The following are hopefully a series of answers to many of the questions you may already have. We will be updating this continually as race day approaches.

If you need any further information or have a question that has not been answered here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Yes, as you would expect for an ultra marathon passing through some quite remote stretches of countryside, for safety reasons there is a mandatory set of kit you are required to carry at all times. Please see our Race-Kit Page. This kit will be checked at registration, with further random checks during and at the finish. Failure to produce items will result in disqualification.

As per UKA rules for races of these distances, you must be a minimum of 20 years old on the date of the event. 5RU entrants must have previously completed a 50 mile trail ultra-marathon. 5RU-50m entrants must have previously completed a trail marathon. 

The Essex & Suffolk coast may seem like a benign environment, but this can be quite exposed and isolated terrain, so train accordingly and familiarise yourself with running and navigating in the dark.

Further details can be found in our full terms & conditions of entry.

On the 5RU route, there will be 10 main manned intermediate checkpoints. Exact locations are subject to change, but these will provisionally be located at Orford Quay (12 miles); Alderton Village Hall (27.5 miles); Deben River Café (38.5 miles); Waldringfield Village Hall (44 miles); Trimley Memorial Hall (52 miles); Suffolk Food Hall (62 miles); Shotley Village Hall (73.5 miles); Cattawade Picnic SIte (85.5 miles); Mistley Quay (91.5 miles); Little Oakley Football Club (101 miles).  The 50 mile and 50 kilometre routes will use the last 5 and 3 of these checkpoints respectively.

Our checkpoint cut-offs are generous and will be based on an average pace for each event. They will be enforced and you must leave the checkpoint by the stated time. For the 50 mile event this means you must leave Shotley Village Hall by 03:15 on Sunday morning. For the 100 mile 5RU you must leave Trimley by 22:45. Cut offs for intermediate checkpoints will be confirmed on entry in the competitor notes

You are welcome to use your own crew, however please consider that this race passes through local communities and avoid disturbing local residents by meeting your crew away from residential areas.

You are still required to visit all race checkpoints for safety reasons. Checkpoints are for runners and race officials primarily and we therefore reserve the right to ask crew to leave if space is at a premium. Further guidance on the use of crew and suggested locations will be shared closer to the race.

A selection of cold simple sweet and savoury snacks will be provided at the checkpoints out on the course. A warm meal will be offered to all finishers at the 1912 Centre in Harwich.

The finish line is at the 1912 Centre in Harwich, where hot and cold drinks and a warm meal will be provided for all event finishers.

Details of our refund policy can be found in our terms and conditions but in short we are able to offer some sort of refund up until eight weeks before the race and transfer to another runner up until 14 days before the race.

Read our full terms and conditions for further details on our refund and transfer policy.

Yes, a finishers memento will be given to all finishers.

Yes, a branded technical tee-shirt is included in the cost of entry.

Yes and yes! As soon as we have finished identifying and securing the checkpoint locations along the route, we will update the GPS track and publish this on the website and through OutdoorsActive for all to access.

All of our trail Ultras are self-navigation events, although primarily following designated regional trails.

This means that aside from some markings we may add around the checkpoints, you will be required to navigate yourself using map, compass and the existing signposts and trail markers positioned along the route.

While the signs are fairly well placed, familiarity with navigating in the dark using a map and compass is essential.

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