The Skeleton Run 2023 

Fancy a sprint through the spooky woods in the dead of night? Then dust off your wigs and break out the fake blood and join us at the original night run, The Skeleton Run. With 5 miles of terrifying trails, the horror of Beacon Hill (twice), menacing marshals and a final, downhill run for your life to the finish. Dare you join us?

Where?

The Skeleton Run takes place within the boundaries of the Beacon Hill Country Park, Lower Car Park, Breakback Lane, Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 8TA. The Beacon is a 240 acre site of undulating heathland, woodland, grassland, wetlands, rocky outcrops and meadows. Rising to a height of 245m, Beacon Hill is the second highest point in Leicestershire.

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Directions?

The Country Park lies 3 miles south of Loughborough and is within a 5 minute drive of Junctions 22 and 23 of the M1 motorway.

From J23 follow the A512, turn right onto Snell's Nook Lane, signposted Nanpantan. Continue straight onto Woodhouse Lane, which turns into Breakback Lane. The Lower Car Park entrance is on the right and is signposted.

From J22 follow the A511, then turn right onto the B591, Copt Oak Road. Take the 4^th right, which turns into Beacon Road. You'll pass the Upper Car Park to the Beacon on your left and Broombriggs Farm Country Park Car Park on your right. Turn left onto Breakback Lane, the Lower Car Park entrance is on the left and is signposted.

When?

The Skeleton Run will commence at 7.30pm on the Friday before Halloween, 27th October 2023.

Course?

The Skeleton Run is an approximately 5 mile night trail run, held on the designated mountain bike/horse/walkers trails within the park. The route will be marked with red glowsticks and fluorescent signs and there’ll be marshals at numerous points throughout the route. The Race Village/Finish will be lit, but the Start area will not be lit to allow your eyes to become accustomed to the dark.

How Can I Enter?

The Skeleton Run is open to runners of all abilities and nordic walkers, aged 18 years or over on race day.

Entries are only available online. There are no postal entries for The Skeleton Run. You must provide a valid email address for all race correspondence.  All online payments are safe and secure.

Online entries will receive an email confirmation of entry. All race numbers will be collected from Registration on Race Day before 7.00pm. All runners will receive a pre race email approximately one week prior to race day with all 'on the day' information.

Registration will open at 5:30pm and close at 7.15pm.

£20 Pre Entry Fee until 31st July

£25 Pre Entry Fee from 1st August 

Entry includes The Skeleton Run bespoke medal, toffee apple, free (brilliant) event photographs by James Kirby, free car parking and all the screams you can handle..

Enter online HERE

Online entries will close at midnight on Monday 23rd October 2023

Pre Race Briefing?

There'll be a Pre Race Briefing for ALL competitors at 7.15pm in the Race Village. This will outline any special considerations regarding running at night.

Parking?

There'll be free on site parking for all competitors and spectators at the Lower Car Park, Breakback Lane. Parking will be supervised by The Skeleton Run marshals. Additional parking is situated at Broombriggs Farm, Beacon Road, Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 8TA  and the Upper Car Park, Beacon Road, Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 8SP, although please only use these car parks if you know the park well and are in a group as they will not be lit or supervised by marshals. The car parking fee is included in the race entry fee. After 17:30 we will access the car park via the side gate just in front of the main barrier. Any competitors arriving earlier than 17:30 will incur the parking fee.

Drinks?

There'll be a drinks station at approximately mile 2 and at the finish providing squash and water. There are also drinking water fountains/taps available at the Lower and Upper Car Parks.

First Aid?

Belvoir Care First Aid team positioned at the Finish, with vehicle access to the course.

Refreshments?

The Beacon Cafe will be open during the day as usual and will remain open for The Skeleton Runners until 22:30! The cafe is a great asset to the park and well worth a visit for a pre or post race snack/drink. On the menu will be;

Spiced pumpkin soup

Wild mushroom and roasted garlic soup (to keep Dracula at bay)

Jacket potatoes with bean chilli, tuna, cheese or beans

Cake! Lots of cake.

Key Storage?

Key storage will be available at Registration. Registration will be supervised throughout the duration of the event, however Pure Personal Training Ltd cannot be held responsible for any loss of keys/property left at Registration.

Memento?

All finishers will receive The Skeleton Run bespoke medal and a toffee apple...

Prizes?

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male and Female runners will receive a prize. Thanks to our sponsors Silva, the 1st Male and Female Skeleton Runners will receive a Silva Exceed 4XT headtorch, RRP £320 with the 2nd and 3rd Male and Female Skeleton Runners receiving a Silva Trail Runner Free H headtorch, RRP £100! We'll also have various spot prizes! Being so close to Halloween, please be aware that fancy dress is not compulsory, but definitely encouraged!

Toilets?

Although The Skeleton Run may make you a little nervous, please respect the park surroundings and use the toilets located near to the entrance of the Lower Car Park.

Footwear?

The race is run on designated mountain bike/horse/walkers trails which are predominantly of an even, stony surface. There is a very short section of tarmac and a short section of sandy, muddy trail so road or trail shoes will be just fine.

Torch?

ALL competitors MUST wear/carry a head or handheld torch. You will not be allowed to run without a torch.

Results?

The race results will be posted on the Event Results section of the website.

Refunds?

We will be happy to offer a 50% refund of the entry fee up until 2 months prior to The Skeleton Run or a transfer to another Skeleton Run event. After this time we regret that we will not be able to provide any refund, transfer or credit either in part or in full, whatever the circumstances of the entrants' non-attendance.