Swan Challenge

Question 1

What is a challenge event?

Accepted Answer

The challenge will start at 09:00 and your last lap needs to be started at 14:59:59 at the latest. This means you could do 1 lap and be done by 09:15 or you could try and do 15+ laps and run 40+ miles! It's completely up to you. You might just want to run for 3 hours, whatever you want to do is your decision. Only complete laps will count towards your official time/distance, no half laps. Once you're out of the race you're out of the race, you can't run one lap, go home have a cup of tea and then come back and run some more! Once you have the medal around your neck you are signed out and finished. Check the individual event pages to see how many laps are needed to complete half, full and ultra marathon distances. We will usually add a “mini-lap” to help people complete marathon distance if needs be.

Question 2

Do I need to be really fit?

Accepted Answer

The idea behind Big Bear Events is to hold races for everyone to take part in. As long as you can put one foot in front of the other you should be fine! You can walk, jog, run or sprint the route. For our Challenge events you can do as much or as little in the 6 hours as long as you complete 1 lap. If you fancy doing an ultra distance run you don't necessarily need to have run a race before - but it might be wise! You need to be fit enough to run the distances you want to run. Our 10K events have very generous cut offs and will be highlighted on the event page.

Question 3

What do I get?

Accepted Answer

The below is what we intend to give to competitors at our events. There may be occasions where we offer something slightly different either intentionally or due to matters outside of our control.

Challenge events
A beautiful medal and a Big Bear drink (you can swap that for a plantable tree token too)
The great feeling of being part of a different event!
A fully stocked aid station on each lap. Think kids picnic rather than water station! Once you enter an event if you have requests let us know at info@bigbearevents.net and we'll do what we can.

Question 4

Can I transfer my entry or get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Please see our refund policy

Question 5

Are there awards for the winners?

Accepted Answer

No, not really! Our events are for everyone to enjoy, if you run a marathon distance in 2:10 but someone completes 1 more lap in 6 hours who is the winner? If you complete your first ever half marathon at the age of 60 are you not a winner too? With these events potentially there could be 5 or 10 people who feel like winners (fastest marathon, fastest lap, fastest half marathon, longest distance etc.) and as such it would somewhat spoil the occasion. Officially the 'winner' is the person who covers the most distance on the day but everyone has different goals - achieve that and you're a winner in our eyes! We may get awards prepared for our series events though to reward those that have run across all of the events in a series.

Question 6

Can Nordic Walkers enter the events?

Accepted Answer

Most definitely! All of our events are suitable for Nordic walkers, all we ask is that you start at the back and make space for faster entrants. Essentially the same as we'd ask of any slower movers to be honest. With a huge range in abilities and people running different distances at our challenge events we expect the field to spread out pretty quickly so it shouldn't impact you as a walker or other competitors after the first 30 seconds. You don't need to tell us beforehand and there is no special walkers entry, just sign up with everyone else!

Question 7

Can I race with my dog?

Accepted Answer

Only at events that specifically are marked as Canicross friendly. You can see all of our information regarding canicross here. If you turn up to an event with a dog at an event nor marked canicross friendly you will not be able to run with your dog. You must also ensure you book on to the canicross entry when you book. If you enter the non-canicross entry send us an email and we’ll switch you across. We need to know who will be coming with dogs before the event.

Question 8

Are there toilets or will we need to go like a bear in the woods?

Accepted Answer

We will have toilets! Depressingly it’s one of the first things we look for when picking a venue! We try to make the race HQ/ lap end as close to the toilets as possible so you aren’t running to many extra meters to use the facilities. That isn’t always possible however but we do try. You are of course allowed to use the toilets as and when you need them.

Question 9

Can I run with headphones?

Accepted Answer

If you want to, yes. As a traffic-free event you can run with headphones. We would say however that you must be aware of your surroundings. There might be no cars but there could be horses, small children, bikes, dogs and of course small children on bikes being pulled by dogs! You’re out in the countryside, enjoy the relative quiet but if you prefer headphones that is not an issue either.

Question 10

Do the challenge events count towards the 100 Marathon Club?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is yes. The races meet all of the criteria. All of our events will be listed on the 100 marathon club website too.

Question 11

Can I run “just” a marathon?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All of our Challenge events (6 hour events) will have a set number of laps for marathon distance. In an ideal world the laps will be 3.3 miles, so 8 laps is then 26.4 miles (close enough to 26.2!). Where the lap is longer or shorter we may sometimes have to put in a “mini-lap” to get you close to marathon distance, we’ll try to never make you run 28 miles for your marathon!

