This will be the fourth edition of the event, taking the established beautiful route through the Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast & Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It's a relatively flat course across unspoilt countryside with sparkling estuary waters nearly always in view. More than 85% of the route is on soft dirt trail. Conditions underfoot are typically good, here in one of Britain's driest regions.

A continuous point-to-point race along the Suffolk & Essex coast, linking together sections of several well-established and waymarked long distance footpaths. The full 100 mile route ('5RU') circumnavigates 5 coastal estuaries. Shorter 50m and 50k options are also available ('5RU-50m' and '5RU-50k').

The event is now being run by Hayley Coles and Dan Clark, aka the Coastal Trail Runners. You can read a bit more about our background, ultra-experience and motivations on the About Us webpage.

For updates on the Five Rivers Ultra, please sign up here:

The full 100 mile route starts from the peaceful setting of Blaxhall Village Hall, heading quickly into the delightful heathland of Blaxhall Common and Tunstall Forest. It then drops gently to reach the shore of the meandering Alde/Ore River, following a grassy riverside trail all the way to Orford.

After passing the imposing Orford Castle, the route makes a loop north and south to circumnavigate the bucolic River Butley tributary before returning to the banks of the River Ore and following it all the way to the sea.

The route hugs the coast past the well-named Shingle Street beach before turning slightly inland to Alderton and thence to Ramsholt on the eastern shore of the River Deben. From here, the route follows the Deben north to Melton where it crosses the river and follows the riverside back south through Woodbridge, Martlesham, Waldringfield and Hemley.

At Kirton Creek, the route veers inland for a few miles to head west and reach the River Orwell estuary just north of Felixstowe, marking the halfway point of the event. The remainder to the route follows closely along the shores of the Orwell and Stour Estuaries, crossing the Orwell via the huge graceful modern arc of the Orwell Bridge, and crossing the Stour by the much smaller arc of Flatford Bridge in the heart of Constable Country.

In the final miles of the course, the route hops across from the Stour to the coast, thereafter following the esplanade through Dovercourt to reach the finish line at the distinctive Red Buoy outside the 1912 Centre in Harwich.

Sat May 16, 2026

5RU-100mile SCHEDULE

Fri 19:00 onwards
1912 Centre Harwich opens for overnight bunk accommodation if booked

Sat 05:00

Shuttle Bus leaves 1912 Centre Harwich

Sat 05:30 -06:30
Event registration at Blaxhall Village Hall (start line)

Sat 06:50

Final Race Briefing

Sat 07:00

Race start!

Sun 15:00
Finish closes

Sat May 16, 2026

5RU-50mile SCHEDULE

Fri 19:00 onwards

1912 Centre Harwich opens for overnight bunk accommodation if booked 

Sat 13:30 - 14:40
Event registration at Trimley Memorial Hall (start line)

Sat 14:50
Final Race Briefing

Sat 15:00

Race start!

Sun 15:00
Finish closes

Sun May 17, 2026

5RU-50kilometer SCHEDULE

Sun 04:30 - 05:30
Event registration at Shotley Village Hall (start line)

Sun 05:50
Final Race Briefing

Sun 06:00
Race start!

Sun 15:00

Finish closes

For updates on the Five Rivers Ultra, please sign up here: