The COW’s Big Challenge is part of the Calke Outdoor Weekender (COW). It provides participants with the opportunity to run, jog, walk or skip their chosen distance around the wonderful South Derbyshire countryside within the National Forest.
The options to choose from are:
- Ultra: 40 Miles
- Marathon: 26 Miles
- Half Marathon: 13 Miles
- Calf 6 Miles
- Calf 3 Miles
There will be a number of different routes exploring different parts of the Calke estate and the surrounding countryside. Each route will start and finish in the main COW arena on the meadow next to the Abbey, with the number of different routes you need to complete depending on the distance of the challenge you choose – from 8 routes for the 40-mile ultra to just one for the ‘Calf 3’.
Before, after or even in between completing routes, there will be plenty of other things to get involved in back at Calke. These include yoga, natural movement workshops, inspirational talks or just relaxing with some great food.
For each distance, participants will have the option of a ‘competitive’ or ‘personal-challenge’ start. If you opt for the ‘competitive’ start, you will set off with the mass start for that distance. Results will be issued and those finishing in podium positions will be awarded prizes.
If opting for a ‘personal challenge’ start, you can set off anytime within a time-window for your distance, but will not compete for prizes.
All participants whether ‘competitive’ or ‘personal challenge’ will receive a time and momento in recognition of their efforts.
Provisional start times are as follows:
- Ultra: Mass start = 08:00, Personal Challenge = 08:00 to 08:30
- Marathon: Mass start = 11:00, Personal Challenge = 08:00 to 11:00
- Half Marathon: Mass start = 13:00, Personal Challenge = 12:00 to 13:00
- Calf 6 = Mass start = 16:00, Personal Challenge = 14:00 to 16:00
- Calf 3 = Mass start = 17:00, Personal Challenge = 10:00 to 17:30
The cut-off to complete all distances is 18:00.
It is possible to walk or run all distances, but the ultra will be a tough challenge to complete as a walker as a minimum average speed of 4mph is required.
Minimum age limits apply as follows: Ultra = 20, Marathon/Half Marathon = 18, Calf 6 = 16, Calf 3 = 14. Younger children are permitted to walk/run with a parent or guardian on the Calf 3 only in the ‘personal challenge’ category.
