Thunder Races
Bedford, Bedfordshire
Thunder Races are a Bedford organiser who set out to make trail running feel welcoming: fully marked and marshalled courses, aid stations, generous cut-offs, volunteers who make a noise, and routes chosen to be runnable rather than brutal. The Harrold Odell trail races in March are the way in, a 25km and a 50km round the country park and the Ouse valley for anyone stepping off the road or up in distance. Pilgrim's Reckoning is the other end of the range: eighty-one miles of the John Bunyan Trail in a single loop from Bedford, twenty-four hours, semi self-navigated from a GPX and the trail's own waymarkers, with a field capped at about sixty and a 50km finish in the last year needed to enter.
Their races
Pins sit on the start. Open one to see the course.
13
Mar
2027
Harrold Odell Trail Races
Harrold-Odell Country Park, Bedfordshire · Thunder Races
A 25km and a 50km from Harrold-Odell Country Park in the Great Ouse valley, fully marked and marshalled with generous cut-offs and runnable ground. Pitched at first-timers and anyone stepping up in distance.
Not open yet
11
Sept
2027
Pilgrim's Reckoning
Bedford Greenacre Independent School, Manton Lane, Bedford · Thunder Races
Eighty-one miles of the John Bunyan Trail in one loop from Bedford, 1,219m of climb, twenty-four hours from a 6pm Saturday start. Runnable all the way, semi self-navigated from a GPX and the trail's waymarkers, seven aid stations and a field of about sixty.
Not open yet