Event Overview
| Date | Mar 5-7, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Combe Down Tunnel, Bath, England, United Kingdom |
| Format | 200+ Mile |
| Terrain | Road |
| Region | Europe |
| Distance / duration | 200 mi |
| Course model | Out-and-back |
| Edition note | The 2027 entry heading explicitly gives March 5–7 and says entries are closed. An older date section still shows March 6–8, 2026; it is not the upcoming edition. |
| Cutoff | 55 hours |
| Start | 3:30 PM on the organizer’s undated registration notes; confirm for 2027. |
Course & Terrain
Flat out-and-backs through the Combe Down foot tunnel, with a checkpoint at its southern end.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | A completed 100-mile race is the minimum application requirement. |
| Support model | Basic water, cola and snacks at the checkpoint, a drop-box area and a portable toilet; no shelter or rest area. |
| Crew / pacers | No outside support. Headphones and poles are prohibited. |
Why This Race Matters
Cockbain Events places almost the entire route underground, making repeated tunnel traverses and low light defining parts of this fixed-distance challenge.
Preparing for a Race Like The Tunnel Ultra
The 200-mile race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- 200-mile race strategy: Pacing, sleep loss, aid stations, navigation, crew and feet, with a worked Moab 240 plan.
- Sleep strategy for multiday races: An individual sleep plan with safe locations and clear stop criteria.
- Crew and aid-station strategy: Crew tables, aid stops, drop bags and runner preferences.
- Foot-care kit for multiday running: Tape, lube, socks, blister pads and simple hot-spot rules.
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
- Runners must reach 100 miles within 27 hours 30 minutes. This is a 200-mile race, not a 55-hour distance-accumulation event.
- The tunnel remains open to other users. Carry a headtorch and wear high-visibility clothing.
Related Preparation
- Open the 200+ Mile format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Print a pace band for your goal time
- Estimate race calories and plan fueling
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated November 5, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Cockbain Events: 2027 entry heading, course and rules — https://www.cockbainevents.com/the-tunnel
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: November 5, 2026.