01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
Prepare for a varied trail day
The route follows the opening half of North Downs Way 100, passing the Guildford area, Ranmore, Box Hill and Reigate Hill before continuing east. Practise moving between wooded paths, open ground and short road sections so changes of surface feel familiar.
Make the climbs part of your rhythm
Box Hill gives the course a distinctive change of tempo. Include some steeper hiking in training and practise settling back into running afterwards. Keep the transition comfortable, using your breathing to find the effort you can repeat on the next rise.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Develop a week you can repeat
Combine mostly easy running with progressive strength work and a longer outing suited to your experience. Add trail duration gradually. Let recovery guide the next increase so you arrive at the specific part of the block with consistency behind you.
Practise climbing and descending together
Choose a hill where you can work comfortably uphill and descend with control. Start with a manageable number of repetitions and add exposure over time. A relaxed upper body and attentive foot placement help you move smoothly as the terrain changes.
Make eating on the move familiar
Use selected longer outings to test your preferred food and drink. Try taking fuel on a purposeful walk and organise your supplies for easy access. Rehearse a quick checkpoint sequence so refilling and continuing feel like ordinary parts of the run.
Bring your running and strength work together. Explore MaxMile for your North Downs Way 50 preparation, or compare our personal coaching options.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
Use the opening miles to settle into a comfortable effort. Let the gradient decide when hiking is useful and return to running smoothly as the trail eases. Keeping the early work repeatable gives you a good platform for the second half.
Work from the organiser’s checkpoint limits and include your planned stops. Later, keep the routine simple: eat, drink, check the route and move towards the next clear landmark. Enjoy progress through each section rather than judging the whole day from one watch split.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
An example 20-week block ending on 15 May 2027 begins on 26 December 2026. Use that as a planning marker, with a consistent running base already in place. Your own preparation may need more time.
Map work, family commitments and other races into the calendar first. Build the specific hill and long-run work gradually, make room to recover between demanding outings, then ease the load towards race day. Regular, manageable weeks give you a strong foundation for the adventure ahead.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
Test trail shoes and socks on the surfaces you expect to encounter, and carry your pack on some longer runs. Review the complete mandatory kit list, including lighting, before race week. Have the current route file and instructions available.
Plan travel to Farnham and collection from Knockholt Pound as separate journeys. Confirm the finish location and final approach in the latest instructions, then give supporters only the locations permitted by the organiser.