Dormouse Challenge

Dormouse Challenge at Salcey Forest

The Dormouse Challenge is a six-hour lap event held at Salcey Forest, a Forestry England site near Northampton with a café and toilets. The site postcode is NN7 2HX. Parking is charged; the organiser has negotiated a reduced day rate of £3.50. The number 33 bus stops inside the forest and the closest train station is Northampton. The site is about 18 minutes from Northampton and nine minutes from Junction 15 of the M1.

The course is a 3.5-mile off-road loop on well maintained pathways. There is no asphalt; surfaces are crushed stone or trodden forest floor. Narrow sections may have tree detritus and can become muddy or slippery when wet. Road shoes may be fine in dry conditions; trail shoes may be preferable when wet.

Entrants choose how many laps to complete within the six-hour limit, so overall race distances can vary. Typical distance targets include:

• 5k
• Half marathon (around 4 laps)
• Marathon (around 7 laps plus out-and-back)

Canicross is allowed; dogs must be kept on short leads and runners should consider starting separately if a dog does not cope well in the main field. Rucking is permitted on this event. A GPX of the route is available but the route may be subject to last-minute changes and will be marked on race day.

The event uses tiered entry pricing with earlier entries cheaper; unaffiliated entrants pay an additional £2. Optional fundraising is available for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. Entrants can choose a medal or a Big Bear Tree Token, which results in a tree being planted and contains wildflower seeds. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.