Three Castles 50K Ultra

By Chris Pascoe

(Race – Saturday 31/05/25)

Three intrepid TRAC runners—Will Coles, Jamie Hipgrave, and Chris Pascoe (me!)—lined up for the Three Castles 50K Ultra, each chasing a sub-5-hour finish. Will had an even bigger goal in sight: the coveted TRAC Club Record.

We shuffled our way to the front of the pack before the start, hoping pole position would give us the edge on the narrow, single-track paths that kicked off the race. The course starts at the historic Rochester Castle and follows the Medway Valley Walk, finishing with a triumphant lap at Tonbridge Athletics Track.

The Course
Relatively flat but far from easy, the route threaded through the Kent countryside, hugging the River Medway for much of the way. The first 6K was a tight, single-file shuffle through baked-hard trails, flanked by thick summer vegetation—beautiful, but unforgiving on the feet.

We passed through picturesque villages like Burham and Wouldham, but the heat made it tough to fully enjoy the views. With barely a whisper of wind and temperatures climbing quickly, it was clear this was going to be a grinder.

Race Support
The aid stations—three in total—were nothing short of heavenly. Staffed by smiling volunteers, they offered a glorious mix of fruit, cake, crisps, sweets, and much-needed water. Every station was a morale boost, a mini oasis of encouragement in the middle of the heat and hurt.

Personal Battles
For me (Chris), the final 8 miles were brutal. I’d gone out strong and hit the marathon mark in 3:49, but that came at a cost. My feet were screaming, my energy tank was empty, and the internal monologue had turned hostile. I cursed under my breath and had to mentally drag myself forward with every step. Why do we do this to ourselves? And why do we keep coming back?

Results
Despite everything, we all smashed the sub-5 goal:

Will Coles: 4:30:26, 12th overall – and briefly held the club record… before it was swiftly reclaimed!

Jamie Hipgrave: 4:42:14, 17th overall – a brilliant performance on painful feet

Chris Pascoe: 4:44:46, 20th overall – delighted to be under 5 hours and still upright

Jamie’s Take:
“Three Castles was my first trail ultra since September, and I was buzzing to get back out there. Training had gone well—mostly running, mixed in with indoor biking to keep mileage up. With a flat course ahead, I set my sights on sub-4:30.

Race day arrived… and it was a scorcher. I was well-prepared with fluids, salt tabs, and gels—but I made one fatal mistake: I wore nearly new trail shoes. Rookie error. The hot spots started at 10K, but I stubbornly pushed on.

By 25K, the wheels began to wobble. I had to stop and stretch between checkpoints 2 and 3, but the distance kept ticking down. I hit the marathon mark and knew I could just about hold on.

Chris caught me around this point and we shared some pain and profanity. Will had glided past earlier, looking fresh despite taking a wrong turn earlier in the race!

I eventually crossed the line in 4:42:14—pleased with the time, but in serious pain. Lesson learned: break in your shoes!

This was my second event with Embrace Ultra—both have been fantastically organised. Great to have races like this so close to home. Highly recommend.”

Final Thoughts
The Three Castles 50K was a tough, hot, and unforgettable day out. Stunning views, brilliant organisation, and personal battles won across the board. Whether you’re chasing a record or just testing your limits, this race delivers. Just remember: respect the heat, respect the distance—and for the love of blisters, break in your shoes.

Thanks Chris for a great race report. Sounded like a tough day with the distance, heat and terrain. Congratulations to all three of you for battling to the finish line in under 5hrs!

Also well done to Will who now goes top of the V40 table for the 50k distance.