Five Rivers Ultra

Event Overview

The Five Rivers Ultra is a point-to-point ultra-endurance event along the North Essex and South Suffolk coastline. It takes place from Saturday 16th to Sunday 17th May 2026, with a finish location in Harwich, Suffolk. The route passes through the Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast & Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Distances and Course

The event offers three distances:

• 100 miles (160 km)
• 50 miles (80 km)
• 50 km

The course is described as flat and fast, with more than 85% on grass or dirt trails. It follows named footpaths and sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path. The 100-mile route circumnavigates five coastal estuaries. The routes are self-navigated, with GPX files available to download.

Event Features

The event provides indoor checkpoints with tea, coffee, and hot food. There is a rest area with bunk beds and hot food at the finish in Harwich. A drop bag facility is available. For 100-mile participants, optional buses transport runners from the finish to the start line, and limited hostel beds with breakfast are available the night before. All finishers receive a tech t-shirt and a unique finisher's memento. The event is an official UTMB 100M index event and is licensed by the Trail Running Association under UK Athletics rules.

Logistics and Entry

Entry fees vary by distance and include an early-bird price option available until 31st December. An additional fee applies for unaffiliated runners. Entries close on Monday 27th April 2026. The minimum age for participation is 20. Participant tracking is supplied through Open Tracking. Volunteers who sign up for 5 or more hours receive a tech t-shirt and a memento. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.