Badger Challenge
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Badger Challenge
Badger Challenge is a six hour off road event held at Beacon Hill Country Park, starting from the Lower Car Park (LE12 8TA). The event uses a single loop of about 3.3 miles, and participants complete as many laps as they choose within the six hour time limit. The organiser notes that a half marathon requires four laps and a marathon requires eight laps.
The course climbs from the lower car park for the first half of the lap and descends for the second half. Runners follow well maintained crushed stone paths; the trig point near the top is not on the marked route but is available as an optional detour. Underfoot surfaces are generally decent but can be mucky depending on the weather, and the route is not technical.
Dogs are allowed and canicross entries are accepted; leads should be kept short and runners should follow the event canicross rules. Rucking is permitted. A GPX file of the route is available for download. Finishers receive either a medal or a Big Bear Tree Token that results in a tree being planted and contains wildflower seeds.
Parking at the venue costs between £2.50 and £5.50 for the day and accepts card or coin. The nearest train station is Loughborough, approximately six miles from the park. Entry fees are tiered: £38 before 26/01/2027 and £43 after; unaffiliated entrants pay an additional £2. The event has run at Beacon Hill since 2022 and received a Gold Racecheck award in 2024. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
