Winter on the Downs
Eastbourne, United Kingdom • 5-6 Dec 2026
Winter on the Downs 55 Mile
This event is a single loop 55 mile trail race around East Sussex and West Sussex, starting and finishing at Plumpton Racecourse. The course runs largely on trails through the South Downs National Park and combines grass trails, farm tracks and woodland and chalk paths.
The route includes about 7,000 ft of ascent and descent and is described as generally runnable with rolling hills and some longer, steeper climbs. Terrain composition is almost entirely trail with minimal road sections. There are seven well stocked aid stations along the course and live GPS tracking with chip timing is provided for competitor monitoring.
Weather at this time of year can be variable, ranging from clear, crisp conditions to strong winds, rain, sleet, freezing temperatures or snow. Permits are granted through the ARC and the race is an indexed UTMB event that awards 3 ITRA points.
Entry conditions include a minimum age of 20 years and a qualifier requirement: completion of at least a marathon within its cutoff time in the last four years. Entry fees are listed with a standard and an early bird price; the standard entry price includes a mandatory GPS tracker. Refund, deferral and transfer policies and options for postponement in extreme weather are stated by the organiser. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.