Got your mandatory kit sorted?
Browse the ultra runners' kit list for all your essential gear.
South Hams 100 Mile Ultramarathon
Do not let the postcard-perfect beaches fool you. The South Hams 100 mile ultra marathon is a breathtaking but brutal 100 mile journey through one of the most rugged, undulating, and spectacular sections of the South West Coast Path.
Brought to you by the trail experts at Wild Running, this event showcases the raw beauty of South Devon. The South Hams region is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and this race takes you through the very heart of it. Expect towering sea cliffs, hidden smuggler coves, remote estuaries, and enough elevation gain to rival a mountain ultra.
Course
Running 100 miles along the Devon coast is a unique logistical and physical puzzle. The South West Coast Path here is famously relentless, a constant rollercoaster of steep, quad-busting descents into coastal valleys followed by immediate, lung-busting climbs back up to the cliff tops.
- The Terrain: A mix of rocky headlands, sandy beaches, woodland trails, and hard-packed dirt.
- The Estuaries: One of the defining features of the South Hams coastline is its river mouths. Depending on the exact route and tidal conditions, runners often have to navigate the crossings of the Erme, Avon, or Dart estuaries, adding a thrilling element of tidal strategy and time management to the race.
- The Night Shift: Navigating the technical coastal path in the dark requires intense concentration. The sound of the crashing waves below and the beam of your headtorch will be your only company through the early hours.
The route is supported by 8 strategic indoor and outdoor checkpoints. Expect a mix of hot food, standard ultra snacks, hydration, and the legendary warmth of the South West volunteer crews.
There is a specific type of mental resilience required to keep moving forward when every single cove presents another massive staircase to climb. If you have conquered flat 100 milers and want to test your climbing legs without travelling to the mountains, the South Hams 100 mile ultramarathon will push you to your absolute limits, and reward you with some of the best sunrises in the UK. For full details, including registration info, please visit the official Wild Running Events website.
