Welcome to the Dark Downs 50k. A 50km Dusk till Dawn loop in the South Downs, starting and finishing at Plumpton Racecourse.
There is something quite unique about running at night. The atmosphere, the camaraderie, the challenge, the novelty, and the cooler temperatures all make for a fantastic experience and this 50k will hopefully provide all of this. The South Downs as always will bring rolling hills, runnable trails, and are also ideal for a race in the dark due to its untechnical terrain.
Night running is something that a lot of ultras require nowadays, so not only is this a great race in itself, it is also a great opportunity to get out and get some night running experience in a race format. Great practice for any upcoming ultras and especially our Winter races later in the year.
The South Downs were awarded the Dark Sky Reserve Award in 2016 due to its exceptional starry nights, so there is no better place for a race like this to get some amazing views.
The race will start at 6.30pm on Saturday, September 27th 2025, as the sun is setting, and runners/walkers will have 12 hours to complete it. There will be 4 amazing aid stations as always with our fantastic volunteers, a fully marked course with very high visibility/reflective signage and Marshall's out at regular intervals.
This race will also form the third part of our new "50k" South Downs Triple Crown. Along with our other two 50k races, Springtide 50k in April and the South Downs 50k in May, this will provide a unique and fun challenge.
Entry & Qualification details
Entries are available on a first come, first served basis and once it is full, they will be closed. No waitlist will be in operation. No qualifier is needed in order to participate. Entries will close 2 weeks prior to the race or once entry limits are reached.
Refund and Deferral Policy
Any time up until July 28th you are entitled to a 70% refund. After this time no refunds will be given. The only exception to this is pregnancy. In this case if you inform us before the race you will receive a full refund.
If you can no longer make the event, there is the option of deferring your place to 2026 or transferring it to another runner. This can only be done up until 2 weeks before race day and, not after. Please email neil@ukultra.co.uk if you wish to do either of these.
Elite Entries
We want highly competitive races at the sharp end of the fields and, welcome elite runners to come and compete for wins and course records. We do reserve places for elites and have packages in place to help. These are decided on an individual basis by the Race Director. If you are an elite runner and would like to take part then please email neil@ukultra.co.uk.
- A fantastic, fully signed and way marked route through the South Downs National Park
- A bespoke UK Ultra finisher medal
- Bespoke male and female winner trophies
- Downloadable race photos
- 4 well stocked aid stations
- Food and drink at the finish line
- Live GPS tracking and chip timing to track runners progress and times
- Prizes for all male and female winners in vet categories
- Event insurance
- First Aid and Medical Cover