Pacers must travel on foot only. Runners are permitted multiple pacers throughout the last 50 miles but only one may travel with the runner at any one time. The exception to this is the finishing lap of the track where a runner may be joined by as many friends and family as he or she wishes. 

Crew

Runners are allowed and encouraged to have a crew. Crews are permitted to assist runners of all distances at any point but must not do so in front of any aid station ie. crew can meet runners at aid stations but should not impede the progress of other runners moving through the area. Certain aid stations are off limits to crew and will be listed on the aid station tab (to follow). 

Medical

There will be a dedicated team of race medics available throughout the duration of the weekend. If you suffer an injury or accident that warrants direct medical attention, the medics will be on hand to provide you with exactly that. Contact numbers and full details of what to do in an emergency will be given to you in the pre race information packs and again at race registration. Due to the nature of the course ie. some off road, the medics may take some time to reach you, or potentially be out of contact tending to other runners. In those instances you should contact the emergency services on 999. If you are injured but able to walk, please make your way to the nearest aid station where there will either be a medic, or an aid station captain will immediately get in touch with medical care should you require it/ arrange for transport out. If you suffer a severe injury or encounter someone in serious difficulty please call 999 for emergency ambulance services.

Kit

85% of the course is on trail. Trail shoes are advised but you will be able to complete the course perfectly adequately in road shoes. There are sections of trail which can become very muddy in wet conditions. The South Downs Way are formed of chalk and are composed of significant sections of exposed and slippery chalk bed and rocks. These sections can be technical in both the dry and the wet. The ridge is very exposed and in wind and rain runners can become cold quickly. It is essential to carry the items below in lieu of that. There may be kit checks prior during and after the race. Runners not found to be carrying the below items at any time will be disqualified. 

Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times:

• Mobile Phone
• Headtorch
• Route Map
• Back Up Light Source & Water Bottle/Bladder
• Survival Blanket
• Wet Weather Jacket
• Compass