Poplar Challenge

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From Big Bear Events

  • Date Wed 11th December 2019
  • Time 09:00
  • Location Ibstock, Leicestershire.<br><br>
  • Price £33.00
  • Races 1 race

Event summary

The Poplar Challenge, organised by Big Bear Events, is set to take place on Wednesday 11th December 2019 in Ibstock, Leicestershire. This unique event offers participants the chance to decide their race distance, with a 3.3-mile off-road loop allowing for races ranging from just over 5k to over 50 miles. The course features a mix of terrain, including crushed stone pathways, grass pathways, and pine forests, with scenic views across the lakes. With a 6-hour time limit, runners can choose how many laps to complete, with a marathon distance requiring 8 laps and a half marathon needing 4 laps. The event is cupless, promoting environmental sustainability by reducing plastic waste. Free parking is available at Sence Valley Forest Park, with the event HQ located next to the toilet block. Join in on the challenge and push your limits at the Poplar Challenge!

Poplar Challenge

Wed 11th December 2019

A person dressed in a brown bear costume runs on a gravel path through a wooded area. They are wearing a black hydration pack on their back. The surroundings are green with trees and bushes lining the path. The ground appears wet and muddy. A group of runners is seen racing on a paved path surrounded by a natural landscape. The front runner wears a red shirt, followed by others in various athletic gear. The path is bordered by a stone wall on one side and grassy areas with trees and shrubs in the background.

Organiser's Description

How far is the race?

You decide! The 3.3-mile off-road loop means your race can be just over 5k or over 50 miles and anywhere in between. You decide how many laps you&#39;re going to do on the day within the 6-hour time limit. If you&#39;re looking to cover a marathon distance you&#39;ll need to complete 8 laps and a half marathon will be 4 laps. The course is predominately flat with a very definite up and down section! Each lap has around 240ft of elevation, making the marathon distance just over 1900ft of elevation.

Entry information​

No entries on the day

There is a strict entry limit. Once the event gets down to the last places we&#39;ll endeavor to make people aware through social media and emails (join the mailing list here). Once the event is full a waiting list will be created. This will be available through the normal entry site.

Parking is free! There is a large parking area at the Forest Park. That said, be a hero and car share, save money and the world!

Course description

The course is mainly on a crushed stone pathway, with some sections on grass pathways and through a pine forest! There are 2 distinct climbs but of course that means 2 lovely downhills too! The rest of the course is relatively flat however allowing for some spectacular views across the lakes. The HQ and lap start and finish will be next to the toilet block.

Is the event cupless?

Yes. Please read our page on cupless events if you haven&#39;t experienced it before. It&#39;s obviously good for the environment to reduce plastic use and general waste. Yes, you wont break a world record having to stop to fill a bottle of water or carry a hydration pack but over a marathon distance it would probably add less than a minute to your time. We will have water, isotonic drinks, tea and coffee and real Coca Cola for you, but to be clear - we wont supply disposable cups for drinks. If you&#39;d like to purchase a foldable cup you can buy one when you purchase your entry, from our merchandise page or at any of our events.

Why is it called the Poplar Challenge?

Why not!? Sence Valley has many poplar trees and is part of our Forest Series across the National Forest at varying Forestry Commission sites. If you&#39;d like to take part in the Forest Series go to the Forest Series page.

Where is it?

Ibstock, Leicestershire. Sence Valley Forest Park is a basic (but beutiful!) country park with toilets and ample parking (free!!), there is no cafe. Use the postcode LE67 6NW for sat navs. It&#39;s 10 minutes from Junction 12 of the A42. The closest train station is Burton-on-Trent.

Permission

Permission for this event has been obtained from the Forestry Commission

TRA licence number

TBC

Frequently asked questions

Click here for our frequently asked questions.

Contact

If your question hasn&#39;t been answered or if you are still unsure of anything please contact us at [email protected] where we&#39;ll do our best to help.

Races

  • Poplar Challenge

    Wed 11th December 2019 (09:00)

    £33.00

    UK Athletics (UKA) save £2.00

    CLOSED
What's Included

Event specific finishers medal (a nice one too!)

A fully stocked aid station on each lap. Think kids' picnic rather than water station!

Toilets

Chip timing

Location

Sence Valley Forest Park, Ibstock, Leicestershire LE67 6NW

How To Get There

By car: Sence Valley Forest Park is 10 minutes from Junction 12 of the A42

By train: The closest train station is Burton-on-Trent, with trains between Cardiff Central, Birmingham, and Nottingham, as well as longer-distance services to destinations such as Bristol Temple Meads, Plymouth, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley.

Parking

Parking is free! There is a large parking area at the Forest Park. That said, be a hero and car share, save money and the World!

Event Details

The event is cupless. It's obviously good for the environment to reduce plastic use and general waste. Yes, you won't break a World record having to stop to fill a bottle of water, or carry a hydration pack, but over a marathon distance it would probably add less than a minute to your time. We will have water, isotonic drinks, tea and coffee and Coca Cola for you, but to be clear - we won't supply disposable cups for drinks.

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.

Race Registration opens at 08:15
Race Briefing at 08:50
Race start at 09:00
Race finishes at 15:00

Open to entrants aged over 17yrs on 11/12/2019

Course Details

Sence Valley Forest Park, Ibstock, Leicestershire, is a basic (but beautiful!) country park with toilets and ample free parking; there is no cafe. Use the postcode LE67 6NW for sat navs.

The course is mainly on a crushed stone pathway, with some sections on grass pathways and through a pine forest! There are 2 distinct climbs, but of course that means 2 lovely downhills too! The rest of the course is relatively flat however, allowing for some spectacular views across the lakes. The HQ and lap start and finish will be next to the toilet block.

Sence Valley has many poplar trees and this event is part of our Forest Series at varying Forestry Commission sites.

Reviews

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Location

4 Ravenstone Rd, Ibstock LE67 6NW, UK

Who's In

See who else did this event

Adrian Pilbeam

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