Elephant Challenge - Harwell
Harwell, United Kingdom • 24 Mar 2026
Elephant Challenge
Elephant Challenge is a six-hour, lap-based off-road event held at Salcey Forest, a Forestry England site near Northampton (NN7 2HX). The route uses well maintained forest pathways with no asphalt; surfaces are mainly crushed stone or trodden forest floor. Narrower sections contain tree detritus and can become muddy and slippery when wet. On dry ground road shoes may be suitable; on wet days trail shoes are recommended.
The event uses a roughly 3.5-mile loop. Race distance is determined by how many laps a participant completes within the six-hour time limit. Examples of planned distances include:
- Marathon: 7 laps plus a short out-and-back
- Half marathon: 3 laps plus an out-and-back
- Longer options: multiple laps can create ultra distances, including 50 miles or more
Salcey Forest has on-site facilities including a café and toilets. Parking is payable; a special offer of £3.50 for the day is provided for entrants. The number 33 bus stops inside Salcey Forest. The nearest train station is Northampton; the site is near Junction 15 of the M1.
Canicross is permitted under specific rules; dog leads should be short and runners should be considerate of others. A GPX file of the route is available, though on-the-day markings may be used. Event entries follow a tiered pricing structure and donations to a partnered charity are optional. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.