Centurion Running
Written by Catriona Adams. Published 12 August 2026
Centurion Running is the organiser behind twelve ultra-distance trail races across southern England, from 50km to 200 miles, run on historic long-distance paths — the South Downs Way, North Downs Way, Thames Path and Chiltern Way among them. Founded in 2010 by James Elson, it built its reputation on the fully supported, aid-station-staffed style of racing common in the US but rare in the UK at the time.
Key points
- Founded in 2010 by James Elson; first event was the North Downs Way 100 in August 2011.
- 12 events across southern England, from 50km to 200 miles, on historic trails like the South Downs Way and Thames Path.
- The South Downs Way 100 (100 miles, 12,700 ft) is the toughest of the four 100-milers by climb.
- The Centurion Grand Slam: finish all four 100-milers, or all four 50-milers, in one calendar year for a belt buckle.
The full portfolio
| Race | Distance | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Downs 200 | 200 mi | 22,500 ft |
| South Downs Way 100 | 100 mi | 12,700 ft |
| North Downs Way 100 | 103 mi | 11,000 ft |
| Winter Downs 100 | 100 mi | 10,000 ft |
| Autumn 100 | 100 mi | 5,000 ft |
| Thames Path 100 | 100 mi | 1,900 ft |
| South Downs Way 50 | 50 mi | 5,700 ft |
| North Downs Way 50 | 50 mi | 5,600 ft |
| Chiltern Wonderland 50 | 50 mi | 5,600 ft |
| Wendover Woods 50 | 50 mi | 10,000 ft |
| Hundred Hills 50K | 31 mi | 4,000 ft |
| South Downs Way 50K | 31 mi | 3,800 ft |
South Downs Way 100 and Autumn 100
The South Downs Way 100, run each June, is Centurion's flagship and the toughest of its four 100-milers by climb — around 12,700 ft over the chalk downland between Winchester and Eastbourne. The Autumn 100, run each October along flatter ground, carries roughly 5,000 ft of climbing and is a common choice for a first attempt at the distance precisely because the terrain, not the mileage, is what's forgiving.
The Grand Slam
Runners who finish all four Centurion 100-milers — South Downs Way 100, North Downs Way 100, Thames Path 100 and Autumn 100 — within the same calendar year earn a belt buckle under Centurion's Grand Slam, modelled on the American Grand Slam of Ultrarunning. A parallel Grand Slam exists across the four 50-mile races. Centurion is a partner of World Trail Majors, a separate ranking series from the UTMB World Series that Eryri by UTMB and Arc of Attrition belong to.
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