The ‘original Ultra Challenge’ and once again over 2,000 adventurers will take on the capital-to-coast route to test their grit and determination over the weekend.
Richmond-Upon-Thames is the start, and it’s over the North Downs with wonderful Surrey and Sussex countryside to the halfway point at Turners Hill. The full 100km route heads over the South Downs before the welcome sight of the Brighton coastline comes into view. You’ll get full support and hospitality all the way and with three-quarter, half, marathon and quarter-distance options also available – there’s a classic challenge here for everyone.
This challenge is part of the UK's number one series of trek and trails runs for a wide range of ages, fitness and experience levels.
Choose your challenge and do it at your pace. The level of support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors, camaraderie, and the challenge. There are marquee rest stops, lots of food and drink, medical and massage teams, with a fully signed route to guide you.
A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement and once the aches subside you’ll feel energised, up for more of life’s real challenges – and, maybe, personal horizons redefined.
Whether you’re a walker and new to challenge events, an experienced trekker, a marathon enthusiast upping the distance, or a seasoned ultra runner after UTMB points – there’s an Ultra Challenge® for you! Walk, Jog, or Run at your pace, as an Individual or a Team, for a charity of your choice or just for you. There’s an Ultra March® option for ‘fast walkers’ – and a new ‘Solo Challenger’ start time to join up with others.
The Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge is fun, safe, and rewarding – with full support all the way, enabling you to push yourself further in stunning scenery. With pre and post-challenge camping options and a Chale basecamp with plenty of parking and shuttle bus transfers – it will be a Bank Holiday weekend not to miss!
This Ultra Challenge® famously lays on the best support and hospitality available on any UK endurance-style event. This enables you to step up and confidently tackle an 'Ultra' distance, with the best chance of success - and to enjoy your challenge! Here's a summary:
Brighton Racecourse
Freshfield Road
Brighton
East Sussex
BN2 9XZ
UK
Click to open in map
Leafy Richmond to sunny Brighton – over the North Downs and the South Downs, with some wonderful Surrey and Sussex countryside in between. With 1,500m of climb, you’ll be rewarded with fabulous views, varied scenery, and some great off-road trails. Tulley’s Farm, near Turners Hill, is the halfway stop at 58 km where you’ll get some well-earned sleep overnight, a hot meal and freshen up, before tackling the 42km ‘marathon’ distance stretch over the South downs to the Brighton Racecourse finish line. It’s the original Ultra Challenge – and still a real classic!
Every year hundreds of challengers get a discounted charity place in this event and fundraise for charity. While this is hugely beneficial to the charity it gives the participant advantages too, from saving tens of pounds on the registration fee to supporting a cause that is close to your heart and much more.
Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and train, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:
Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think videos for social media, branded imagery and testimonials from previous participants.
Whether this is your first ultra or your fifth, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elites too, who can provide exclusive tips for your challenge preparation. Experts include Runningwithus, Full Potential and Olympic champions.
When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest for the big day, and often a training top too.
You won't be the only person taking part for that charity, so it's well worth meeting others through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training days, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels high.
Ultra challenges and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you go the distance for?
