Sunrise Ultramarathon - Darkside Running

2023 EVENTS

We have decided to take a year out from our events but will return in 2024. For further details, please read our full announcement.

Starting at sunset and running through the night, our races follow the Norfolk Coast Path, passing through the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Terms & conditions

December, 2024 TBC

Sunrise: 83 miles from Snettisham, Norfolk

Half Sunrise: 45 miles from Cley-next-the-sea, Norfolk

Both races finish at The Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and will be run under race permit 4618, granted by the TRA, following UKA rules for competition.

Races Will Start in

435Days

12Hours

24Mins

16Secs

Sunrise Ultramarathons

About the races

The Norfolk Coast Path runs for 83 miles from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea, travelling through the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). A stunning journey in its own right but we have added a couple of twists.

Firstly these events take place in mid-December. While Norfolk may not seem that remote, when the north winds blow it comes directly from the North Pole, and with the flat and open terrain, conditions could be challenging.

Secondly, the events will be run during the hours of darkness. As the sun sets in the west, you will be set off from the start in Snettisham. How far can you get before the sun rises in the east just over 16 hours later? For the speedier runners amongst you, can you reach the finish 83 miles away by The Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth?

Support is provided along the route but is kept to a minimum, to minimise the environmental impact of the race, avoid disturbing locals sleeping in their beds and to add to the running adventure.

Please note that runners own crew will be banned from the course between the hours of 22:00 and 07:00.

A full indoor checkpoint is provided at roughly halfway, in Cley-next-the-sea. Here you will have access to a drop bag and also be provided with warm food and drink. Further indoor checkpoints are also provided at Overstrand and Sea Palling (no drop bag), along with additional mobile checkpoints. The mobile checkpoints may be unmanned and limited to cold water and snacks, so pack accordingly.

For those that don’t fancy the full Sunrise experience, we offer the Half Sunrise. This starts from the “halfway” checkpoint at Cley-next-the-sea at 22:30 and follows the same route to the finish in Great Yarmouth, some 45 miles away. Both events provide an exhilarating pre-Christmas challenge and a great way to end the year.

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UTMB® and ITRA Qualifier Events

Both races are UTMB World Series Qualifier Events, part of the new qualification system launched in 2021.

GPS Tracking

All our athletes will be given a GPS tracker to carry during the race, for safety and also to allow your friends and family to follow your progress as you race the sun to the finish in Great Yarmouth

Regular Support

Regular support is provided along the route, with three indoor checkpoints for those racing the Full Sunrise, where runners can access a drop bag (Cley CP only) and warm food and drinks. Additional mobile and unmanned water stations will be provided along the route but these will be minimal, so pack accordingly.

Bus Transport

Buses are provided if required to transport all racers from the finish in Great Yarmouth back to the start at Snettisham for the Full Sunrise or Cley-next-the-sea for the Half Sunrise. This is an option you can select at checkout.

Eco-friendly

We aim to minimise the use of plastic and other non-recyclable materials in our races. For example, race t-shirts will only be available as an additional purchase. Competitors will also be expected to carry their own reusable cup.

Giving Back

We are keen to support the local communities and environment that our races pass through. As a result, a minimum of £1 from every entry will be donated to a coastal charity.

Beautiful route following one of the newest UK national trails

The Route

Starting at sunset outside the Sailing Club at Snettisham, The Sunrise heads north towards Hunstanton. From here it turns eastwards, joining the Norfolk Coast Path, which it follows (with a few diversions for safety and environmental reasons) all the way to the finish 83 miles / 133 kilometres away, at Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth.

The Half Sunrise starts in the pretty village of Cley-next-the-sea and follows the Norfolk Coast Path eastwards, also finishing at Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth, covering a total distance of 45 miles / 72 kilometres.

Cley-next-the-sea also marks the first major checkpoint on the full Sunrise, where runners will be able to access a drop bag, take shelter and get warm food and drink. Additional indoor checkpoints are also provided at Overstrand and Sea Palling, which are accessible by both races (no drop-bag).

Additional mobile checkpoints will be set up along the route but these will be outside and may be unmanned, so will only provide cold water and simple snacks. Competitors are therefore expected to be self-sufficient for the majority of the race and pack accordingly for a winter ultra marathon.

Both events will be run under race permit 4618, granted by the TRA and will also run under UKA rules for competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Is there a mandatory set kit list?

Yes, as you would expect for an ultra marathon running through the night in the middle of UK winter, for safety reasons there is a mandatory set of kit you are required to carry at all times. This will be checked at registration, with further random checks during and at the finish. Failure to produce items will result in disqualification.

Full details on mandatory kit, can be found over on our Race Kit page.

Are there any entry requirements?

As per UKA rules for races of these distances, you must be a minimum of 20 years old on the date of the event.

Half Sunrise entrants must have previously completed a trail marathon and Sunrise entrants must have previously completed an ultra marathon of around fifty miles in the last twelve months.

Norfolk may seem like a calm and pretty place but in mid-winter, this can be quite exposed terrain, so train accordingly and familiarise yourself with running and navigating in the dark.

Read our full terms and conditions for further details on our entry requirements

What are the time limits / cut offs?

For the Sunrise you have until sunset on the Sunday to complete the course. There are enforced cut offs at the major checkpoint at Cley (38 miles) at 01:30 Sunday, Overstrand at 05:00 and at Sea Palling at 11:00.

For the Half Sunrise you have 15 hours to complete the 45 mile journey to Great Yarmouth, with the finish line closing at 13:30 on Sunday. There are no cut-offs along the route.

Is the course marked or is it a self-navigation event?

Both events are self-navigation events along a designated national trail.

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 acorn 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.

What food is available on the course?

A full menu will be published closer to the event itself but expect a small selection of cold simple sweet and savoury snacks at the mobile/unmanned checkpoints out on the course. For the indoor checkpoints at Cley, Overstrand and Sea Palling, we will also provide soup, warm drinks and a vegetarian pasta dish.

What if I change my mind?

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 to eight weeks before the race and transfer to another runner up to two weeks before.

Should the events sell-out (as they did in 2019) we will operate a waiting list and can transfer a place for a £10 admin fee.

No transfers are possible two weeks before the race.

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

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December 2024 TBC

Sunrise (83 miles)

Starting at sunset outside the Sailing Club in Snettisham, the route first runs north along the shore of The Wash to Hunstanton, before picking up The Norfolk Coastal Path eastwards towards the finish at The Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth, some 83 miles away. Can you beat the sun and arrive before dawn? Don’t worry if not, as you have until sunset Sunday to complete your journey.

Schedule

Sat 13:00 TBC
Buses depart Great Yarmouth to start

Sat 14:00 – 15:15
Race registration at start (Snettisham)

Sat 15:00
Race briefing

Sat 15:40 aprox
Race start (sunset)

Sun 01:30
Cut-off at Cley checkpoint

Sun 05:00
Cut-off at Overstrand checkpoint

Sun 07:55 aprox
Sunrise at finish

Sun 11:00
Cut-off at Sea Palling checkpoint

Sun 16:00 aprox
Finish closes

December 2024 TBC

Half Sunrise (45 miles)

Starting at 22:30 in Cley-next-the-sea, you follow the same course as the Full Sunset eastwards towards the finish at The Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth, some 45 miles away. Could you also beat the sun and arrive before dawn? Don’t worry if not, as you have fifteen hours or until 13:30 Sunday to complete your journey.