Elephant Challenge
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Elephant Challenge at Salcey Forest
The Elephant Challenge is scheduled for 24 March 2026 at Salcey Forest, NN7 2HX (Forestry England site with a café and toilets). The organiser has negotiated a parking offer of £3.50 for the day. The number 33 bus stops inside Salcey Forest and runs between Northampton and Milton Keynes. The closest train station is Northampton. Entrants must be aged 16 or over on 24/03/2026.
Format, course and entry
The event is a timed 6-hour event on a 3.5-mile off-road loop. Runners may complete as many laps as they wish within the 6-hour limit. The route has no asphalt; paths are mainly crushed stone or well-trodden forest floor and can become muddy and slippery when wet. Shoe choice guidance in the source suggests road shoes on dry days and trail shoes on wet days.
Distances and lap guidance:
- One lap is a 3.5-mile loop (approximate).
- Half marathon requires 3 laps plus an out-and-back.
- Marathon requires 7 laps plus a little out-and-back.
- Participants can cover ultra distances by repeating laps within the time limit.
Canicross is allowed; canicross entrants must use short leads and enter the canicross-specific race. A GPX of the route is available and may be subject to last-minute changes. The organiser operates tiered entry fees: before 24/02/2026 priced at £37 and after that date at £42, with unaffiliated entrants paying £2 extra. The event partners with Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity and offers options to donate during entry. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
