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A one off 100 Mile Run around Saxon Country!

We've been very fortunate to have been granted permission to hold a 100 mile ultra event out of Brook Farm, Reculver Kent. The kind farmers there allow us to use their land and facilities to hold a running event and much route is on their land which does make for some lovely running! (And a huge barn makes a brilliant base camp!)


Runners Handbook 2023 - Click Here

Saxon 100 is going to be a one off event, you'll only have a single opportunity to run this route and earn this spectacular shirt and bling (the shirt artwork is below - we'll work on the bling throughout the year - and we're not decided yet to either reveal in advance or just on the day).

The Finishers Shirt Front & Back
(We'll order in the shirts after the event for finishers and get them out to people as soon as we can. As this is a one off event we don't want to create any excess waste in having shirts that will never be able to be earned again)

Why Saxon 100? Well the route actually is right in on part of the Saxon Shore Trail - which was the original inspiration for the Saxons, Vikings and Normans name - and in fact is right on the intersection with the Viking Coastal Trail, which is two parts of our name.

The main event is a 100 mile endurance run of 10 times 10.0 mile loops. The first two loops will be from the base camp along the Saxon Shore Way and Viking Coastal Trail along towards the Reculver Towers and Birchington and then the final eight loops will be around the farmland just inland from the coast around the Brook Farm and St Nicholas farm properties either side of the A299 on a new ten mile loop which contains a lot of closed paths which only we (and the farmers of course) have access to.

The course is a mix of tarmac roads (about 2%), decent trail (about 10%), not quite so decent trail (about 5%), and the rest is high quality concrete and tarmac farm roads and bike paths, so an awful lot of it is on good runnable surfaces and its pretty flat, about 180' a lap with some lovely views across the Kent Countryside towards Reculver, Thanet, a railway line and the A299. OK, confession, the A299 not quite so lovely, but its something to look at and does make access to the location really simple as only half a mile from a major road and is generally hidden behind a decent screen of trees and at night does provide a fair bit of ambient light which is nice as in other places when it's dark - it's dark!

We want runners to achieve incredible things and so we've set up this 100 mile run to be as achievable as possible. This event is ideal for first time 100 mile runners as we take away many of the issues with the bigger point to point 100 milers such as navigation or tricky terrain or for more experienced ultra runners looking for a quicker 100 mile time, or to hone ultra skills or simply to earn an ace buckle. The key features are

1) A 32 hour time limit. Start is 0800 on Saturday. Cut off is 1600 on Sunday.. (That allows an average pace of over 19 minutes per mile)

2) Simple navigation. These are simple loops and the land is so flat that the Reculver Towers usually provide very hand for navigation, not to mention the farm roads are generally totally obvious where to go.There is a small amount of variation in elevation to provide the legs with some changes, the terrain is also mixed, again providing the legs with some variation in work. We'd estimate the total elevation gain for the 100 miles to be about 2000'

3) No compulsory kit aside from lights required from 2100 - 0500.

4) No large gaps between aid stations. You'll be able to get fluids/food/access your gear every 10.00 miles and we'll have a mid lap aid station on both loops - a very simple on on the coastal part which will just be fluids but a far more comprehensive one part way around the inland loop that you'll pass twice each lap (so basically 3 aid station stops every 10 miles)

5) Get out of jail card. We appreciate that the reality of 100 milers is that not everyone finishes. You'll be able to drop down to the 24 hour event any time before 0800 on Sunday and receive an official finish, a Saxon Challenge medal and goody bag.

6) For 100 mile finishers there will be a kick-ass buckle and finishers shirt. And although we doubt you'll fancy it at the finish, a goody bag of course!

7) We always feel pacers get a raw deal at ultras, nobody ever knew they were there, we want to change that! For people supporting 100 Mile runners we have the Pacer Challenge. They can keep their runner company for as much or as little as they wish after 1800 on the Saturday, one lap and they are an official finisher.Thus they can keep runners company, be very much part of the event, they'll have their laps recorded, receive an official finish, receive a Saxon Challenge medal and a goody bag.

8) There are no qualification requirements, we'll have an on site medical team and simple logistics!

Please have a careful read through the FAQ section and consider joining us to earn what we hope will be the most impressive buckle you are able to earn in this side of the Atlantic.

Please note that this race falls outside of our "Fair Runner Policy" due to the far larger financial commitments we are having to take. Please read the cancellation section in the FAQ before signing up.

SVN Grand Slam

This event will form part of the eligibility for the SVN Grand Slam Shirt - to qualify for this - further details we'll publish in 2023 and 2024 is to have completed 3 SVN 100 mile events lifetime - either the same or different ones - from 2016 to 2024 - those that have achieved this outstanding feat will be eligible for again a one off shirt towards the end of 2024...

Course

Loops 1-2

The first part of the event will be two laps of the Saxon Shore Way - Viking Coastal Trail - you'll leave Brook Farm, head up towards the Reculver Towers, go past those and then along the lovely flat Coastal Path until you turn around and retrace your steps back to base camp - twice!

You can view the route in more detail on MapMyRun here.

Loops 3-10

For those who've run at Brook Farm before parts of this loop will be familiar - it's out of the farm, under the railway bridge, past the windmill down on to the bike path - along to the bridge of doom (where the aid station will be) then a new loop combining every variation we've had over the St Nicholas Farm all in to one lap - it'll be signed! - and whilst it looks confusing it's basically just a right/right/right followed by a left/left/left (ooh brewery) left/left and back to the remote aid station.

You can view the route in more detail on MapMyRun here.

Photos from the Route (Taken July 2016)

Frequently Asked Questions

Race Briefing: Mandatory for 100 mile entrants at 07.50.

Entrant limit: 100 for the 100 mile event.

