This Remembrance weekend, the day we honour all servicemen and women who sacrificed so much for our nation, show how much you care by taking on one of our toughest challenges yet.
Take on our exciting new winter challenge with a race through some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. Choose your distance and whether to walk or run through the South Downs, beginning in Aldershot or Petersfield and finishing by the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Victory at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth.
Now more than ever, veterans rely on us and we rely on our supporters. Demand for our services has remained high throughout COVID-19, and with many events cancelled this year, we need your help to raise vital funds so that we can continue to provide our life-saving mental health treatment to veterans.
Whether you’ve been training for an event that’s been cancelled, or are just looking for a new challenge to get you out of the lockdown slump, this is the event for you, no matter your fitness level. However you choose to race, we’ll support your fundraising journey every step of the way.
When: Satruday 13 November 2021
Where: 76km Aldershot to Portsmouth / 36km Petersfield to Portsmouth / virtual option
What: Walk 36/10km (22/6 miles), run 36/10km (22/6 miles) or 75km ultramarthon (47 miles)
Ultramarathon: £76 registration fee + £375 fundraising target
36km Run or Walk: £36 registration fee + £375 fundraising target
10km Run or Walk: £20 registration fee + £150 fundraising target
Virtual Challenge: £20 registration fee
The Route
Participants taking part in the ultramarathon will start from Aldershot, the home of the British Army. Those taking on the 36km challenge will start further down the route in Petersfield.
The runners depart from the Aldershot PE grounds and, having passed through suburban Aldershot and Farnham, hit the trails along the edge of the army’s military exercise zones.
At the 13km mark, the route enters the woods and its' forestry trails (a mix of hardpack, sand, mud and gravel) all the way to Petersfield at the 40km mark, where the walkers will start from.
After a well-earned hot lunch stop in Petersfield for the ultrarunners, it’s time to hit the South Downs. Those taking on the 36k walk or run will start at this point in Petersfield.
A real test of endurance is in store for all our participants with a steep climb through Elizabeth Park and up to Butser Hill, the highest point of the South Downs sitting at almost 900 feet and its’ tough ascent, especially for those now hitting the 50km point.
From the top of the downs the Solent and landmarks of Portsmouth come into view, with the finish point visible in the far distance - some 30km away.
Runners and walkers alike continue on the descent of the Downs through fields and woods to the picturesque town of Rowlands Castle. Here there will be another well-earned break point for refuelling.
As we continue towards the coast, the route takes you through a mix of suburbs and trails until you reach the coast.
After a final rest-stop, it's a matter of following the coast (hopefully with a tail wind pushing you along) until you reach the outskirts of Portsmouth.
Finally, weave through the city to the finish at the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Victory, in the National Museum of the Royal Navy, in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.