The Shortest Day
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About the race
The Shortest Day is a dawn-to-dusk winter trail challenge held at Box Hill, Dorking on 19 December 2026. The event is organised as a looped trail course so runners can complete as many laps as they choose and stop after any finished loop, running between sunrise and sunset.
The route is a loop of approximately 10.1 mi with around 2,400 ft of elevation gain per lap and a highest point of 702 ft. The course is fully marked and fully timed, with online results provided. A GPX file is available for downloading and loading onto running devices and phone apps.
Event support and included services cover aid stations, bag drop, insurance and medical cover, a finishers medal, and event timing. Key location details list the start area at Box Hill Main Car Park, Dorking, Surrey KT20 7LB. The nearest railway station is Box Hill & Westhumble, which is about a 30-minute walk from the start area.
Registration details state entries open 11 March 2026 and close 11 December 2026, with a registration fee from £85. The course profile shows varied elevation across the loop and organisers provide on-course support and timing for all entrants. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
