How far is the Race to the King?

The Race to the King offers 5 distances: Monarch's Loop 30K (18.6 miles), Coastal 50K (31.1 miles), Castle 50K (31.1 miles), 80K Non-Stop (49.7 miles), 100K Non-Stop (62.1 miles).

How much climbing is in the Race to the King?

The Monarch's Loop 30K has 512 m of ascent. The Coastal 50K has 385 m of ascent. The Castle 50K has 911 m of ascent. The 80K Non-Stop has 915 m of ascent. The 100K Non-Stop has 1,312 m of ascent.

How hard is the Race to the King?

Monarch's Loop 30K: Hard. Coastal 50K: Very Hard. Castle 50K: Very Hard. 80K Non-Stop: Expert. 100K Non-Stop: Expert. TRP grades come from distance and climb measured off the course file, not from the organiser.

What are the cut-offs for the Race to the King?

Overall time limits — Coastal 50K: 15h, Castle 50K: 15h, 80K Non-Stop: 24h, 100K Non-Stop: 24h.

When is the next Race to the King?

Sat, 19 Jun 2027. Entries open.

Threshold Trail Series Race to the King

West Dean Gardens, West SussexSat, 19 Jun – Sun, 20 Jun 2027

Thirty to a hundred and three kilometres of the South Downs Way and the Monarch's Way, out and back from West Dean Gardens.

Distance	Ascent	Per km
100K Non-Stop	1,312 m	13 m
80K Non-Stop	915 m	11 m
Coastal 50K	385 m	8 m
Castle 50K	911 m	17 m
Monarch's Loop 30K	512 m	17 m

chalkdownlandcoastal

Nobody has reviewed this one yet

No reviews of the Race to the King, and nothing on what people wore. Both are things no organiser publishes and every runner wants before they enter — how it actually went, and what was on your feet.

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HARD

TRP grade · E3·T2

Start time not confirmed yet — check with the organiser.

What you’re in for

Thirty to a hundred and three kilometres of the South Downs Way and the Monarch's Way, out and back from West Dean Gardens in mid-June: a Monarch's Loop 30K towards Bignor Hill and back (30.1km, 512m); a Coastal 50K round Chichester Harbour through Bosham and back onto the Downs, flat and runnable (49.8km, 385m); a Castle 50K along the South Downs Way past Arundel Castle and home on the Monarch's Way (53km, 911m); an 80K that puts the coastal loop and the 30K together; and a 100K that puts the coastal and castle loops together (103.3km, 1,312m), with twenty-four hours for the two non-stop distances and fifteen for the 50Ks. Fully signposted day and night, pit stops with food and medics, chip timing.

Terrain and trail

Chalk track and grassy downland on the South Downs Way, flinty bridleway and woodland on the Monarch's Way, and the flat harbour-side path, lane and sea wall round Chichester Harbour. Firm and fast in June. Signed. A road shoe with tread.

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How to enter

Sat, 19 Jun – Sun, 20 Jun 2027 · Entries open

Enter on their website ↗

Entries are handled by Let's Do This, not by us. We take nothing for sending you there.

Add to your calendar · as an all-day entry, until the start time is confirmed

Common questions

: The Race to the King offers 5 distances: Monarch's Loop 30K (18.6 miles), Coastal 50K (31.1 miles), Castle 50K (31.1 miles), 80K Non-Stop (49.7 miles), 100K Non-Stop (62.1 miles).
: The Monarch's Loop 30K has 512 m of ascent. The Coastal 50K has 385 m of ascent. The Castle 50K has 911 m of ascent. The 80K Non-Stop has 915 m of ascent. The 100K Non-Stop has 1,312 m of ascent.
: Monarch's Loop 30K: Hard. Coastal 50K: Very Hard. Castle 50K: Very Hard. 80K Non-Stop: Expert. 100K Non-Stop: Expert. TRP grades come from distance and climb measured off the course file, not from the organiser.
: We haven't confirmed the marking on the Race to the King with Threshold Trail Series. Check their race information before you enter rather than assuming it either way.
: We don't hold a compulsory kit list for the Race to the King. Threshold Trail Series confirm mandatory kit in their race information, usually in the final instructions.
: Overall time limits — Coastal 50K: 15h, Castle 50K: 15h, 80K Non-Stop: 24h, 100K Non-Stop: 24h.
: We don't hold a checkpoint list for the Race to the King. What's on the table varies a lot between races, so check the Threshold Trail Series race information rather than turning up expecting food.
: Not yet — we don't hold a course file for the Race to the King. Some organisers only send the GPX to entrants. If we get one, it goes up free, with no sign-up.
: Sat, 19 Jun 2027. Entries open.