Kent Downs 50
Ultra Challenge®
SAT 11 OCTOBER 2025
- Kent Downs
- 50 km Loop + 25 km & 10K
- Walk, Jog, or Run
- Maidstone Basecamp
- Camping
- Parking
- Transfers
Join the Bright Horizons Team for the end of season Ultra Challenge®– in the ‘Garden of England’ – in support of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children. A basecamp near Maidstone, with parking & weekend camping options, the main 50km looped route heads anticlockwise around the Kent Downs – starting on the North Downs, around picturesque Aylesford, and following the River Medway. Along to the majestic Leeds Castle, then the North Downs Way back to the show ground finish line celebration. It’s easily accessible; you’ll get full support; and with 25km & 10km options also available, there’s a Kent Downs Ultra Challenge® waiting for you!
The Ultra Challenge® Experience
UK’s #1 Endurance Style Events for ALL Experience Levels.
Choose your Challenge, support your charity – do it at your pace, and there are 20 events in the Series with distance options to suit all! The ‘famous’ Ultra Challenge support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors & camaraderie. There are marquee rest stops, lots of food & drink, medical & massage teams, with a fully signed route to guide you. A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement, and once the aches subside you’ll feel energised, and up for more of life’s real challenges!
Push Yourself Further in 2025
Good preparation & smart planning are key, and from the moment you sign up you’ll have access to our Challenge App – with training guides, optional training walks, maps, online forums, and the latest news & updates.
Rest Stops every ~12.5 km with ‘major’ ones every ~25 km, and are much more than the shaky gazebo with water that you see on some events. We’ve marquee cover, large medical & welfare tents, catering services, seating areas for recovery, changing rooms, and a friendly welcome!
There’re pink arrows to guide you, distance markers, glow-sticks at night, hazard signs, and a route map in the App. Our ‘Trek Masters’ organise group departures at night so nobody has to walk solo. Our chip timing system enables our Control Room, and your friends / family, to track your progress through the Rest Stops.
Keeping you well fed & hydrated is key. We pride ourselves on the quantity & quality of our catering, and meals, snacks & drinks are included!
- Snacks & drink stops every 12.5 km
- Snacks – from the healthy to treats
- Picnic at 25 km (for 50km participants)
- Energy drinks
- All dietary requirements catered for
- Lighter options for ‘runners’
- Finishers hot meal 50 km (picnic for 25km & 10km)
We’ve experienced Doctors, Paramedics, First Aiders, Podiatrists, and Massage Teams at Rest Stops. There’re ‘Self Help’ areas with blister plasters, talc, Vaseline, and tape if you want to patch your own feet. Our mobile Emergency Medical Teams are only a phone call away, via our 24 hour Control Room
We don’t want you to forget that finish-line moment – our Cheer Squad will ensure you won’t! You’ll get a medal, finisher’s T-shirt, and a glass of fizz, before heading to a BBQ and a well earned rest. Download your official Challenge certificate when you’re ready.
There’re shuttles to local train stations for onward travel, and most finish lines have parking so supporters can meet you. We’ve bus ‘transfers’ to / back to key venues (eg the start) – and check out the ‘Bookable Extras’ for details of all transport options.
Your Challenge
Your Way!
Whether you’re a walker and new to challenge events, an experienced trekker, a marathon enthusiast upping the distance, or a seasoned ultra runner – there’s an Ultra Challenge® you! Walk, Jog, or Run at your pace, as a member of the Bright Horizons Team. The Kent Downs 50 Ultra Challenge is fun, safe, & rewarding – with full support all the way, enabling you to push yourself further in wonderful coastal scenery, and enjoy a great weekend away.
SIGN UP NOW
Click the button below to sign-up. Your Registration Fees are paid online & fundraising goes to the charity via an online JustGiving sponsorship page that you’ll need to set up (look for the link within the ‘Confirmation Email’ you’ll receive).
Bright Horizons employees benefit from significantly subsidised registration fees, while friends and family of Bright Horizons (clients, suppliers, parents, carers, friends and family) receive a 5% discount on their entry fees.
Discounted rates are subject to minimum fundraising targets being achieved and are outlined below. Use the appropriate labelled button below to register.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE – 17TH SEPTEMBER ’25 AT 12:00PM
STAFF
SELF FUNDING
Pay for your place & achieve your fundraising target. Staff ONLY to sign up via this link.
50km CHALLENGE
£52.82 Fee paid online &
fundraising target £100
25km CHALLENGE
£33.82 Fee paid online &
fundraising target £75
10km CHALLENGE
£14.82 Fee paid online &
fundraising target £50
Friends & Family
SELF FUNDING
Pay for your place & achieve your fundraising target. Create your JustGiving below.
50km CHALLENGE
£132.05 Fee paid online &
fundraising target £100
25km CHALLENGE
£84.55 Fee paid online &
fundraising target £75
10km CHALLENGE
£37.05 Fee paid online &
fundraising target £50
- Sign up to the challenge, using the ‘Sign Up ’ button on your chosen distance.
- Once you’ve completed your personal details, you will get to choose if you want to Create A New Team or Join An Existing Team as part of the registration process.
- To Create A New Team – you must choose a team name, and a password – this password will be required by your fellow team members to join your team as they register.
- Once you’ve created your team, and completed your registration, your fellow team members can then sign up to the same challenge, and will need to select Join An Existing Team – entering your team name using the search bar, and the password you chose when you created the team.
As a Team Captain you will receive an email notification each time someone joins your team.
- Sign up to the challenge, using the ‘Sign Up ’ button on your chosen distance.
- Once you’ve completed your personal details, you will get to choose if you want to Create A New Team or Join An Existing Team as part of the registration process.
- To Join An Existing Team – search for the team you wish to join, you will need the password created by the team captain in order to join a team.
- The team captain will be emailed a notification of your request to join the team, once they’ve accepted your request, you too will receive email confirmation that you are now part of the team.
Bookable Extras
A range of optional extras designed to make the planning for, and joining, your challenge easier.
Sign-up to your chosen Challenge first, then you can book any optional extras later / separately.
You can also claim your free parking by clicking the button and booking a permit.
Want to join the Bright Horizons team on another event? Check out the Bright Horizons Calendar!
FAQs
You must be 18 or over (on the day of the challenge) if taking on a Full Challenge (~100km) or Three Quarter Challenge (~75km); 16+ and accompanied by an adult if taking on a Half Challenge (~50km ), 14+ and accompanied by an adult if taking on a Quarter Challenge (~25km) or Marathon); for a Half Marathon aged 12+ and accompanied by an adult; 8+ & accompanied by an adult for a 10km/mile Challenge; and finally 4+ & accompanied by an adult for a 5kM Challenge
Under 18s taking part must be signed up by someone over 18.
You’ll receive a ‘transaction receipt’ (via email) along with a Confirmation Email. This will detail any next steps, timelines you need to be aware of, and how & where to find all the info / details you’ll need for your Challenge. (NOTE– If you don’t receive that e mail within 12 hours, please check your spam/junk mail folders)
You will receive your e-ticket between 10 and 14 days before the challenge takes place. (NOTE– If you haven’t received your e-ticket within 7 days of the challenge, please check your spam/junk mail folders and let your designated event coordinator know)
All charity sponsorship and mixed funding places close 4 weeks before each challenge, so that you have enough time to fundraise and reach your target. Self funding places close for online registration on the Tuesday before each challenge.
Visit the ‘HELP CENTRE’ on the Ultra Challenge Website:
If you still need additional help or guidance – you can contact the Ultra Challenge Team at:
Tel: 0207 609 6695
