The sixteenth edition of our inaugural race is upon us. 103 miles from the start of the North Downs Way National Trail Head in Farnham, Surrey, all the way to the tartan track of the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, Kent, where Aleksandr Sorokin famously set a new 100 mile World Record of 11:14 in 2021.
The womes course record was lowered in emphatic fashion by an outstanding run from previous SDW100 champion Alice Robinson - to 18:13. Ryan Whelan made it a three-peat in the mens, with three consecutive victories, the Hong Kong based athlete has opted to leave it there for now and opens the door to new champions this year.
Within a starting field of 250 we have 24 runners still heading towards a 2026 100 Mile Grand Slam. The standings after two races are here.
You can follow the race live from 0700 on Saturday 8th August via the tracking page here and our instagram page here.
Alice Robinson
WOMEN
Jana de Waal (ITRA Index 617): Eighth at the South Downs Way 100 in 2025, Jana then finished 7th at the Arc 50 in January of this year. She dropped at the TP100 in May but then went on to win the Cotswold Way Challenge (100km) giving her her highest ITRA score for any race to date.
Zoe Smith (ITRA Index: 610): Second at the Thames Path 100 in May in 18 hours flat. Second at Wendover Woods 50 last November, she was fourth at the NDW50 in 2025 so she is familar with the first half of the course at the least. Can she go one better this time and step onto the top of the podium.
Zoe Smith
Sophie Seward (ITRA Index: 585): 2025 Autumn 100 champion in a time of 18:25, after coming from behind through half way she stormed through a brilliant seconf half to take the crown. This past May, she finished second in the Maverick Peaks X-Trail 50km.
Sophie Seward
Leyla Bennis (ITRA Index 572): French athlete who finished 13th at the Marathon Des Sables in 2025.
Sarah Searle-Brown (ITRA Index 542): Sarah was fourth here last year in 22:04. A previous top ten finisher at the Autumn 100 in a similar time.
Gabriela Podgorski (ITRA Index: 530): Winner of this years Ridgeway 86 in 17:26, which followed a 10th at Istria by UTMB 100 mile back in April.
MEN
Alistair Courtney (ITRA Index: 744): Our Grand Slam 50 mile record holder from 2024. Last year Alistair was one step off the podium at this event and one position ahead of Matt Gallagher. The two raced again at TP100 where Matt came out on top after Alistair dropped late on. At the South Downs Way Alistair found his 100 mile legs however and ran home in 15:16 for a superb 7th place.
Matt Gallagher (ITRA Index: 694): 2026 Thames Path 100 Champion. Matt is running the Grand Slam this year and followed that up with a 13th place finished at SDW100 in 16:38. He was fifth here last year in 18:05.
Harry Pickering (ITRA Index: 693): 2025 Winter Downs 100 Champion in 17:19, he has had a couple of DNFs at 100s in between but came roaring back with 16th at the South Downs Way 100 in 17:08.
Harry Pickering
Robert Wooley (ITRA Index: 682): Lots of Australian races in Roberts resume, he has done particularly well at the famous Six Foot Track ultra which granted is much shorter but has similar sections of stairs to this course!
Will Raybould: The 2026 Grand Union Canal Race Champion in 27:05. His first visit to this race but has finised in the top ten of the Thames Path 100 in the past.
Remember to follow along via the tracking page here and our instagram page here.
