Grim Reaper Running Festival
Bourne, United Kingdom • 29-30 May 2027
The Grim Reaper Running Festival : Grimsthorpe Castle Estate
The Grim Reaper takes place at Grimsthorpe Castle Estate in South Lincolnshire on May 29 and 30, 2027. The event offers multiple solo distances and a team relay based on a 10-mile loop that is fully marked.
Distances
- 10 miles (day and night races)
- 40 miles
- 70 miles
- 100 miles
- 100-mile team relay
The 10-mile loop runs on grass trails through ancient woodland, limestone tracks, quiet estate roads and a disused Victorian railway line, and skirts the estate lake before returning to the castle. The course is described as undulating with no major hills and about 550 ft of elevation per lap. Trail shoes are recommended, especially in damp or wet conditions.
Medics will be onsite. Ultra runners are expected to be self-sufficient; a staffed aid station is provided at mile 5 with limited snacks, water and a toilet. Camping is permitted on the Friday and Saturday nights near the start and finish area.
Specific rules include visible bibs, following the marked course, no stashing food on course and no littering. Pacers are allowed from mile 50 on foot only, with one pacer at a time. Crew access is restricted to the start/finish area. Age limits apply: no under 16s for 10-mile races and no under 18s for ultra distances.
Mandatory kit rules apply for night and ultra runners and include a headtorch, backup light, waterproof, survival blanket, a changeable long sleeve layer and the ability to carry at least 1 litre of water. The event operates a cupless policy so runners must carry their own cup. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.