Severn Challenge
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The Severn Challenge
The Severn Challenge is a five-day multiday ultramarathon covering around 220 miles along the Severn Way from the river source to its mouth. The route mainly follows riverside and footpath terrain and can be overgrown in places; GPX route files for the full route and individual days are provided and navigation with them is strongly recommended.
The event is organised as five separate stage races with individual finisher medals that combine as a jigsaw when all five stages are completed. The daily stages and distances are:
- Stage 1 The Hafren - 26 miles
- Stage 2 The Severn Plod Ultra - 47 miles
- Stage 3 The Severn Path Ultra - 59 miles
- Stage 4 The Severn Way Ultra - 57 miles
- Stage 5 The Bristol Severn - 30 miles
Total ascent is listed as 3,091 metres and total descent as 3,288 metres. The organiser records a course record of 40:40:00 and reports a finisher rate of about 26% over the last seven years.
Accommodation is provided in shared rooms at booked hotels and a local arts centre at the ends of successive days; single rooms can be arranged for an extra cost. Included services and provisions noted by the organiser include kit transfer for one cabin-sized bag, checkpoint food with vegan and gluten-free options, daily finishers’ trophies and the opportunity to earn a combined Severn and Thames buckle if both events are completed in the same year.
Mandatory kit requirements, age minimum of 20 years and a race minimum pace of 4.0 miles per hour are specified. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
