Ultra Running Hub Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom · Saturday, June 5, 2027
Three Castles 50km
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, June
Regional 2001-2020 average for June — NASA POWER, grid elevation 38 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 50km | 380 | Joshua Kidd · 04:24:53 | Charlotte Johnston · 04:25:34 |
| 2025 | 50km | 358 | James MacDonald · 03:32:19 | Laura Nevill · 04:28:42 |
| 2024 | 50km | 163 | James MacDonald · 03:59:20 | Charlotte Johnston · 04:21:37 |
The field grew 6% between 2025 (358) and 2026 (380). 35% of the 2026 field were women.
DUV results for the 2026 edition (50km) — 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 50 km of trail with 200 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 50 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
- Race Nutrition 50 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 50 km, without the bounce.
- GPS Watches Battery life first — a 50 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.
Overview
The Three Castles 50km is a trail race starting in Rochester, Kent, scheduled for June 2027. Packing just 200 meters of total elevation gain across 50 kilometers—averaging a negligible 4 meters of climb per kilometer—the route follows low-lying river Medway towpaths, trails, and villages past medieval fortifications. The almost entirely flat profile invites sustained running rather than the power-hiking typical of trail ultras.
A 9-hour time limit demands an average pace of 10.8 minutes per kilometer, making the cut-off tighter than 65% of 50k peers and more generous than 35%. While that pace would offer plenty of breathing room on a mountainous course, it leaves less room for extended walking breaks on a flat route.
Runners will not be alone on the trail. With 380 finishers in 2026, the event commands a bigger field than 96% of 50k races and smaller than just 4%, meaning the shared towpaths stay consistently populated throughout the day.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.