The eighth Chiltern Wonderland 50 will take place on Saturday 16th September 2023. Registrations will open on Saturday October 22nd 2022 at 1000.
How tough is the course?
The underfoot terrain is varied, but the majority is smooth single and double track trail alongside sections on tarmac road (20% total). There are lots of short climbs and descents totalling up to 5600ft of gain and the same of loss, but ultimately the course is runnable in the majority of places.
What do I get for my entry fee?
Principally you get a fully supported race day experience including:
5 fully stocked aid stations.
A marked course.
Full Medical Support in the form of dedicated race ambulances and roving vehicles as well as static first aid teams and medical volunteers at aid stations.
Live Tracking through open tracking. Click here to see a replay/ tracking of the 2023 event.
Live timings across race weekend for friends and family to track your progress.
Finish Line Hot Food and Drinks
FINISHERS ONLY (Runners can opt out of awards and have a tree planted instead through Trees not Tees)
A technical finishers t-shirt
Finishers Medal
Is there a limit to the number of entries into each distance/ Can I enter on race day?
Once the race fills, there will be no waiting list and there will be no entries on the day.
Is there a minimum qualification standard to achieve before I can enter?
No - you may enter without having first qualified. However in order to start you must have completed a minimum of a marathon distance race within the cut off time of that event since 1st January 2019. As organisers, we reserve the right to refuse anybody entry who does not meet this standard.
Click here to read more about what counts as a qualifier.
How do I update my qualifying information
Once registered, you may update your qualification information by heading back to your eventbrite account via the email you received upon registering.
Is there mandatory gear to carry on race day?
Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times. There are many options regards kit for fulfilling these requirements and those of other events. We stock what we believe to be the best options at our online store available by clicking here under the Mandatory Gear Section. Please ask us if you have any questions.
- Fully Charged Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Medic and Race Director (on the number you have given at registration)
- Water Bottles/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
- Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum
- Waterproof Jacket: Gore-tex or similar, minimum 10000mm+ & must have sealed seams.
- Whistle
- Headtorch or Primary Light Source (Minimum 75 lumens)
- Back Up Light Source (Minimum 25 lumens)
- Long sleeved base layer or fleece top - This must be carried separately from the start and kept dry, for use only in an emergency. Starting in 2 layers is not a substitute.
- The race is cupless which means you must bring a cup with you. Soft cups are available at the store here.
Will there be live updates during the race for friends and family to follow?
There will be live tracking of each runner every step of the way, throughout the event. The live tracking and timing pages will be available 48 hours before the start.
Are there any road crossings or gates/ stiles to negotiate?
Yes. Whilst the event is predominantly trail, some small sections are along roads and there are many road crossings on the route - some of them very busy and very fast. Although the busiest junctions will be signed and/or marshalled, runners must cross all roads safely and take responsibility for their actions. There are multiple gates and stiles on the route.
How many aid stations are there?
There will be 6 aid stations including the finish.
Where is the start/ finish?
Registration, Race Start, Race Finish and Race HQ are at Goring Village Hall, High Street, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG8 9AG.
What facilities are there at the Start/ Finish?
Start/ Finish: Toilets, Water, Free Hot Food and Drinks at the finish (includes vegan and vegetarian options).
There are NO sleeping facilities at the start or finish.
What time does the race start?
0830 on Saturday 16th September 2023. Your tracker and race number will not be posted to you before race day, you will be able collect it from registration. All timings are listed on the schedule tab.
Are pacers allowed?
Pacers are not permitted anywhere on the course.
Are crews allowed/ Are supporters allowed?
Crews are not permitted to attend runners anywhere on course, except for the finish.
Supporters should refer to this page for details of where best to support.
Can I leave a bag at the start/ finish?
Yes, please deposit these at registration labelled with your name and race bib number.
Will I need a map?
We advise you to carry a map pre-marked with the course and/ or the GPX of the route on a GPS device or watch, downloadable from the bottom of the main race page here. However, the markings will be thorough and continuously managed by our team.
Will there be toilets at the start/ finish or on the race route?
There will be toilets at Race HQ, the start and finish and at Bix and Ibstone aid stations.
What are the prizes/ awards?
All finishers will receive a a technical finishers shirt and a medal. (Runners can opt out of awards and have a tree planted instead through Trees not Tees)
Both the male and female overall winners will receive the Centurion trophy. Prizes also to 2nd and 3rd place Men and Women.
There are age group prizes as follows:
MV40, FV40, MV50, FV50, MV60, FV60, MV70, FV70.
There are no awards for non-finishers.
What happens if I need to drop out during the race?
If you have to drop please do so only at an aid station. Please inform the aid station captain on arrival that you intend to drop and whether you need assistance. If you need to drop out away from an aid station for medical reasons you must phone the race director immediately on the number provided at check in. A sweeper bus will operate throughout the race, collecting dropped runners. Please be patient with the volunteers if you need to wait for the bus. It travels with the cut offs.
What food and drink will there be on route?
All aid stations will have a full selection of the usual aid station fare and a whole lot more. At a minimum you will be able to pick up Water, Coke, Tailwind, Gu Energy Gels, Fruit, Chocolate, Crisps, Nuts, Sandwiches/ Wraps and other sweet and savoury snacks. There will be hot food and drink available at the finish.
What level of medical support can I expect?
Medical support is of paramount importance to us as organisers. Throughout the event there will be two roving medical teams out on the course and a static team at the finish line. Contact numbers for the medical team will be available at registration. They will be contactable round the clock for the duration of the race.
I need to withdraw, what is the refund/ transfer policy?
Withdrawals up to 4 weeks prior to race day (0600 GMT Saturday 28 days prior) are eligible for a 70% refund. Withdrawals after that time will not be refunded as all race day costs have been incurred by that stage and you will not be replaced. There are no deferals or transfers to alternative/ later events. You must acknowledge that you understand and agree to this policy during the registration process. If you do not agree with the refund policy please do not enter the event.
To withdraw please find your entry here and click the Cancel button. Your card will automatically be refunded the 70% fee up to 4 weeks before race day. After this time, you can still cancel your entry, but without any refund.
Exception to this is ONLY for pregnancy and in which case you must notify us by email of your pregnancy no later than 4 weeks prior to race day to be eligible for a 100% refund.
What happens if the event is cancelled or abandoned?
Race management reserve the right to modify, at any time, the course or aid station locations listed.
In the case of severe/ extreme weather conditions including but not limited to flooding after the event start, race management reserve the right to abandon the event at any time.
No refunds will be offered in that situation but a suitable alternative will always be sought. If the event cannot take place for reasons out of the control of race management including but not limited to flooding, severe weather or denial of access to the original course (foot and mouth outbreak for example), race management reserve the right to postpone the event to a later date and all entries will be carried forward to the new date. Refunds may not be offered under these circumstances. Event cancellation due to reasons such as Coronavirus or other such pandemic, public health, local authority travel and movement restrictions and bans of any kind etc. are beyond our control and cancellation is possible at any time. If the event is cancelled for reasons which require the event to be postponed indefinitely, race management reserve the right to retain all entry fees against costs incurred.
Is the race a qualifier for UTMB, Western States, Spartathlon or Hardrock?
The event is an official qualifier for UTMB.
How do I get in touch?
Please email us at [email protected] for any questions at all.
