Sundowner Trail Marathon

The Sundowner Trail Marathon starts and finishes at Purleigh Village Hall in the Essex countryside near Chelmsford, run in the early evening so that competitors are out on the trails as the sun sets. The roughly 27 mile course is split into two distinct loops that both return to the village hall, with the halfway point doubling as a checkpoint where runners can access drop bags. The route takes in a genuinely varied mix of undulating terrain, including coastal saltmarsh, canal towpaths, vineyards and forest, giving a real showcase of the Essex countryside and coastline across the two loops. With around 2,500 feet of total ascent, the course is properly hilly rather than flat. It's a cupless event with three well-stocked checkpoints including vegan options, and mandatory kit includes a head torch and separate backup light. Bespoke locally made trophies and prize money reward the open category winners. Also by the same race organiser: Orient-deering. A fun, navigational trail event combining running and basic map-reading. Check official website for more information.