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Introduction
The CALKE OUTDOOR WEEKENDER (COW) is a brand-new, weekend long event inspired by the great outdoors, organised by Peak Running in partnership with the National Trust at Calke and the National Forest. Timed to coincide with the start of the annual National Forest Walking Festival, the event will welcome people of all abilities to get active and reconnect with nature in the Calke estate and surrounding countryside of the National Forest.
On each of the three days there will be a main feature event based at the COW arena on the meadow next to Calke Abbey itself. Simultaneous to these will be a host of other activities to get involved in, with something for all the family. Full details of the entire programme will be available soon.
If you want to make a weekend of it, camping is available at the nearby Whistlewood Common. For details and to book your pitch click HERE.
The FRACTURED MARATHON - Friday 15th May, 19:00 to midnight
The main feature on the Friday evening will be the Fractured Marathon, an exciting and unique running event for solo runners or teams that was a smash hit with runners when it was first held in 2019. The innovative format creates an electric atmosphere and is as much a Friday night running party as a race! There will be 10 timed laps around a scenic 2.6-mile course, which will start every half hour on the half hour.
Teams, or solo runners, can take part in as many or as few of the 10 laps as they like. For runners, solo and team, to be eligible to run the next lap they must be back before it starts. Otherwise they will have to wait for the next start time to re-join the game. So, to remain in with chance of completing a full marathon, each loop must be completed within half an hour.
Full details can be found HERE.
The COW's BIG CHALLENGE - Saturday 16th May, 08:00 to 18:00
The COW’s Big Challenge provides participants the opportunity to run, jog, walk or skip their chosen distance around the wonderful South Derbyshire countryside within the National Forest.
The options to choose from are:
Ultra: 40 Miles
Marathon: 26 Miles
Half Marathon: 13 Miles
Calf 6 Miles
Calf 3 Miles
There will be a number of different routes exploring different parts of the Calke estate and the surrounding countryside. Each route will start and finish in the main COW arena on the meadow next to the Abbey, with the number of different routes you need to complete depending on the distance of the challenge you choose; from 6 routes for the 40-mile ultra to just one for the ‘Calf 3’.
Before, after or even in-between completing routes, there will be plenty of other things to get involved in back at Calke. These include yoga, natural movement workshops, inspirational talks, or just relaxing with some great food.
Full details of the COW's Big Challenge can be found on it's page HERE
The CALKE EXPLORER - Sunday 17th May, 09:00 to 12:30
The Calke Explorer is the last of the three main COW events. It is an orienteering type trail event for all abilities. Participants will navigation their way around the spectacular Calke estate to find a series of checkpoints at their own pace, using a map they will be given at the start line.
Start times will be staggered so you can't just follow the person(s) in front, but you can opt to team up with friends, club-mates of family members.
Full details of the Calke Explorer can be found on it's page HERE
OTHER ACTIVITIES - all weekend
Throughout the weekend there will be a variety of other activities taking place alongside the above featured events. These include:
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Guided family & wildlife walks
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Natural Movements Workshops
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Inspirational Talks
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Yoga
-
& More
Timetable
Below is the timetable of activities. Download pdf here
PLEASE NOTE: The schedule for activities and talks is currently PROVISIONAL and subject to change/confirmation. Lot os items yet to be added.
Saturday
Sunday
Prices
Below are details are the prices applicable to COW events. On the Saturday and Sunday, entry to the feature events includes general entry to Calke park and gardens. If you are a Natural Trust member the entry fee to the park will be deducted from your entry, but you will need to produce your membership card on the day.
Event Information
Background
The Calke Outdoor Weekender is organised by Peak Running, in partnership with the National Trust at Calke and the National Forest Company.
Entries
On-line entries will go on sale in February and close at midnight on 13th May 2020 or earlier if the capacity is reached. If there are any remaining places they will be availabe for sale on the day of the event, subject to a small supplement.
What's Included?
For those taking part in one of the feature events:
-
Participation in a event in a fantastic location
-
Detailed results, including intermediate check-point splits where applicable
-
Comprehensive event handbook
-
Access to a detailed route descriptions (COW's Big Challenge)
-
GPX file of the route (COW's Big Challenge)
-
Professional medical support
-
Option to purchase a high quality event technical t-shirt (order when entering)
Location
The event in based in the wonderful Calke Park in South Derbyshire.
The base for the race and event HQ is COW arena on the meadow next to the Abbey itself.
The address is:
Calke Abbey
Ticknall
Derbyshire
DE73 7LE
Ethos
Our ethos for the event is aligned with our ethos for Peak Running as a whole.
