Polderrun

The Polderrun is a small Dutch running event in Bleskensgraaf, South Holland, with routes through the flat polder land surrounding the village. It takes place in winter and offers several distances. Recent editions have included English-mile options such as 3.5, 7, and 10 miles, in addition to earlier 5 and 10 kilometer formats. The race is designed for ordinary runners and sporty walkers, not exclusively fast club athletes, and wet or dirty shoes are considered part of the experience. The start and finish are now in the center of Bleskensgraaf, placing the race in the middle of the village rather than solely on rural roads. Participation is modest but steady, with record editions attracting around 450 runners at the start and over 600 total registrations. The event also raises money for charity, with one record edition achieving its highest charity total to date. Its newer format preserves some history by reintroducing the 3.5 and 7 English Mile distances from the first five editions, while adding a longer 10 English Mile race.