Solstice at the Lakes 2026
Timed Trail Races: 6HR | 12HR | 24HR | Team Relay
How Far Will You Go On The Longest Day?
Welcome to Solstice at the Lakes - your chance to push your limits on the longest day of the year.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Leybourne Lakes, this midsummer event invites you to race into the solstice sunset and beyond. As day turns to night (and back again), you'll find out what you're truly capable of.
This is timed trail running in its purest form - no hourly cut-offs or starting on the hour every hour, no set pace and no one telling you to stop. Its your race! Choose to run 6, 12 or 24 hours as a solo entrant, or get friends together and take on the 24-hour as a relay team.
Run as far as you can in your chosen time. Every lap counts.
The Race Formats
24-Hour Race
- Start: 12:00 PM Saturday – Finish: 12:00 PM Sunday
- Format: Solo or Team Relay (2 to 4 people)
- Entry Fee: £100 (affiliated) / £102 (unaffiliated)
- Team Entry: £360 per team (max 4 runners)
12-Hour Race (Solo Only)
- Start: 6:00 PM Saturday – Finish: 6:00 AM Sunday
- Entry Fee: £68 (affiliated) / £70 (unaffiliated)
6-Hour Races (Solo Only)
- Day Race Option: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Saturday
- Night Race Option: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM Sunday
- Entry Fee: £40 (affiliated) / £42 (unaffiliated)
£2 from every entry goes to our chosen charity.
What to Expect
The Course
- 2.5km fully marked loop around Leybourne Lakes Country Park
- Flat, fast and scenic route
- Mix of perfectly maintained trail, gravel and tarmac
Race Village
- Central hub with food and drink for runners (hot food 6pm / 10pm / 2pm / 6am)
- Toilets, changing areas and rest zones
- Tables and chairs available for rest and support crew
- Friendly, inclusive atmosphere to keep you going throughout the event.
Support & Services
- Official race timing and live lap updates
- Medical team on site throughout the event
- Medal for all runners completing at least one lap
- Podium awards for top 3 Open / Female / Team Races - note: podium awards for the 6hrs will be given to the overall winners of the combined events
Parking & Spectators
- Paid car parking is available in Leybourne Country Park.
- Spectators welcome (cafe on-site during opening hours)
Final Distance
- Your result is the total number of full laps completed before your chosen race time ends. Plan your strategy to make every minute count.
Who's It For?
- First-time ultra runners keen to go long in a well supported / simple format setting
- Experienced endurance athletes looking to improve their time trail distance or find new limits.
- Teams of friends who want to share the challenge together
- Runners looking to experience running through the night.
Event Rules
- Minimum age to enter is 20 years on race day.
- All runners must check in at registration and wear their bib visibly on the front.
- The course must be completed on foot; no external assistance (including poles) or alternative transportation permitted.
- Runners may be crewed / supported only at the designated support area. No crewing is allowed on the course.
- Runners must not be paced by another runner at any point.
- Runners may rest between laps but must complete at least 1 lap within their race time to be recorded as a finisher and receive a medal.
- Teams may consist of up to 4 people. Only one runner may be on the course at any time.
- Team distance is measured by the total number of completed laps across 24 hours.
- The last lap completed before the official end time counts toward your final distance.
- No littering. This is a cupless event—please bring a reusable cup.
- Runners participating overnight must have a headtorch with sufficient batteries to last the duration of night.
- Respect all park users and follow the marked course.
- Music is allowed with headphones, but please remain aware of your surroundings.
- Any runner withdrawing must inform race control and return their timing chip.
- The race will go ahead in all weather unless deemed unsafe by the organisers.
Register Now
Be part of something special from the very first edition. Whether you're in it for 6 hours or the full 24, solo or with a team, Solstice at the Lakes 2026 is your chance to challenge yourself on the longest day of the year.
Come join us at Leybourne Lakes and see just how far you can go.
You may also like the following events from Embrace Ultra:
Also check out other
Sports events in West Malling,
Workshops in West Malling,
Trips & Adventurous Activities in West Malling.
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