-
Building strong relationships with the land managers, their rangers and other stakeholders. -
Organising conservation days for runners/walkers to help carry out important conservation and restoration work in the local countryside. -
Using the event as a vehicle to help promote and educate people on the work and behaviours necessary to maintain the beauty of the area for future generations. -
Using local independant buinesses for supplies, such as race mementos, t-shirts etc. -
Ensuring there will be no trace of the event by the time it is wrapped up on the Sunday.
Schedule
The full schedule of activities is currently being finalised and will be provided here shortly. The following information relates to the 3 main feature events only.
Friday 15th May 2020
17:00 Registration opens – Fractured Marathon
19:00 The Fractured Marathon starts
Midnight The Fractured Marathon finishes
Saturday 16th May 2020
06:30 Registration opens - The COW's Big Challenge
08:00 The COW's Big Challenge starts
18:00 The COW's Big Challenge finishes
See above for full schedule of start times for each distance.
Sunday 17th May 2020
07:30 Registration opens - The Calke Explorer
09:00 Earliest start time - The Calke Explorer
10:30 Latest start time - The Calke Explorer
12:30 The Calke Explorer finishes
Event Team
Our event team are renowned for their enthusiasm and ability to bring a sense of fun to an event, while maintaining the professional standards needed to ensure a smooth and safe event for all involved.
Car Parking
Car parking is availabel within Calke Park close to the event arena.
On the Friday evening for the Fractured Marathon parking is chargeable at £3 per vehicle.
On the Saturday and Sunday parking is incluced with event entry along with entry to Calke park and gardens.
Parking is free at all times during the COW for National Trust members on production of their membership card.
Local Accommodation and Camping
Camping is available at the fantastic Whistlewood Common for participants in the Calke Outdoor Weekender events over the weekender on both the Friday and Saturday nights.
This is located outside but close to the Calke estate, and accessible via footpath for those that don't want to drive to/fro.
Tent pitches are just £15 for the weekend (2 nights) or £10 for one night. These are for one tent with up to 6 people sharing.
Campervan pitches are £20 (weekend) or £12 per night.
It's an off-grid facility so no mains electricity but the nature and uniqueness of the site will make it a great experience.
Sorry, no dogs are allowed on the site.
Pitches for tents or camper vans may be purchased here.
Taking Part
Experience Required
Although there is no formal qualifying criteria for taking part in any of the activities at the COW, we recommend that if you familiarise yourself with the details for each event so you can judge whether you have the fitness and skills to take part.
Navigation
The FRACTURED MARATHON
The Fractured Marathon takes places on a well marked and marshalled course, so self navigation is not required.
The COW's BIG CHALLENGE
For the COW's Big Challenge, the courses have been designed to make them relatively straight forward to follow, using well-trodden trails so far as possible. However, other than signs provided by the authorities to highlight rights of way, there will be no way-marking on the course. You are therefore responsible for your own route finding around the course.
Clear step by step route instructions will be made available to participants in each distance, together with gpx files that can be loaded into GPS enabled watches, smartphone apps or other devices. These will be provided well in advance of the race so you can familiarise yourself with them.
You will, however, be expected bring and carry a printed map of your route. This should ideally be an Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale map, or equivalent. 1:50,000 scale is the minimum standard.
Permissions for the event are based on participants using designated routes, which minimises the impact on the delicate landscapes in the area.
You must follow the designated route for your event throughout the event. Deliberate deviations from the route will result in disqualification and will also put the future editions of the event in jeopardy.
The CALKE EXPLORER
As an orienteering event, a key part of the challenge is to navigate yourself between the various checkpoints using a map that will be provided.
Kit Requirements
The FRACTURED MARATHON
No specific requirements but we'd recommend off-road shoes if the ground is wet.
The COW'S BIG CHALLENGE
Mandatory requirements are specified for those participating in the longer distances (half marathon and above). See details on the event specific page here.
The CALKE EXPLORER
No specific requirements but we'd recommend off-road shoes if the ground is wet.
Safety
Checkpoints and Aid Stations
All events will be based on the event area in Calke Park, which will serve as the sole aid station for the events.
The COW's Big Challenge and Calke Explorer will have checkpoints on the routes. Full details are currently being finalised.
Medical Support
Medical support will be available throughout the event. Their role will be to provide advice and deal with the more significant issues. Minor issues, such as general footcare, dealing with blisters etc., will be your own responsibility, utilising your own first aid kit.
Support Crews
You are allowed to have friends and family supporting you around the course. Except in the COW's Big Challenge, they are not permitted to provide you with any items (e.g. food/drink) during the event.
Support Runners (Pacers)
Participants are not permitted to have anyone who is not a fellow participant run/walk with them to act as a support runner.
In the FRACTURED MARATHON teams are only permitted to have one team member 'active' at any one time. Additional team members are not permitted to accompany their team mates around the course during the event.
