South Downs Way 50 km Race

Race completed

50 km Distance

4,000 m Climbing

8.5 Grit · Elite / extreme

51.0513° N, 1.2461° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 80 m / km Vertical. Extreme verticality. This is a technical mountain course with sustained steep grades.

Time limit 9 hours 10:48 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. Tighter than 71% of 50K races. Measured against 1007 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~305 Large. Rarely out of sight of another runner.

DUV results for the 2026 edition (31mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, June

Daytime high 20°C

Night low 11°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 16 h 30 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for June — NASA POWER, grid elevation 62 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a vertical course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 50 km of trail with 4,000 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes80 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles4,000 m of ascent to walk up.
GPS WatchesBattery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

Adidas