Centurion South Downs Way 50km

South Downs Way 50km

The South Downs Way 50km is a 50 km non-stop trail race held within the South Downs National Park on 13 June 2026. The course covers approximately 31 miles and around 4000 ft (1200 m) of cumulative climb. The route follows the chalk ridgeway and the majority is on the South Downs Way National Trail, starting just outside Winchester at Matterley Bowl and finishing in the event field at Queen Elizabeth Country Park below Butser Hill.

The race is part of the World Trail Majors Short Series and is the second running of this event. The course is fully marked and supported by four well stocked aid stations, full medical support including roving teams and a static finish team, and live tracking. There is a 9 hour overall cutoff and additional on-route cutoffs at aid stations. The event is held under a UK Athletics permit through the TRA, permit number 8433.

Entries open as stated by the organiser; the published entry fee is £80 (£82 unaffiliated) and the field is limited to 400 starters. There are no qualification standards and the minimum age is 20 under UKA rules. Pacers and crew are not permitted. Runners must carry mandatory kit including a fully charged mobile phone with race contact numbers, a minimum 1 litre water capacity, a survival blanket (minimum 1.4 m x 2 m), a waterproof jacket with sealed seams and a separate cup. Kit checks will be carried out and a one hour time penalty applies if required items are missing. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.