All of the pre race information is shown below so please make sure to read ALL of it carefully.
Saturday 27th September 2025, Plumpton Racecourse, Lewes, BN7 3AL
What3words location for Race HQ
4.30pm: Registration opens
6pm: Registration closes
6.30pm: Race start
Race numbers (bibs) will not be sent out in the post but must be collected at registration with a GPS tracker. We do not allow changes of race on the day so dropping down to the half marathon on the day cannot be done. Please do not turn up on the day and ask this question as the answer will be no.
On race weekend we will be using the App What3Words. We ask that all runners please download it to their mobile phone if possible and make sure the location setting is switched on. All runners will be wearing a GPS tracker however, if for any reason this stops working or signal is lost, then this app will allow everyone to give us their exact location if lost, or in an emergency. It’s very easy to use and could be very important.
https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app
Please be sure to download the GPX file as close to race day as possible. This can be found below. There have been a few small adjustments made already to the route recently, and there is always the possibility of more diversions popping up beforehand. If you have downloaded it already, then please do so again and do it as close to race day as possible. Route GPX
Please make sure that all the information you have given us is correct and updated if it has changed since signing up. This includes Next of Kin details, your mobile number, any medical issues and medication you are taking. This is all very important if a situation arises during the race. You can update this by going to your Eventrac account or if you don’t have one, then the confirmation email you received when entering will enable you to manage your entry. If you can’t find this email, then please get in touch and we can send you another.
Race registration and start will take place at Plumpton Racecourse. There will be signs to direct you from the main road. There are two entrances to the racecourse but please use the one to the Northern end where Plumpton Train Station is located. The race will finish at the racecourse also.
There will be free parking available at the racecourse along with free camping on the Saturday night, male/female toilets and showers.
Most of the emissions created by events are from road vehicle travel. Plumpton Train Station is located literally about 400 meters from Race HQ so please do your best to come by train and reduce the emissions created. The environmental impact of travelling by road is massively reduced if the vehicle is full so please do your best to car share with others where possible.
Camping is available onsite and is free to all. Tents and camper vans are allowed but please no motorhomes or large camper vans. You will be allowed to camp anywhere on the grass near to Race HQ in the middle of the racecourse. There are plenty of toilets and showers onsite.
All finishers will receive a medal. Trophies will be awarded to the winners only, not second and third places.
Prizes will also be given to each age category winners only, not second and third place. The categories are male and female 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+
There will be 4 very well stocked aid stations along the route which are listed below. Aid stations will carry a wide range of food and drink. They will cater for everyone’s needs including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free.
All runners must be finished by 6.30am on Sunday 28th, giving 12 hours to finish. There are no cut off times for the first two aid stations but there are for the last two.
All runners will be provided with a tracker which must be always worn during the event. This is purely for health and safety reasons and will enable us to know exactly where you are always. It will also allow friends and family to follow you during the race. There will be a link provided on the website and social media to access this in the week before the race.
It is very important that runners always keep their mobile phone on, with the volume up and we ask please no earphones. If you do go wrong, or stop for a period, we will be aware of this and will call you to let you know you are off track, or to see if everything is ok.
If you must drop out of the race at any time and feel you cannot continue, then please do all you can to make it to the closest aid station where you can inform the aid station captain that you wish to stop. At this point you must hand over your race number and GPS Tracker and will be officially taken out of the race. If you are attending the race by yourself, without friends or family, and feel that you cannot continue and make it to an aid station, then it is essential you call the Race Director. If you are injured or unwell, then please contact the Race Medic. In an emergency always call 999.
If you feel you want to drop out while not at an aid station and are collected by friends/family or want to make your own way home, then it is again essential that you make your way to the nearest aid station to hand in your number and tracker. If you leave without informing us, and handing these in, you will be classified as lost, and this will result in the initiation of Search and Rescue which you the runner will be charged for.
There will be no crews at this event. We have decided to go with this option to keep landowners and the public along the route happy. With regular aid stations along the route, having a crew is not necessary for this event. Please contact us if you have any dietary needs on the day and, we will do our best to make sure they are available for you throughout.
No pacers will be allowed to accompany runners at any time during the race.
Spectators are very welcome to come along and support their runners however it is very important for the future of the race that they behave in a sensible manner throughout. Spectators are the runners responsibility. Spectators are not allowed at aid station locations or in any of the small villages where aid stations are located. Anyone who turns up here will result in disqualification of their runner. This is not a threat, it will happen. We cannot afford to upset local residents during the night so it is important to abide.
The race passes close to residential properties during the evening and overnight so it is imperative that noise/cheering is kept to a minimum, car engines are turned off when parked and headlights also.
Spectator points to see runners are few and far between on this route so it is important to be sensible here and of course not park on Private Land or places that are clearly not allowed.
