Ultra Running Hub Farnham, United Kingdom · Saturday, May 16, 2026
North Downs Way 50 Mile Race
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, May
Regional 2001-2020 average for May — NASA POWER, grid elevation 51 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50mi | 274 | Richard Strong · 06:56:42 | Abigail Woolaston · 08:11:12 |
| 2025 | 50mi | 270 | Hugh Tibbs · 06:22:37 | Fiona Pascall · 07:07:31 |
| 2024 | 50mi | 328 | Patrick Wightman · 06:31:48 | Katie Young · 07:58:56 |
| 2023 | 50mi | 317 | Jose Rodriguez · 06:33:35 | Katie Grinyer · 08:35:16 |
| 2022 | 50mi | 235 | Edward Knudsen · 06:55:08 | Amy-Jo Clarke · 08:06:11 |
| 2021 | 50mi | 268 | Ry Webb · 06:36:55 | Samantha Amend · 07:59:39 |
| 2019 | 50mi | 236 | Robert Payne · 06:47:56 | Elizabeth Pascall · 07:19:19 |
| 2018 | 50mi | 234 | Stuart Leaney · 06:46:03 | Sarah Sawyer · 08:44:23 |
| 2017 | 50mi | 221 | Jon Ellis · 06:37:27 | Michelle Maxwell · 08:26:16 |
| 2016 | 50mi | 199 | Neil Kirby · 06:57:33 | Holly Rush · 07:11:00 |
The field has held steady: 270 in 2025, 274 in 2026. 23% of the 2026 field were women.
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Course notes
- terrain This is a fast & flat course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
- gear With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 80 km of trail with 5 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 80 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
- Race Nutrition 80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 80 km, without the bounce.
- Headlamps A 13 h limit puts you out there after dark.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 80 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
Centurion Running staged the North Downs Way 50 Mile Race in Farnham, United Kingdom, where 274 runners completed the 2026 edition. With a starting field bigger than 92% of 50mi peers and smaller than 7%, runners shared the trail with one of the larger packs at this distance across 10 held editions since 2016.
Covering 80 kilometers with just 5 meters of total elevation gain, the route averaged 0.1 meters of climb per kilometer, presenting virtually flat running from start to finish. That lack of vertical relief met a demanding standard against the clock: the 13-hour limit imposed a cut-off pace of 9.8 minutes per kilometer, making it tighter than 76% of 50mi cut-offs and more generous than 24% across 475 peer races.
Similar races
Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.