Marathon de Kielder

Northumberland Forest forms the core of this rural marathon: damp grass underfoot, the determination of a club run, and ascents that test you before the finish. Near Kielder, the Marathon de Kielder holds a peculiar piece of running lore, stemming from a runner who transformed a difficult day into one of "running’s most infamous cheats." The course demands a steady pace, as the forest and its inclines offer few easy sections. The spectators reflect typical race-day Britain: soaked volunteers, runners looking uncertain, supporters arriving by shuttle, and then "a scene straight out of a British comedy" when Rob Sloan took "a little mid-race break… on a bus" and returned "fresh as a daisy." You will want to complete the entire race yourself, partly because it sounds challenging, and partly because no one desires their split times to be scrutinized like legal evidence.