- Sat 8 Nov 2025
10:00
Age 17 & over
£29-£33
- 13.1 miles trail running + 478 ft ascent
Event overview
The famous, award-winning, autumn half marathon trail race!
Follow the picturesque canal towpath with stunning views all the way, plus a bespoke medal at the finish.
Highlights
- Popular annual trail race with 100s of runners
- Starts in the historic market town of Leighton Buzzard
- Complete an anti-clockwise lap of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park
- Follow the picturesque autumnal Grand Union Canal towpath
- Stunning views through beautiful countryside
- Pass through the scenic Rushmere Country Park
- Ideal for experienced trail runners and first-timers
- Free parking, coffee van, medal and awards
- Multi-award-winning with top reviews
Event photos
Event video
Event community
Chantal G.
- Average fitness
- Event village
- Newcomers
- Spectators
Timetable
Shoe type
Trail shoes.
Mixed surfaces. This race is mostly on canal towpaths and woodland paths. It is not a road race, and runners are to expect uneven paths. Trail shoes are recommended, or your regular running shoes.
- Bag storage
- Cafe
- Free parking
- Showers
- Toilets
Event HQ
Cedars Upper School
Mentmore Road
Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire
LU7 2AE
UK
Parking
- Parking is available at the school, free of charge.
- You may park behind the school, in front of the school, at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, or along Mentmore Road (excluding areas with double yellow lines).
- Please be considerate of residents when parking on the roadside.
- Approximately 700 paid parking spaces are available at Leighton Buzzard train station. The school is a 10-minute walk away.
Spectators
A couple of excellent pubs on the course offer a relaxed view of the runners:
- The Three Locks
- The Globe Inn
- Cut off time
- First aid
- Marshals
- Single start
- Toilets
- Undulating
- Water stations
- Way markers
- GPX available
GPX route
The route is displayed on the map above.
Overview
The race starts in the historic market town of Leighton Buzzard and follows the picturesque autumnal canal towpath north to Stoke Hammond, which has stunning views. The route then climbs through the beautiful countryside to Great Brickhill. It passes through the scenic Rushmere Country Park before following the Greensand Ridge back to the start via the canal towpath.
Map
Elevation
Cut off
3 hours and 30 minutes.
- Chip timing
- Medal
Included
- Bespoke Dirt Half Challenge medal
Optional extras
- T-shirt
- Hoodie
- Bobble hat
- iTab
- Massage
- Professional photos
Awards
- The first three Men will be awarded from 11:45
- The first three Ladies will be awarded from 12:00
- Certificates for the first male and female Senior, Vet40, Vet50, Vet60, Vet70, and Vet80 will be posted after the event
- Runners may win more than one award
Course records
- Age 17 & over
- Entries open
- Collect race pack
- Enter online
- Event merch available
- Race pack by post
Enter before 20th October at midnight to receive your running number in the post. Otherwise collect at the Race headquarters.
Entry fees
Entry fee (Affiliated)
£29.00
Valid to 15/09/2025
Entry fee (Unaffiliated)
£31.00
Valid to 15/09/2025
Entry fee (Affiliated)
£31.00
Valid from 15/09/2025
Entry fee (Unaffiliated)
£33.00
Valid from 15/09/2025
Really enjoyed the dirt half… very well organised and everyone was friendly and helpful. Thank you 🙌 Amy A
Great race. Lovely route and well marked. Debra T
Really fun unique and event, really good as a first go at trail running! Alice P
Super friendly event and very well organised. Great track, variety of terrain but not too difficult. Love it. Lee B
A well organised race with friendly volunteers around the course. Thank you! Jo H
Definitely my favourite half marathon as it is a trail cross country course with various different surfaces and terrain set in stunning surroundings. Rory F
Great event and beautiful course. A must-do for any serious athlete! Jevgenji R
5th time at this lovely event, it was top notch as always, lovely route, easy to navigate with clear signs and lots of support. Thank you. Amy T
Reviews thanks to RaceCheck