What do I get?

Saxon 100 - Finishers - Completion of 10 x 10.0 mile loops.

1) A Saxon 100 finishers buckle.
2) A Saxon 100 finishers shirt (which will be ordered after the event and got to finishers asap after the event)
3) A Saxon Challenge medal.
4) A goody bag which has goodies in, not a bunch of adverts. There will be nothing healthy in our goody bags, things they contain for example, chocolate, crisps.

Saxon 100 - DNF

1) One of our usual standards of goody bags. Handshake for chaps, a hug for girls.

Saxon Challenge /24/Pacer hour - Completion of at least one 10 mile loop.

1) A Saxon Challenge finishers medal. (Even if you complete 100 miles in the 24 hours you'll still only receive the medal. Buckles are solely for those entering and completing the 100 mile event.)
2) One of our usual standards of goody bags.

Where do I park?
Free parking is available around the farm area in assorted areas, we'll have a parking marshall on the day to direct you, please park sensibly!

When do I get my race number?
You'll pick this up on race day morning from the race base camp.

Are there time limits?
Yes,

For all events the absolute cut off is 1600 on Sunday. It's a hard cut off. Nothing counts after this.

For the 6/24 Hour Challenges you must be inside your last loop at 6/24 hours after you started (subject to the absolute 1600 Sunday cut off) even if you finish your final loop after the respective time limits, any laps after the time limit won't count. i.e. if you start a 24 hour challenge you can start an extra lap up to 23:59:59 after you started.

With timed events there are no DNFs as long as you complete one lap.

A DNF will occur at the 100 mile event if you started a loop after 0800 on the Sunday and subsequently fail to finish or are timed out which then unfortunately counts for nothing. So for 100 mile runners if you start a lap after 0800 on the Sunday you are deemed to be continuing in the 100 mile event and the option to drop down to the 24 hour event has gone, if you then subsequently withdraw or are timed out then that's a DNF. Before that point you can drop down to the 24 hour event and receive an official finish.

How do the 6/24/Pacer hour Challenges work?
These are four separate events.
The 24 Hour Challenge starts at 0900 on the Saturday.
The Pacer Challenge start time is flexible and you can start at any point after 1800 on the Saturday.

Pacers
Unofficial pacing isn't permitted with the exception of crew/supports are welcome to join 100 mile finishers on their final lap.

Extra Event Rules
1) You must carry illumination between 2100 and 0500.
2) Any person seen deliberately discarding litter will be disqualified.

Crewing
This event will be set up so that having a crew won't be necessary however if runners wish to have a crew/supporters then of course then can. However crew/supporters aren't allowed to hang out in the aid station/base camp area simply as there won't be the space and parking is really limited so its not encouraged. There are several points on the course that would make excellent crewing stations. We'll make exact details of these locations known closer to the event date.

What are the toilet facilities?
There are male and female toilets at the farm and we'll have extra portable toilets too.

Camping
No camping, tents, gazebos etc are allowed on site. Nor will there be any sleeping facilities at the start/finish/base camp area. Though you're always welcome to catch forty winks in your car if you wish to.

How are laps counted?
At race registration you'll be handed a small laminated lap counting card, attach this to yourself with a safety pin or cable tie. At the end of each loop get this punched through by one of the hole puncher chaps or chappesses. So basically at the end of each lap, get your card punched, or ring the bell!

You'll have to tell us when you're finished, not the other way around. As it's a timed event, if you wish you can stop, have a rest and continue, eat cake, go get a burger from the burger van... etc.

We'll have an “official finishers bell” for this purpose, (Rachel will be the keeper!) when you're done for the day, ring the bell and the goodies will be yours!

Do you have secure baggage facilities
No. But you're free to leave bags at the start/finish. There will always be someone around but we can't guarantee their security. You'll be able to park close to the start/finish don't forget.

Can I leave my own drinks/food at the aid station?
Yes no problem at all, we have a dedicated table for runners own supplies if they have anything special that they'd like to bring along.

Trail shoes? Road Shoes?
Road shoes should be fine if its dry, but if wet a bit more tricky as there are both lots of hard surfaces but some mixed ones too. Hybrids or Hokas for me put it that way! Gaitors would be wise.

Is the course closed to the public?
No. But most of the route is on private farm land, bike paths and public footpaths not near much habitation so its really rather quiet.

What will base camp be like?
It's a giant barn or a working farm, so basic, but hopefully nice and dry and snug.

What on course facilities do you provide?
Water, squash, nibbles, starter, timekeeper and encouragement every lap! Base station will be well stocked for all runners. We will feature more "ultra" centric food than usual. To minimise waste we will not be providing bottles of water, just unlimited water/squash to fill bottles, cups or bladders. (Please bring one!)

Are there any facilities at the start/finish area?
Not much, its a working farm, so toilets. A tractor to look at?

What about hot food?
We'll have tea/coffee/hot chocolate and simple hot things such as noodles/porridge for folk who'd like something warm in the night or early hours. Please remember to bring a "hot" mug or cup for hot drinks...

Can I use an ipod or mp3 player on the course?
Yes. Though please be aware that you are running on public footpaths with the general public in place so make sure that you pay attention to traffic, people, children on bikes, wildlife and so on. In addition we use a couple of short sections of country lanes so you need to pay attention especially at these times

Public Transport?
The nearest train station is Herne Bay and that's about 3 miles away

Cancellation Conditions.
This event falls outside our usual "Fair Runners Policy"

Withdraw prior to

31st December 2022 we'll offer deferal to 2024 or 3 x "regular" race credits
31st March 2023 we'll offer 2 x "regular" race credits

Can you point me to some advice about running 100 miles?
http://www.traviss.co.uk/wisdom/100_mile_tips_introduction.html

 

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