Question 12

Can I run “just” a half marathon?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All of our Challenge events (6 hour events) will have a set number of laps for half marathon distance. In an ideal world the laps will be 3.3 miles, so 4 laps is then 13.2 miles (close enough to 13.1!). Where the lap is longer or shorter we may sometimes have to put in a “mini-lap” to get you close to marathon distance, we’ll try to never make you run 15 miles for your half marathon!

Question 13

Do I have to run a set distance in the challenge events?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Turn up on the day and go as far as you want. Run, hike, walk... stop for a bit... you do what you want. If you’ve only ever run a 10K before come and do 2 laps, see how you are and keep going if you want! Trying to see if you can run an elusive marathon? Excellent, get to 20 miles and see if you want to carry on! The format is amazing for people trying to break barriers without the pressure of a “big city event”. The number of people who have run their first marathons and completed their longest ever runs with us is genuinely breath-taking, and very humbling!

Question 14

Do I have to raise money for charity?

Accepted Answer

No not at all. If you'd like to then that's brilliant but all of our events are about running for the joy or running first and foremost. We pay to be at our venues, so we are putting a small amount towards the beautiful parks and woodlands we run in. Where there is car parking this money directly goes to the park too, so you’ve done your bit too!

Question 15

Will there be medical cover?

Accepted Answer

We pay for outside medical cover at all of our events, supplied by Events Medical Services based in Coventry. They have done many events with us and have been massively underworked - a good thing of course! However they have a defibrillator with them and are trained medics. In addition there will be people present with emergency first aid training. Don't be a fool - do not push yourself beyond your limits! Of course trips and falls will happen, especially with our off-road courses, but please try to be safe. If you are feeling unwell or you do injure yourself, end your race and have a sit down. It's not worth it, there is always another race day. We ask all of our runners to let us know if there is any medical information we need to be aware of (asthma, diabetes etc.) to enable us to try to keep everyone safe. As in any trail race often the first person to an injured/unwell runner is another runner and so we ask everyone to be good Samaritans in this regard.

Question 16

Will I get lost?

Accepted Answer

We would hope not! The courses will be fully signposted with a few volunteers out on course at periods through the events.

Question 17

Do I need a map?

Accepted Answer

No. The courses are contained within country parks or forests, marked and on clear footpaths. We do supply a gpx file with the route on though if you’d like to carry it with you. That said, these may be out of date come race day if there have been last minute changes to the route.

Question 18

Is there mandatory kit?

Accepted Answer

Generally not. The exception being a head torch at our head torch runs and the listed mandatory kit for the TrailFest events. Although you could be doing ultra marathon distances, with the lapped nature of the course and being signposted there is no mandatory kit. All we request is that you dress for the weather. If it's cold, add a layer, if it's hot be sensible. It's up to you to dress accordingly. In terms of footwear, look at the pictures on the event pages. We also post updates online as to ground conditions when we are marking the course the day before for last minute decisions.

Question 19

How are the events timed?

Accepted Answer

We invested chip timing so our events will be chip timed from now on. It’s very simple but you must return your chips at the end of the event. They look inexpensive and 1 lost chip isn’t breaking the bank but loosing handfuls each year will have a tangible impact. You will likely be given clear instructions as to where to wear your chip – please listen or your chip is unlikely to get read and thus you will not get a time! We do use your “gun time” however, but given the size of the events the difference between crossing the line first or last is normally less than 10s (or an extra jaffa cake if you think of it like that!)

Question 20

Is there somewhere secure for me to leave my bag?

Accepted Answer

Sort of, yes. We will have a small area under the gazebo where the aid station is where you can leave a bag but it is not "secure" so it is left at your own risk entirely. Big Bear Events does not accept responsibility for any items that go missing or are broken. We would suggest that as the car parks and HQ are never more than a few hundred meters away to keep a change of clothes and a chocolate bar for after in the car, not in a bag!

Question 21

Is there somewhere I can leave my own food or drink?

Accepted Answer

Yes at our Challenge events. We will tell you which table has been designated for competitor’s own food. If you ask though we will do our best to get you anything you’d like for the aid station. We don’t police this table either – if you leave a big box of beautiful brownies out we can’t be held responsible if a hungry runner nibbles at them!

Question 22

How old do I have to be to run in your events?

Accepted Answer

The below age restrictions are imposed by UKA.

Age under 12 years 3,000m
Age 12-13 years 5,000m
Age 14-15 years 6,000m
Age 16 10,000m
Age 17 25,000m
Age 18-19 45,000m
Age 20 and over. No maximum distance

Given that our challenge events are timed events entrants young enough to be effected by these rules will be stopped at the appropriate distance.

Question 23

Contact

Accepted Answer

If your question hasn't been answered of you are still unsure of anything please contact us at racedirector@bigbearevents.net where we'll do our best to help.

Swan Challenge

Big Bear Events

Swan Challenge

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