The Longbridge 100 Backyard Ultra's

The Longbridge 100 Backyard Ultra

The Longbridge 100 is a backyard ultra near Alfriston run as a last-person-standing format in which competitors begin a new loop every hour. Each loop is a minimum of 4.2 miles (6.78 km) on a consistent route that mixes singletrack paths and farm access roads with natural chalky flint and gravel underfoot. Winter and summer versions use the same route with recorded elevations of 180 m and 190 m respectively.

Competitors must start each loop from the fixed starting corral at the bell and complete each loop within one hour. Warnings are given before each lap and runners must wear a running watch to record loops and cumulative distance. During a lap runners must be self-sufficient: no personal aid or non-competitors are allowed on course, and artificial aids including trekking poles are prohibited. Assistance is permitted only between finishing one lap and entering the starting corral for the next lap. A token pick-up at the second turnaround must be carried back on every loop; failure to return a token results in disqualification.

Timing is recorded using a live timing app plus manual lap recording. On-site facilities include a covered barn area for runners and one support person per runner, an aid station with hot and cold water, bananas and snacks, a daytime cafe adjacent to the corral, charging power, toilets and changing areas, and dedicated first aid cover. Entry numbers are limited to fifty with ten reserved for a waiting-list ballot; listed entry prices range from £125 to £130.

The event applies multiple sustainability measures: no single-use plastics or bottled water sales, refill stations, recycled signage and reusable bibs, electric shuttle options, renewable energy for charging where possible, waste composting and recycling, local sourcing, and participation in a carbon removal scheme via UNDO Carbon. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.