The Hugin Challenge

Run 3.28mi

Save

Website

Tue 26th Nov 2019

Cliffsend
By Saxons, Vikings & Normans

Get race results and photos

This event has passed. Congratulations to all the participants. Get race results and photos.

A high quality trail run on the Kent Coast between Thanet and Sandwich lays a big bay called Pegwell Bay which is famous for two reasons, firstly because of the nationally important Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve and secondly for the Viking Ship, The Hugin, that rests there in all its recently restored glory. We've been fortunate enough to have been given permission to hold an event on part of this area known as the Pegwell Bay Country Park.

The Hugin holds a special fondness for myself as it was one of the favourite places that my late father would take me to as a child, in the dim and distant past you could climb on the ship, eat your ice cream and be a Viking! Sadly these days clamboring over such things isn't allowed, but it has been nicely restored in the last decade or so and is well worth a look, a good few times in fact as the route will go past it twice on each lap! The event will have a six hour time limit for you to run as many, or as few laps as you wish. With a timed event, as long as you complete one lap, then you are an official finisher!

How to enter the The Hugin Challenge

3 28 Mile Loops
Run 3.28mi
Tue 26th Nov 2019
£38.50
Event passed

The Hugin Challenge route

The “long” course runs a loop around the Pegwell Bay Country Park before heading up a cycle path to the park where The Hugin sits, the route then goes past this, loops around on the old disused road to the hoverport before returning to The Hugin and back to the Country Park

There is only one slope really, so its not totally flat, each loop has maybe 40 feet of elevation rise in total, but there are some lovely views, Pegwell Bay, the cliffs, wildlife and of course The Hugin.The trail is very high quality crushed limestone, tarmac and a short stretch of single track path and grass (about 100 yards each loop). The loop distance is 3.29 miles.

The route is fairly flat, certainly around the Country Park part, but there is a bit of a slope up to The Hugin, but then there is a lovely downhill slope on the way back. The trail is very high quality crushed limestone, tarmac bike paths and a very short stretch on a disused road and about 100 yards on single track path and grass.

3 28 Mile Loops

3.28mi

View map and route info

Event Details

What’s Included

What do I get?
You will receive
1) A really special finishers medal, custom made and designed, not a generic one.
2) A goody bag at the finish, which has goodies in, not a bunch of adverts. There will be nothing healthy in our goody bags, things they contain for example, chocolate, crisps, cider.
3) A well stocked base camp with plenty of nibbles and refreshments for during and post race replenishment, including the legendary Rachel’s Rocky Road!

FAQs

When do I get my race number?
You’ll pick this up on race day morning from the race base camp.

Are there time limits?
Yes, six hours to run as many laps as you can. You can finish at any time within the 6 hours and your final distance will be recorded along with your finishing time. Only complete laps within the 6 hours will be recorded or you must have left the aid station for your last lap by 6.00 after the start. Any runner completing 8 laps will have completed marathon distance and will count as a marathon finish for the purposes of the 100 Marathon Club, if you complete 9 or more laps then you’ve completed an ultra. As long as you finish one lap then you’ll receive an official finish time, medal and goody bag. With timed events there are no DNFs.

Do I have to run for the whole time?
No! You can stop at any time you wish, just as long as you complete one lap you are an official finisher, ring the finishers bell and you’re done, medal and goody bag will be yours!

Can I stop at marathon distance?
Yes. If you complete 8 loops that’ll be a slightly long marathon, but it will count as a marathon finish by 100 Marathon Club standards and we’ll even give you a little badge to pin to your medal ribbon to signify the distance you ran! (There is an ultra badge too if you complete 9 or more laps…)

Do you have secure baggage facilities
No. But you’re free to leave bags at the start/finish. There will always be someone around but we can’t guarantee their security, in the event of rain we can’t guarantee things won’t get wet. You’ll be able to park close to the start/finish don’t forget.

Can I leave my own drinks/food at the aid station?
Yes no problem at all, we have a dedicated table for runners own supplies if they have anything special that they’d like to bring along..

Trail shoes? Road Shoes?
Either should be fine. The running surface is very good, if it’s wet then maybe err towards trail, if its dry err towards road.

Is the course closed to the public?
No. We are using the Pegwell Bay Country Park which is part of a network of local footpaths, cycle paths and trails and is shared with ramblers, dogwalkers, horseriders and cyclists. Runners do not have the right of way and need to be considerate of other users of the land. Please don’t litter, we’ll have a bin at the base camp.

What on course facilities do you provide?
Water, squash, nibbles, starter, timekeeper and encouragement every lap! Base station will be well stocked for all runners. This is a typical example of the picnics, sorry aid station, we have…

Are there any facilities at the start/finish area?
There are toilets, and we’re hoping that the mobile cafe that’s usually there will be present. There is also a garage on the route with a shop and a cafe too by The Hugin (but probably won’t be open at this time of year)

Can I use an ipod or mp3 player on the course?
Yes. Though please be aware that you are running on public footpaths with the general public so make sure that you pay attention to cyclists, people, dogs, horseriders, wildlife and so on.

The entry fee is a little more than normal – why is that?
We are holding this event by kind permission of the Pegwell Bay Country Park. £5 of every entry fee will be donated to the Park to assist in the maintenance and development of the park.