Birmingham Canal Canter

Birmingham Canal Canter

The Birmingham Canal Canter is a circular walking and running event organised by LDWA Heart Of England. Routes follow Birmingham canals and the River Cole and are 98% off road and largely flat with minimal ascent and descent. The event avoids the Spaghetti Junction towpath closure and includes tunnel sections under Curzon Street and Ashfield Road.

There are three distance options:

• Mini Canter - 18.5 miles
• Canter Marathon - 26.5 miles
• Maxi Canter - 30 miles

All routes start and finish at Moseley Rugby Club, Billesley Common, Yardley Wood Road, Birmingham B13 0TP. The marathon and maxi routes visit Edgbaston Reservoir, the Soho loop, the New Main Line and Old Main Line canals. The maxi route additionally visits Galton Valley. The routes pass local landmarks such as Kings Norton Guillotine Lock, Bournville, Birmingham city centre including Gas Street Basin and the Indoor Arena, Matthew Boulton's Soho Manufactory and Sarehole Mill.

Checkpoint provision differs by distance: four on the maxi, three on the marathon and two on the mini; checkpoints include food and cold drinks. Cups are not provided so participants should bring a drinking vessel. At the finish there are hot and cold drinks, a meal with vegetarian and vegan options, showers, free parking, finisher badges and certificates. Route descriptions and GPX files will be issued before the event. A cake competition is held annually; details will be circulated in July. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.