Drop Bags
Solo runners in the Fractured Marathon and participants in the COW's Big Challenge may leave bags with spare kit, food etc. in the designated are in the event arena while they complete the course. Items are left at the owners risk though, as the areas may not be supervised at all times.
Prizes & Finishers Awards
Full details of prizes and finshers' awards are currently being finalised.
Permit & Rules
The feature events will operate in accordance with UK Athletics Rules under a permit issued by the Trail Running Association. Permit number [applied for]
Terms and Conditions
When purchasing an entry to a Peak Running Ltd event you are agreeing to the general terms and conditions specified below, as well as any terms and conditions specific to the event.
In the COW's Big Challenge you are permitted to transfer your entry to a different distance at the same event, subject places being available and payment of any difference in entry fee. There will be no refund of the difference if moving to a shorter distance. The deadline for transferring to a longer distance is 13th May 2020. Transferring to a shorter distances are permitted until registration closes on the day of the event.
Route Details
Overview
Route details (where applicable) are shown within the details on the page for each specific event.
Distances
The distances for an event of this nature cannot be measured completely accurately due to the nature of the terrain and the obstacles that you will encounter.
We have measured them using a combination of mapping software and gps enabled devices and taken care to ensure that they are at least the advertised distance; as we know most participants would be disappointed to be short changed with the distance.
You can therefore expect a variation of up to around 5% above the advertised distances.
Frequency Asked Questions
Background
The Calke Outdoor Weekender is organised by Peak Running, in partnership with the National Trust at Calke and the National Forest Company.
Entries
On-line entries will go on sale in February and close at midnight on 13th May 2020 or earlier if the capacity is reached. If there are any remaining places they will be availabe for sale on the day of the event, subject to a small supplement.
What's Included?
For those taking part in one of the feature events:
-
Participation in a event in a fantastic location
-
Detailed results, including intermediate check-point splits where applicable
-
Comprehensive event handbook
-
Access to a detailed route descriptions (COW's Big Challenge)
-
GPX file of the route (COW's Big Challenge)
-
Professional medical support
-
Option to purchase a high quality event technical t-shirt (order when entering)
Location
The event in based in the wonderful Calke Park in South Derbyshire.
The base for the race and event HQ is COW arena on the meadow next to the Abbey itself.
The address is:
Calke Abbey
Ticknall
Derbyshire
DE73 7LE
Ethos
Our ethos for the event is aligned with our ethos for Peak Running as a whole.
-
Building strong relationships with the land managers, their rangers and other stakeholders. -
Organising conservation days for runners/walkers to help carry out important conservation and restoration work in the local countryside. -
Using the event as a vehicle to help promote and educate people on the work and behaviours necessary to maintain the beauty of the area for future generations. -
Using local independant buinesses for supplies, such as race mementos, t-shirts etc. -
Ensuring there will be no trace of the event by the time it is wrapped up on the Sunday.
Schedule
The full schedule of activities is currently being finalised and will be provided here shortly. The following information relates to the 3 main feature events only.
Friday 15th May 2020
17:00 Registration opens – Fractured Marathon
19:00 The Fractured Marathon starts
Midnight The Fractured Marathon finishes
Saturday 16th May 2020
06:30 Registration opens - The COW's Big Challenge
08:00 The COW's Big Challenge starts
18:00 The COW's Big Challenge finishes
See above for full schedule of start times for each distance.
Sunday 17th May 2020
07:30 Registration opens - The Calke Explorer
09:00 Earliest start time - The Calke Explorer
10:30 Latest start time - The Calke Explorer
12:30 The Calke Explorer finishes
Event Team
Our event team are renowned for their enthusiasm and ability to bring a sense of fun to an event, while maintaining the professional standards needed to ensure a smooth and safe event for all involved.
Car Parking
Car parking is availabel within Calke Park close to the event arena.
On the Friday evening for the Fractured Marathon parking is chargeable at £3 per vehicle.
On the Saturday and Sunday parking is incluced with event entry along with entry to Calke park and gardens.
Parking is free at all times during the COW for National Trust members on production of their membership card.
Local Accommodation and Camping
Camping is available at the fantastic Whistlewood Common for participants in the Calke Outdoor Weekender events over the weekender on both the Friday and Saturday nights.
This is located outside but close to the Calke estate, and accessible via footpath for those that don't want to drive to/fro.
Tent pitches are just £15 for the weekend (2 nights) or £10 for one night. These are for one tent with up to 6 people sharing.
Campervan pitches are £20 (weekend) or £12 per night.
It's an off-grid facility so no mains electricity but the nature and uniqueness of the site will make it a great experience.
Sorry, no dogs are allowed on the site.
Pitches for tents or camper vans may be purchased here.
Results
Results will appear here shortly after the event.
Gallery
A selection of images from the event will be provided here once available.