Race report – Belvoir Challenge – Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire 28/2/26 🏰
The Belvoir Challenge organisers have a unique way of marketing their event. They appear to actively try and put people off entering, yet every year they get 1000+ people who like the idea of a 15 ish or 26 ish mile ‘bog wading contest’ – their words. And to be fair, this description of the 2026 event was entirely accurate. The mud varied from slime, sludge, clay, cake batter, cookie dough, wet crumbled biscuit to the point where about 5kg of it is stuck to your shoes… and calf deep muddy water for good measure. It was a fine example of the vast and varied forms of mud nature can muster.
Runners and walkers can opt for the 15 mile or marathon distance with the routes changing except the last few miles every year. There were brief sections of runnable hard ground but it is largely a mud fest through the fields and trails around the vale. There was plenty of excitement on both courses where staying on two feet was everyone’s aim for the day. One section of the marathon course involving a steep, slippy drop with a fast flowing stream at the bottom required a marshal to assist runners down with the use of a ratchet strap tied to a tree.
The famous check point aid stations did not disappoint including home made cakes, fudge, savouries, local Stilton and even a tea or coffee if desired. The volunteers stood out in the rain for hours on end, greeted everyone with a smile and offered pearls of wisdom such as “it’s pretty s@!% today but just think, you’re closer to the end than you were a few minutes ago”. Jokes aside, they were all fantastic and the organisation is some of the best around. The whole event, including free park and ride service, runs like clockwork.
There’s a great camaraderie from those who take it on. It has a unique vibe and despite the shared suffering in the dire conditions, everyone seemed to be having such a nice time. But then, I think it takes a certain type of person to do this kind of race! One to experience for sure.
Participants are warmly welcomed at the finish at Harby Village Hall and once recovered from the initial shock of surviving the whole experience, are free to enjoy hot soup, bread rolls, sandwiches, as much cake and custard as you can consume and a can of Belvoir soft drink.
Christine Howard and Lizzie Webster returned to the event to once again run the 15 mile distance. Christine said it was “the most challenging conditions ever” which is a big statement from a full Spine Race finisher. Christine wasn’t allowed to be negative about any parts of the course hampering consistent running ( all of it) and she was encouraged by Lizzie (now post student and fully employed) not to consume a weeks worth of food at each feed station! They finished just inside the top 20 females.
Caroline Robertson was back for a second appearance at the marathon distance. She lost her legs at mile 17 after the relentless quagmire took its toll but found them again at mile 20 fuelled by some tiffin and fudge at the penultimate aid station. She dug in and managed to keep up a running pace saving some mental and physical energy for ‘THAT last minging field’ she suddenly had a flashback of from last year just before the finish.
