Race the Sun - Lake District Keswick Off-Road

Race the Sun is a team challenge fundraising event for teams of two or four people, with the aim of completing three disciplines (cycling, hiking, and canoeing/kayaking) in as fast a time as possible!

The event HQ is at the Old Pencil Factory, Main Street, Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria CA12 5NH.

All activity phases will start and finish at the event's central hub in Keswick. The cycle phase will see you complete an off-road circular route. From the event hub, you'll hike to the summit of Skiddaw before taking on the water stage at Derwentwater.

See the provisional route here.

Please note that the route is subject to change at any time, and without prior notice, although we will do our very best to communicate any changes in plenty of time.

Race the Sun is achievable by people with a reasonable fitness level who are prepared to put in some training beforehand. The more you train, the more you’ll enjoy the challenge. It’s a great incentive to get fit and work a load of different muscles, whilst knowing you’re raising funds for an excellent cause at the same time.

No, all team members must compete in each discipline. It’s a team event so you’re only as fast as your slowest team member, you need to stick together!

Some teams will complete the challenge in as little as five hours and others will take the whole day. Some teams want to compete for the fastest time and others want to simply complete the course – it really is up to you!

Yes, it’s £99 for teams of two, and £198 for teams of four, plus the minimum fundraising amount. That’s less than £50 per person for an amazing day that you won’t forget in a hurry!!

Registration closes at 17:00 on Monday 8 July, or sooner if places sell-out first. The entire Race the Sun 2023 series sold out before the registration deadline, so be sure to secure your place early to avoid disappointment!

Don’t worry if you haven’t confirmed your whole team yet; you can register now to ensure that you don’t miss out, and then add teammates later via the online booking platform.

No. Taking part as a team is what makes Race the Sun so special, and what sets it apart from other events. If you’re unable to make up a team then please contact us, and we may be able to match you with teams looking for members.

Yes. Race the Sun is a team fundraising event for children’s charity, Action Medical Research. Money raised will help fund groundbreaking medical research to save and change the lives of babies and children. Learn more about Action’s work.

The team fundraising target is £950 per team of two, and £1,900 per team of four. Teams need to raise 50% of the fundraising target two months before the event date to secure their place on the event. We ask teams to do this to ensure that the charity will not be out of pocket. The remaining fundraising needs to be with the charity 6 weeks after the event.

Please get in touch with the Events Team if you have any concerns about reaching your target and we can talk through your options with you. We have lots of resources to help you reach your target and remember, the early you start the easier it is!

Please be aware that if you do not raise 50% of the fundraising target two months before the event then your team’s place may be at risk, and you may not be able to take part.

Yes, it’s what we’re here for! Once you’ve signed up, we’ll be in regular contact with the team captain with fundraising ideas and advice, as well as materials and resources to get you started! You can also read through our comprehensive fundraising guide.

We recommend a gravel bike or mountain bike for this event.

As large sections of the route are off-road hybrid bikes are not recommended, however, if you have trained on it and are confident you can complete the course you are more than welcome to use it.  You can always walk your bike down some of the more technical sections if needed.

Road bikes will not be suitable for this event.

All participants must provide their own bike, which should be in good working condition. We recommend servicing your bike before the event. On-site bike mechanics will be available at registration on Friday evening, and throughout the event to help with mechanical issues encountered on the event.

Yes, but please note in the interests of fairness that by using an e-bike the entire team will not be eligible for any of the ‘fastest team’ award categories.

Please also ensure to carry spare batteries, or other spares specific to e-bikes, as these may not be available from the bike mechanics.

For further information, you can view our e-bike policy here.

Yes. We provide the canoe, or kayak, paddles, and buoyancy aids, you’ll just need to wear suitable clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. Just in case!!

No previous experience is necessary, and fully qualified instructors will be on hand to help and keep everyone safe.

• Online safety briefing before the event
• Breakfast, packed lunch, drinks and snacks available at Transition Stations/ Event Hub
• Fully supported route with marshals and signage
• Bike mechanics and first-aiders
• Timing tracker & GPX route files
• Kayak/canoe equipment
• Team awards & finishers medal
• BBQ and celebratory drink at the finish line

There will be pastries and fruit in the morning before the start for breakfast. Lunch, snacks and water refill points will be available at transition stations during your challenge and when you cross the finish line there will be a BBQ and drink waiting for you!

If you feel that you’ll need more than this, please bring it with you.

Yes, please let us know your dietary requirements on your registration form.

Check out the tourist board website for a list of accommodation options.

In short, no. There will be transition points where you can leave your stuff for the next discipline, but finer details about what to pack will be communicated with teams closer to the event.

Yes, absolutely! We have an award especially for teams who go the extra mile… the Best Dressed Team Award. Race the Sun is all about having fun and raising money for charity! All we ask is that costumes should not pose a danger or be perceived to be found offensive to other participants or spectators. Action Medical Research reserve the right to remove any participants who are deemed to be dressed indecently or offensively, or wearing costumes which pose a danger to others.

At registration on the Saturday evening. You will be given race numbers for your bike and your bag. We will give you your tracker and timer just before you cross the start line. Full details of what to expect at registration will be in your Event Guide which will be sent out via closer to the event. 

Please contact the Events Team if you are no longer able to take part in your event and we can discuss the options with you, which may include transferring to another event or deferring to next year.

Yes. Contact the Events Team for further information.

The following is an example of the typical event timings for guidance only. Full details with precise timings will be sent out in the Event Guide closer to the time.

Saturday 7 September

18:00 - 21:00

Team registration – Teams will be allocated a time to attend the event HQ to sign in, pick up race numbers, drop off transition bags and have their bikes checked over to ensure that you’re all ship shape and race ready in the morning.

Sunday 8 September

07:00 – 08:00

Event start – Teams depart in waves. Teams will be allocated a start wave about closer to the event.

16:00 – 19:00

PARTY TIME!! – Grab a bevvie as you cross the line, then chill out with your teammates and supporters over a bite to eat! Food and drink is available for registered participants only, there will not be an option for supporters to purchase anything on site, but they are more than welcome to bring their own to join the fun.

19:00 – 20:00

Event closes.

Yes, and why not make a weekend of it! Supporters will be able to join you at the event HQ, then track your progress live online. We’ll share the tracking link with registered participants closer to the event.

Check out the tourist board for the area for inspiration of things to see and do before and after the event.

No. Please follow the highway code, and abide by the rules of the road, as well as being considerate to other road users. Take a look at this handy guide to cycling on the roads.

Participant photography is not included in the event, but we do often have photographers roving around the course, as well as members of our staff and marshals capturing pictures and videos throughout the event. All images will be uploaded to this album after the event.

All Race the Sun events have live tracking, so you’ll receive your team’s time immediately after crossing the line. We will also publish the results on a webpage which will be shared with participants after the event.

Teams need to reach their fundraising target 6 weeks after the event.