The kit we carry during our races is the subject of a lot of debate and discussions and while a lot of it is a personal choice, there are certain items that we insist you carry throughout the event, for your own safety.

These items will be checked at race registration, with random checks for items during the event and at the finish as well. Failure to produce items when requested at the start will mean that you are unable to start your event. Failure to produce items during the event when asked by a race official, will result in a time penalty or worse even disqualification. Mandatory items are there for your safety, so we ask you to be sensible and not try to cheat the system for the sake of a few grams.

Of course, the term mandatory items should not be read as minimum items, and we encourage you to add to the list and pack according to your own needs and the weather conditions on then day.

Please read all of the following information carefully, to ensure there are no surprises ahead of race day. If you have any questions at all about kit then please do get in touch and ask.

Finally as a race team, we will continue to monitor conditions leading up to the event and may suggest or recommend additional items, including adding to the mandatory kit list below, if we feel this is necessary.

The following must be carried at all times during your race

All courses cover a wide range of terrain types but are mainly off-road, with mud and sand to be expected in many areas. As such, you should be wearing shoes appropriate for this kind of terrain. Road shoes are unlikely to be sufficient and as such, we strongly recommend that all competitors wear trail shoes for both events.

You will need a backpack/race vest that you can both fit all the mandatory items in and easily access while running. As with footwear, this is a personal choice but it should be a pack you are familiar with and have tested out before the race.

Your jacket must include taped seams and an adequate hood to protect you from the elements. Windproof only garments are not acceptable and we will be checking the seams at kit check, so again check if you are unsure.

A long sleeve top is sufficient but you may want to carry more, depending on the weather forecast and if you expect to be running into the night.

Your head torch must be suitable for running at night across uneven terrain, with spare batteries to see you to the finish.

While the majority of the route is off-road, there are some small stretches on roads or country lanes. We require that each competitor wears a small red flashing light on the back of their pack and have this operational during the hours of darkness. Alternatives like those integrated into head torches are acceptable: it must be bright, red, flashing and visible from behind at all times.

Following on from the previous item, we also ask all competitors to ensure there are reflective areas on their outer garments and/or pack as well. This is standard on most items but if yours don’t have them, you can pick up cheap reflective arm bands or similar aimed at cyclists. The aim is to make you as visible as possible to other road users.

You should have a fully charged mobile phone with you at all times, which is switched on so we can contact you if required. You should also have both race directors mobile numbers stored within this, details of which will be provided prior to the race. If you are planning to use the phone for music or as a GPS tracking device, then we would recommend you also carry a means to charge the phone, such as a small USB charging pack.

This is a self-navigated race and although much of the route follows waymarked trails, there are some link sections which do not. It is therefore essential that you have a detailed map which provides you with the means of navigating the entire route. A detailed route description will not be provided, and you are expected to have familiarised yourselves with the route.
Your map must be of good quality and cover the entire route. As guidance, we would expect to see a map made by either Ordnance Survey or Harveys and providing coverage at a scale of at minimum 1:50k.
Print outs from popular mapping software such as Outdooractive or OSMaps are accepted, as long as you are using Ordnance Survey map layers or similar. Note that a printout of the route from Google Maps or similar is totally unacceptable, as it does not provide the level of detail you will need to safely navigate the course or relocate yourself, should you become lost.
Relying solely on a copy of the detailed OS or Harveys map on your phone or GPS device is permitted, but not recommended. Electronics can fail and do funny things, especially in wet or cold weather. If you do decide to rely solely on an electronic map, then a protective waterproof phone pouch, phone charging pack and cable MUST be carried or you will not be allowed to start the race.

Checkpoints will be minimal, with spacings of around 10 miles along the course. As such, you are expected to carry sufficient fluid and food to sustain you between these. A minimum of a 500ml is required but you may want to consider carrying more, depending upon your speed and personal needs.

As with water (see above) pack sufficient food to ensure you have enough between checkpoints.

You are expected to carry a basic first aid kit, containing at a minimum plasters, paracetamol, any personal medication (in original packaging), self-adhesive bandage, personal blister kit.

No cups will be provided at the checkpoints or out on the course, so you are expected to carry one that is suitable for both hot and cold drinks.

In order to reduce our use of plastic, we are asking all competitors to carry a spoon, spork or equivalent to use at our indoor checkpoints

As outlined in our terms and conditions, should you need to withdraw during the event, you are responsible for your onward travel. We have a lot of ground to cover and crew to support, and while we will do everything we can to help and assist you, we cannot guarantee onward travel to the finish in our vehicles.
We are therefore adding a minimum of £20 cash and a valid bank card to the mandatory kit list. This ensures you have sufficient funds available to pay for public transport and/or a taxi, should you need this.

This will be attached to your pack at race registration and must be left in place and carried throughout the race.

Check the weather and pack according to your own personal needs. Better to have too much than too little!

You are allowed to use a GPS device during the race and detailed GPX downloads of each route will be made available prior to the event. Electronics do fail in cold and wet conditions, so you should also have a paper based map available to ensure you can still navigate should the worst happen.

The course may be linear but a compass can help you orientate yourself, especially in poor visibility. Make sure you know how to use it!

Useful for attracting attention and there may already be one attached to your pack.

All competitors can provide a Drop Bag for the finish line when they check in at Race Registration. Maximum size 15 litres.

Competitors in the full 5RU can provide a small Drop Bag for this intermediate checkpoint when they check in at Race Registration. Maximum size 10 litres. This Drop Bag will be transported on to the finish line once you have left the Trimley Saint Martin checkpoint.