Severn Challenge

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£725 - £1175
About
With 218 Miles standing between participants and their finish at the River Severn, this ultra challenge is certainly not one to be ignored. Strap on in for what's set to be a magical and nature-filled adventure. There's even medals for all involved too.
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Solo 7 Challenge and Thames and Severn Challenges
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Calendar
10:30am Thu 18th May 2023
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LocationPin
Llanidloes, United Kingdom
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Star
1.7
(2 Reviews)
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Where and when
Location
Llanidloes SY18, UK
Start times
10:30am Thu 18th May 2023
Solo 7 Challenge:
10:30am |
Thames and Severn Challenges:
10:30am
Races summary
Here's what races are available for Severn Challenge
Solo 7 Challenge
Distance
218mi
£725
Thames and Severn Challenges
Distance
440mi
£1175
Route information
This epic race utilises the longest riverside path in Britain. The Severn Challenge takes you along the 210 mile long path from the source of Afon Hafren (Welsh for River Severn) to the mouth of the River Severn. This year you must also complete a 4 mile trek to the source and back at the very start of the race creating a total distance of 218 miles.
Conditions vary slightly each year and although the run stays on the river Footpath some areas of path can be overgrown adding an extra challenge.
This event is split into 5 stages over 5 days. Each day is a race in its own right and has its own unique medal. Complete all five stages and you get all five medals, which are designed as a jigsaw and will replicate a precise miniature scale of the route. You can also enter any of the stages individually.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Checkpoint Food
It is asked that entrants do not rely on the checkpoints to sustain them, and bring their own food and drink for the route. An example of the food on offer at the checkpoints are:
  • Malt loaf
  • Jam
  • Peanut Butter
  • Cheese and marmite sandwiches
  • Sweets
  • Squash and Coca Cola
What's included
  • 4 nights camping, including tent and set up
  • Daily kit transfer
  • Evening meals plus food and drink at checkpoints
  • Maps and GPS routes
  • Five Bespoke medals, one for each day of the challenge
  • A Bespoke technical Severn Challenge T-shirt
  • Finisher's Trophy
Train
How to get there
Llanidloes SY18, UK
Get full directionsExternalLink
Start & Finish
Each contestant is responsible for getting themselves to the Start at Rhyd-y-benwych and getting themselves home from the finish at The Severn Beach.
By Car
Llandidloes is situated in central Wales and can be accessed from the A470.
By Train
Caersws Train Station is approximately 9 miles from the start of the event.
Accommodation
Camping facilities are provided at the end of stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. Tents are included and they will be set up for when you arrive. You will need to bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag. There will be shower facilities at the campsites after stages 1, 2 and 3 but not after stage 4.
Please note there is no camping offered after the final stage.
Event day logistics
10:00 Latest arrival time
10:30 Stage 1 Start Time
All other stages will start at 07:30.
Cut-off Times
Runners must complete each day faster than 4mph average. If this isn't achieved you will be withdrawn from the race. The event has a 26% finisher rate, making it particularly difficult.
Age Restrictions
Runners must be at least 20 years old to take part.
Food
Evening meals will be provided after each stage:
  • Day 1 – Fish & Chips, Rice Pudding
  • Day 2 – Pub Bar Meal
  • Day 3 – Lasagne or Pasta meal
  • Day 4 – Chinese
  • Day 5 – Returning to Little Bowbrook for presentations and food
Kit Transfer
The organiser will transfer one cabin sized bag to the next camping location for each individual taking part.
GPS Equipment
Entrants have the facility to hire a Garmin for the duration of the race should they wish to do so at a nominal fee.
FAQs
Is accommodation provided for the Severn Challenge?
Yes tents are provided for the end of stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.
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Is food provided for the Severn Challenge?
Yes, evening meals are provided and there will be food and drink available from check points throughout each stage.
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Will there be bag transfer at the Severn Challenge?
The organiser will transfer one cabin sized bag to the next camping location for each individual taking part.
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Can I use GPS Equipment during the Severn Challenge?
Yes you can, and entrants have the facility to hire a Garmin for the duration of the race from the race organiser should they wish to do so at a nominal fee.
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Reviews
1.7
2 reviews
Star
1.7
Did the race in 2019
As an organised and expensive event this was very very disappointing. Yes it’s difficult terrain and a great distance but this is achievable with training. What didn’t help here was the inadequate support by a lone “Marshall” if you like who provided very limited and cheap quality food at each check point for people who had been up super early and for a long periods between check points. There was an atmosphere created that seemed to be in favour of people failing to complete rather than succeeding. Perhaps this was to create the illusion that this was super difficult and thus exclusive. Accommodation was poor, single man tents that for a 6 foot person were just too small. Issues over the size of kit bag you were allowed for a 5 day event were also prevalent. There were times when we were lost due to poor or non existent way markers be they removed or just not visible. If anything should have happened then medical support would have been non existent. One man supporting 5 runners is not enough and I would suggest a danger to those runners if the worst should have happened. At one point the tracker we were supplied with on days 1 & 2 was not given to us on day 3. We had been running to a plan and thus conserving ourselves for the 2 long days. However due to not being able to track us the organiser disqualified us without foundation for his assertion that we “knowingly left the path”. Also the organiser being asleep when you get to his check point is not acceptable. His disqualification was a bit rich when the path was almost impossible to follow at times anyway, for reasons including inaccessibility, no signage, getting lost or taking a detour off the path to use a toilet and then getting back on the path! We ultimately did this unsupported and at our own expense. It was fine for us after we were no longer constrained by a single person who couldn’t support very fast runners and those slower ones. It was the slower (but still within time limits) that were culled. Never have I run in events where support has been so negative, so “cheap” or disorganised. And never will I use this company for any event ever. If you want a better experience, download the route yourself, arrange stops and overnight accommodation yourself and it will be cheaper and a far better, epic event. I have competed in multi stage events before and they were excellent in comparison to this. The organiser arranged everything around his needs and not those of his paying customers. For a gross fee of circa £2500 for the 5 full competitors I fail to see where this was actually spent given the low quality of it all. And lastly the T-shirt is awful and if you get your medal after each stage then you will have been better off than we were! Wrong medal on day 1 no medal on day 2! An absolute shambles. We completed this event for MIND and as we had been sponsored we decided to carry on regardless. We completed this event and finished behind the first finisher, the person in second place wouldn’t have made the 4mph required however this fact was overlooked.
Star
1.7
Did the race in 2019
The last leg of The Severn Challenge was undulating and a good test of my ability to self navigate through poorly marked tracks....I would not recommend this company due to their lack of pre race information, inability to track me whilst out on course (raising real safety concerns), and the ‘one person’ at the checkpoints clear lack of interest in wanting to support me - for £70.......I expected more!
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