Wendover Woods 50^®

Entries

Entries for 2024 opened at 1000 on Saturday 23rd September 2023. Places are open on a first come, first served basis. There is no waiting list and there are no entries on the day. The exception is for those who volunteered over 8 hours of service in 2023 and requested a guaranteed 2024 entry.

The entry fee is £105.

Runners may also enter the event as part of the 50 mile Grand Slam. To take part in the Slam, runners can enter each event individually, or buy a Grand Slam ticket which gets you entry to all four 50 Mile Slam events. Information on the Grand Slam, and how to enter it can be found by clicking here. 

Qualification Standard

In order to enter you must have completed a minimum of a marathon distance race within the cut off time of that event between 1st January 2020 and race day. As organisers, we reserve the right to refuse anybody entry who does not meet this standard. Unqualified runners may enter but will be contacted approximately 8 weeks prior to race to verify qualification plans if they have not updated their online information by this time.

Click here to read more about what counts as a qualifier. 

Cut Offs

Runners must finish the course within a 15 hour time limit. There are additional cut offs on route which can be found in the aid station table. 

Start/ Finish Location

Registration, Start & Finish are in 'Trig Point Field', Aston Hill, Halton, Aylesbury, HP22 5NQ. The field is opposite Aston Hill Bike Park. 

Route

The race route consists of 5 x 10 mile loops on forest trails and tracks within Wendover Woods, woodland operated by Forestry England. 

A map of the route and a downloadable GPX file can be found at the bottom of this page. The route has 10,000 feet of climb, and 10,000 feet of descent.

Awards

FINISHER Medal for Finishers only. Runners have the choice to opt for Trees not Tees during registration in place of awards.

For 2024 if runners would like a tee shirt, they may purchase a personalised one during the registration process.

Additional prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Male and Female and all Vet Categories: MV40, MV50, MV60, MV70, FV40, FV50, FV60, FV70. 

Aid Stations

The start/ finish location also acts as the aid station at the start/ end of each loop. Runners will make 4 visits there before finishing at the end of their 5th loop. The Hale Lane Aid Station falls at mile 5.5 of each lap and will therefore also be visited 5 times. A full list of the distances at which the aid stations fall and the respective cut off times, can be found here. Both aid stations will carry as a minimum: Tailwind, water, coke, chocolate, sweets, sandwiches, nuts, lots of fruit, Gu gels, wraps, sandwiches and other sweet and savory snacks. Hot drinks will also be available throughout the race at both aid stations. 

Drop Bags/ Finish Line Bags (the same singular bag)

Your Drop/ Finish Line Bag may be deposited at registration, whereupon they will be stored in number order in a separate tent and accessible to runners at the end of each 10 mile loop. Bags should be clearly labelled with runners name and bib number. Drop bags must NOT exceed 50 litres in size.

Course Markings

The course will be marked with our recycled Tyvek pink ribbons and pink Centurion marker arrows. There are a handful of road crossings/ to negotiate. These will NOT all be marshalled. 

Pacers

No pacers are permitted at any point on the route. A pacer is an individual not in the event, who accompanies you on foot for any period of time. 

Crew

No crew are permitted at any point on the route. This means no-one except our marshals can hand you anything and you can not give anything to anyone else except our marshals.

Supporters

Supporters are welcome anywhere out on course, with the exception of Hale Lane Aid Station. Please note, nothing must be handed to or received from runners out on course or in the field, that is deemed as crewing.

Medical

There will be a dedicated team of race medics available throughout the race including a static first aid team at the start/ finish check point and a roving team within the Woods. If you suffer an injury or accident that warrants direct medical attention, the medics will be on hand to provide you with exactly that. Contact numbers and full details of what to do in an emergency will be given to you in the pre race information packs and again at race registration. Due to the nature of the course ie. some remote and far from roads, the medics may take some time to reach you, or potentially be out of contact tending to other runners. In those instances you should contact the emergency services on 999 AS WELL AS the race medics. Full instructions on what to do in an emergency can be found in the infopacks. 

Kit

99% of the course is on trail, therefore trail shoes are advised, particularly given the time of year. There are sections of trail which can become very muddy in wet conditions. The course takes a number of steep ascents and descents, many of which will become hard going in wet conditions, particularly as the race progresses. These sections must be negotiated carefully in both the dry and the wet. Given the time of year, the threat of exposure is very real. 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. 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)
• Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum
• Whistle
• Waterproof Jacket: Gore-tex or similar, minimum 10000mm+ & must have sealed seams.
• Warm Hat - Beanie Hat or Buff (either are accepted)
• Gloves 
• 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. 
• Any runner starting any loop after 1300 must take a primary light source/ head lamp out with them on the course - Minimum 75 Lumens
• Any runner starting any loop after 1300 must take a Back Up Light source out with them on the course - Minimum 25 Lumens

The video below takes you through the mandatory gear for the race and gives some tips and advice on how to pack it.