Winter on the Downs 100 Miles 2026

The Winter on the Downs 100 Miles is a 100-mile trail ultra in East Sussex and West Sussex, beginning and ending at Plumpton Racecourse near Lewes. It has a 35-hour cutoff, 12 aid stations, mandatory GPS tracking, and a course that is almost entirely off-road. The route follows grass trails, farm tracks, woodland paths, and chalk paths, with approximately 13,000 feet of elevation gain across rolling terrain and some longer, steeper ascents. The South Downs drain well, and East Sussex is among the UK's drier regions, yet participants should anticipate wind, rain, sleet, fog, freezing temperatures, or snow. Entry requires significant ultra experience, with a completed 50-mile trail race recommended. Runners must be proficient on winter trails and in darkness. This race is also a component of the South Downs Triple Crown, a challenge involving the completion of three ultra-distance races within the same calendar year.