6 km prologue
Start at St Martha's Hill Car Park, with racing beginning at St Martha's Hill at the start of the Downs Link path.
Saturday 25 September 2027 · Entries open
Downs
Link
Relay
Guildford to Shoreham
70 km
Rolling Relay
Teams of 3–4
Year two
—
days to race day
The Challenge
A 70 km team relay across the Surrey Hills to the Sussex coast.
Race as a team. Finish as a team.
After a cracking first edition in 2026, the relay returns on Saturday 25 September 2027.
Teams of 3 or 4 take on the 70 km Downs Link in a rolling relay from St Martha's Hill to Shoreham-by-Sea.
The day begins with a 6 km prologue before joining the Downs Link, after which your team decides how to tackle the course. Share the distance equally, rotate every few kilometres, or let runners take on longer stretches—the strategy is entirely yours.
The only rule? By the finish, every teammate should have covered roughly the same distance, finishing within ±5 km of one another before reuniting for the final lap of Shoreham Beach.
2026 · Year one
The time to beat.
Thursday Run Club won the first Downs Link Relay in 5:25:37, and had a receipt from The Bridge Inn just over ten minutes later. Three teams and eleven runners made it from St Martha's Hill to the sea.
Can your team go faster in 2027?
See the 2026 results and photos- Course record
- 5:25:37
- Teams finished
- 3
- Runners
- 11
- Next start
- 25.09.27
The Route
St Martha's Hill to the sea.
Starting from St Martha's Hill and following the Downs Link all the way to Shoreham.
How It Works
Simple format. Endless tactics.
Rolling relay
Each team has a car. Swap runners as often as you like: one long stint, short turns, or anything in between.
Finish together
Regroup in Shoreham, complete a lap of Shoreham Beach as a team, and finish on Coronation Green.
Bridge Inn
The after-race gathering starts at The Bridge Inn in Shoreham from 17:00.
Schedule · Saturday 25 September 2027
Race start
Rolling relay to Shoreham
Coronation Green beside the Adur Ferry Bridge
After party at The Bridge Inn
Gallery
Year one in pictures.
Entries open for 2027
Get your team on the start line.
Saturday 25 September 2027. Teams of 3 or 4. One support vehicle. One route from Guildford to Shoreham.
FAQ
When is the 2027 race?
Saturday 25 September 2027, starting at 09:00 from St Martha's Hill.
How many runners are in a team?
Teams should have 3 or 4 runners.
Can we swap whenever we want?
Yes. It is a rolling relay, so your team decides when and how often to change runners.
Does each team need a car?
Yes. Each team uses a car to support runners and manage swaps along the route.
Where does the race finish?
At Coronation Green in Shoreham, next to the Adur Ferry Bridge, after the team completes a lap of Shoreham Beach together.
Do we need GPS?
Yes. Runners should carry a phone and record GPS reliably.
How did the first year go?
Three teams finished in 2026, led by Thursday Run Club in 5:25:37. The full results and photos are online.
Disclaimer
This is an informal, unsanctioned run. You take part at your own risk. Teams are responsible for their own safety, navigation, and obeying road/land rules. The organisers accept no liability for injury, loss, or damage. By entering, you confirm you’re fit to run, will carry a phone, and will record GPS reliably.