THE PLAYGROUND 400

22nd August 2026 | 11:00am Start

Get ready for fast-paced, head-to-head racing at the inaugural 400m Sprint Race at The Playground — a stunning venue beneath the Orwell Bridge, next to the Suffolk Food Hall.

Designed to be exciting, competitive, and accessible for all abilities, the event features achievable obstacles and simple penalties, making it open to everyone.

Age Categories

• Ages 10–13

• Ages 14–39

• Ages 40+

Race Format

Round 1 – Time Trial Qualifier

Athletes are randomly paired and race the course head-to-head to set their first official time.

Round 2 – Seeded Head-to-Head

Competitors are then seeded based on Round 1 times and race again to improve their position and set a new time.

The Challenge Changes…

After the opening rounds, the course will change to a more demanding layout — with no practice runs and no preview.

Semi Finals

The top 4 athletes from each age and gender category progress to the semi finals. Qualification is based on the best time achieved across the first two rounds.

3rd Place Play-Off

Semi-final runners-up battle head-to-head for the final podium position.

Finals

Semi-final winners race for the championship title in what promises to be an explosive final showdown.

Expect close racing, unpredictable moments, and an incredible atmosphere throughout the day.