The following are the only places that we would recommend:
Summer Down Car Park: https://w3w.co////narrow.powerful.gathering
Devils Dyke Car Park: https://ww3w.co////grudge.rigs.ambition
Jack and Jill Windmill Car Park: https://w3w.co////sideboard.instead.gullible
Ditchling Beacon Car Park: https://w3w.co////dried.assures.populate
Runners will also have the option of leaving a finish line bag at registration. The bag will be stored at the finish line area safe and ready for your collection. Please ensure the bag is clearly marked with your name and race number before you arrive. We will not have tags at registration to use so please make sure it is done beforehand.
The course is predominantly on easy going trails with small road sections as well. At the time of year, the race takes place, the ground should be dry and hard, we therefore suggest that both road running and trail shoes are suitable. Runners must carry the following equipment with them at all-times and will be disqualified for failing kit checks. Inspections will take place before, during, and after the race.
It is not mandatory, but we do suggest you bring a foldable cup as the race will be cup less
We ask all runners to please not wear earphones during the race. This is purely for Health and Safety reasons when crossing roads, if we try to call and hearing instructions from Marshall’s. As mentioned, if we need to call you for any reason during the race then it is important you can hear your phone.
There will not be an official sweeper vehicle in operation during the event to collect runners that can no longer continue. We will do all we can to help, but there is often a long waiting time for this, and there is only so much we can do to support runners in this situation. It is essentially the runner’s responsibility to plan ahead in the situation they do have to drop out of the race, to arrange support and transport to get home. Our main priority when runners drop out is with runners still in the race. We will do what we can to help but, please plan ahead for this by arranging your own transport and it is mandatory to bring cash and a bank card for local transport/taxi. If we are able to arrange transportation it will only be able to take you to nearby aid stations, local transport locations etc. It will not be able to take you to the finish line unless you decide to drop out late into the race and the journey is not too far.
We will mark the route thoroughly with our reflective UK Ultra arrows and UK Ultra ribbons. A map and compass are not necessary at all although, never a bad idea. Even though the course will be thoroughly marked, it is the runner’s responsibility to navigate it successfully. We do however suggest you try and recce the route as much as possible and it is mandatory to download the GPX file onto a GPS device or mobile phone. Unfortunately markers can occasionally be tampered with by members of the public by either turning them in the wrong direction or removing them completely. This is why it is very important and mandatory to have the route downloaded as a back up option.
There are several road crossings along the route, some of which are very busy and potentially dangerous. It is your responsibility as runners to always navigate these road crossings safely. Please pass along and cross these as you normally would by using the Highway Code and staying on the righthand side against the flow of cars when on country lanes. A few small sections will entail running on country lanes without pavements, so please stay on the right and be cautious. There will be marshals at some of these crossings however, the majority will be unmanned, so please take your time and be sensible when navigating them.
There are also small carparks along the route that can potentially be dangerous. Please be cautious of vehicles when approaching and passing through these.
Please be aware that the race route follows trails, paths and fields that will be shared by other members of the public and livestock. It is very important to be polite, courteous, and kind at all times. Just because you are in a race does not give you priority over them. Please be cautious when running through fields with livestock. Please approach and pass them slowly and cautiously.
The route backs onto homes at many points during the race, but please be especially considerate at nighttime and in the early morning where the race passes through residential areas. There must be absolutely no littering along the course. Anyone seen doing so will be disqualified. There will also be times where the race passes through farmers’ fields with livestock in, and it is essential that all gates are please closed after using them. Failure to do this will obviously mean livestock can potentially escape.
There will not be an official sweeper vehicle in operation during the event to collect runners that can no longer continue. We will do all we can to help, but there is often a long waiting time for this, and there is only so much we can do to support runners in this situation. It is essentially the runner’s responsibility to plan ahead in the situation they do have to drop out of the race, to arrange support and transport to get home. Our main priority when runners drop out is with runners still in the race. We will do what we can to help but, please plan ahead for this by arranging your own transport and it is mandatory to bring cash and a bank card for local transport/taxi. If we are able to arrange transportation it will only be able to take you to nearby aid stations, local transport locations etc. It will not be able to take you to the finish line unless you decide to drop out late into the race and the journey is not too far.
There will be an experienced team of race medics available to runners before, during and after the event including first aid teams, response cars and ambulances. There is the possibility due to some locations on the course that the medical team might take some time to reach you. In this situation you should call 999.
We have teamed up with Mick Hall Photos to cover the event. These images will be FREE to all runners and will be available a few days after the event. Due to the entire event taking place in darkness, there will only be start and finish line photos where appropriate lighting can be used.
Please do not get in touch asking when they will be ready immediately after the event. This has nothing to do with us and the photos will be ready once the photographer has had time to process them all. As soon as they are ready they will be made available on the website and sent out via email.
The Dark Downs 50k is a UTMB Index Race and has been awarded 2 ITRA points. Results will be sent to UTMB, ITRA and DUV about a week after the event has finished so please be patient with this. If you would not like us to share your results with any of these three then please let us know.