16th November 2024 at 4.30pm
Start at the Belvedere Field, Fort George
Registration and kit check opens 1515hrs Saturday, closes 1615hrs. Race briefing at 1615hrs.
Qualifying races and experience will be taken into consideration before entry is accepted.
Please read the race details before entering.
If the race is full, joining the waiting list is recommended.
Automatic qualifier: any trail ultra race completed within the cut-offs in the last year. GU36 finishers need to consider how long it took them to complete the cliff section. Minimum with no ultra experience is a flat marathon in 3.5 hours or less or a hilly marathon (e.g. Beachy Head Marathon) in 4.5 hours or less. Training runs will be taken into consideration if you can provide Garmin/Strava etc. evidence.
Entry will be refunded (minus booking cost) if your entry is not accepted. If you are in doubt, please email us to check before entering.
We recognise that things sometimes do not go to plan and you may need to withdraw your entry. However, we do incur upfront costs to run the event so the following applies.
Up to 6 weeks before the event you may defer to next year or receive a refund of 75% of the entry fee. Your place will be offered to the next runner on the waiting list.
No changes can be accepted and no refunds given closer than 6 weeks before the event. This is to allow time for final orders to arrive.
Entry to the waiting list does not guarantee entry to the race or to subsequent races.
You can view the route here.
Ascent/Descent: Around 2,300 metres
A challenging trail race, out and back at night on the beautiful and rugged cliffs of Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
An ideal race if you are looking to gain experience of challenging night trail running or as a training race for a longer ultra. It is a tough race though so be prepared . . .
The adventure starts at dusk (4.30pm) in an 18th century fort with views down to St Peter Port and the iconic mediaeval Castle Cornet. The route follows the cliff path - which is demanding in the daylight and even more so at night - right to the southwesterly tip of the island where the turnaround point and checkpoint is next to the Portelet kiosk.
This race is a different bag of nails to the Guernsey Ultra. In that race competitors get 5 hours to run the cliffs. Once. In daylight. In May . . . In this race the overall cut-off for the race is 7.5 hours (back before midnight) which makes it suitable only for experienced runners. The turnaround point has a strict 3 hours, 40 minutes cut-off. The Gun31 course includes some climbs and paths that are bypassed on the GU36 - to give you the full cliff experience! Around 2,300 metres ascent/descent.
Qualifying races and experience will be taken into consideration before entry is accepted. At a minimum with no ultra experience, this will be 3.5 hours for a flat marathon plus trail experience and training. Any ultra distance race will qualify but please consider the night-time trail aspect - you should at least have trained on trail extensively in the dark. Entry will be refunded (minus booking cost) if your entry is not accepted. If you are in doubt, please email us to check before entering.
You will be expected to be self-reliant. There are no checkpoints apart from the turnaround point so you must carry all the hydration and nutrition you require for 15.5 miles. At the turnaround there will be shelter, water and minimal food. If you choose to retire here (or are timed out) we will do our best to transport you back to the start as quickly as possible.
There will be hot food and drinks at the finish.
The course will be fully marked so there should be no issues with navigation.
You will be given a tracker device so supporters (and race support) can track your progress. We will look after you on the race and pick you up if you decide to retire.
In addition;
• No outside assistance (support crews or pacers etc.) allowed.
• No drop bags - this includes placing supplies on the route for retrieval during the race.
• No headphones or ear-buds - this is a condition of our insurance.
You must reach the checkpoint within 3 hours, 40 minutes. You must have left the checkpoint by 3 hours, 45 minutes (2015hrs) which is half way through the race. Only those completing within the 7:30 cut-off will receive a medal. Those completing up to 9 hours will receive a finisher t-shirt. Those who are not going to reach the finish within 9 hours will be retired and transported to the finish.
Mandatory kit includes a head torch with batteries sufficient to last the entire race and a backup torch. The weather in Guernsey in November can be extremely windy with driving rain etc. coming off of the sea so proper wet weather gear (jacket with taped seams, waterproof trousers, hat, gloves) is essential. You are also required to carry a mobile phone.
• Average Temperature: 12° / 8°
• Average Rainfall Days: 23
• Average Rainfall: 80mm
• Average Wind Speed: 20mph
• Chance of snow: Unlikely but not unknown
These are averages. Storms are common with gale force winds and hail.
Probably the only weather event that will cause the race to be delayed/cancelled is an electrical storm. This will be assessed on the day and the race start either delayed or the event may be cancelled if it is considered too dangerous to continue. In the case of cancellation, a refund of the race fee (minus booking) will be offered.
Apart from first aid by race officials there are no special medical provisions. In the event of a medical emergency, given the small size of the island, services can provide assistance quickly from their usual locations. You are advised to check you are covered by your own medical (and/or travel) insurance as Guernsey is not part of the UK, the EU or the UK NHS.
Finisher t-shirt for all finishers within 9 hours. Only those who complete within the 7.30 cut-off will receive the coveted medal.
Awards for; 1st, 2nd, 3rd Female. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Male.
Local runners call the entire cliff run a Dogbreaker. Double cliffs is called a Nutcracker. At night this is called the Nightcracker so this is the Guernsey Ultra Nightcracker.
• Head torch - 300 lumens or (preferably) greater (adaptive allowed) with sufficient power to last the duration of the race.
• Backup head torch - because kit fails sometimes and you don’t want to be on the cliffs without a light.
• Weatherproof jacket - taped seams, fully waterproof, 10,000mm- 20,000mm hydrostatic head.
• Long sleeve top, hat and gloves - this can be carried if not worn at the start. Weather can change dramatically and quickly so this is essential, especially if you need to slow down or stop.
• Space blanket - in case of emergency we can reach you quickly but you can also get cold quickly.
• Trail shoes - road shoes will not be adequate for the cliff paths in November. Terrain varies from hard rock to soft mud.
• Mobile phone - fully charged to last the duration of the race. You should have the race emergency number entered and ready.
• Small first aid kit - wipes, bandage and plasters.
• Bottles or bladder with sufficient capacity for 15.5 miles of cliff running.
• Backpack or race vest - to carry the above and to allow you to carry your food and nutrition.
Recommended but not Mandatory
• Weatherproof trousers - can be lightweight so long as they are waterproof and windproof.
• Reflective clothing or a small rear light for your pack.
• Change of clothes for the finish.
There is only one checkpoint at 15.5 miles (the turnaround point). This is next to the kiosk at Portelet.
You need to reach this point by 0810hrs otherwise you will be timed out. Do not underestimate the pace required given the terrain and possible conditions.
Here there will be water, limited food and some shelter for a brief respite from the weather before setting out back to the finish.
We love our little island of Guernsey and go to great lengths to make it seem larger than it is. Like encouraging people to run around the edge of it, or running along all the cliffs, and back, at night. We hope you will love it too.
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