Badger Challenge | Badger Challenge Canicross

Fitness level

The key thing is that these events are for everyone. There is no such thing as too slow!

Nordic walkers

This event is suitable for Nordic walkers. You are asked to start at the back and make space for faster entrants. There is no special walkers entry, just sign up with everyone else.

Dogs

You can run with your dog.

You must keep your leads short and be considerate of the other runners. Canicross runners will start off with the main field. If your dog won’t respond well to this, consider starting a few minutes later or don’t bring your dog. It’s important that the dogs, you and the other runners have a pleasant day.

Support team

Ultra distance runners can have their own support crew.

Event HQ

Beacon Hill Country Park
Beacon Road
Loughborough
Woodhouse Eaves
Leicestershire
LE12 8SP
UK

Managed by Leicestershire County Council.

By rail

The nearest train station is Loughborough and is 6 miles away.

GPX route

The route is displayed on the map above.

Overview

What a fantastic location. The views at the top are breathtaking, although you might not have much breath to take by the time you’ve got there!

The course is distinctly up for the first half and down for the second. You climb from the lower car park start point along well-maintained crushed stone pathways towards the trig point. The Trig point isn’t actually on the route (it’s additional distance if you want to visit it for the photo opportunity!), you then glide down the other side of the park and back to the start. 

Underfoot will be decent but likely “mucky” depending on the weather. It’s a tough route but not technical underfoot. 

Cut off

6 hours.

Entry fees

Reviews from the series:

I had a lovely time at this event. Everyone was very friendly and I felt welcome and supported. The aid station was as good as ever and so was the flapjack! :) It is a beautiful course, well organised and a lot of fun! Kaz K

Great event and location. Well organised and friendly. Achieved my first ultra marathon. Elaine G

Beautiful course, mainly flat and a good running surface. Well organised event, friendly, great aid station and relaxed atmosphere. Hard to fault. Brian T

Everybody there was incredibly friendly, supportive and helpful. The course was so beautiful it didn't feel like running laps at all, and the pit stop in between laps had a vast range of different goodies to fuel you. So impressed, thank you!! Suzie F

Brilliantly organised, great atmosphere & camaraderie among everyone there. These events are really friendly and inclusive. A really enjoyable and memorable day. James M

Of all the events I've done, this one I enjoyed the most. Just enjoying each 5K lap and stuffing my face at the aid station in between and obviously an awesome medal. My most enjoyable 26K so far. Dean W

A lovely course through the forest. The aid stations were well stocked and all the marshalls were exceptionally friendly and supportive. This was my 11th Big Bear event and I can't fault them. Thank you, Paul and the team. Robert S

A most magical event with such a friendly, welcoming atmosphere it felt more like a big, happy family gathering. The food on offer at the aid station was of high quality and good to see wholesome stuff rather than a load of sugary rubbish! The delicious Tribe protein bars for those of us who are vegans or have allergies were especially welcome as was the fresh fruit... Marshals and officials absolutely brilliant and to put the cherry on the top, a simply gorgeous Highly recommended! Jim E

The event was in a beautiful location, well marked, well organised, and undulating so not too hard a route. But what made it was the friendliness of everyone involved, from race director to volunteers to the rest of the participants - everyone said hello, encouraged each other. Claire B

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck