Battle of the Brampton Valley Way
APRIL 2025 (Date TBC)
Run the delights of the Brampton Valley Way in our unique Leicestershire vs. Northamptonshire battle!
Tunnel Vision fans already know the delights of running on the traffic-free Brampton Valley Way. How many of you, have ever run the whole length (14 miles or 22.5km) and back? It’s a super flat route with a constantly changing feel as the route cuts through the heart of rural Northamptonshire. At 28 miles or 45km, the distance is a little over a marathon thus officially making it an ultra run. The terrain and distance however, make it a good stepping stone for people considering looking at longer distances in the future.
Race information
Although the distance will be a challenge for most runners, that isn’t the battle to which we refer. You have the choice from which end you wish to start.
There will be 100 places available from each end. This decision will nail your colours to the mast as representing either Market Harborough/Leicestershire or Northampton/shire. Then battle will commence!
There will be a timing mat at both ends so you’ll also get a halfway split time. The main contest however is the battle between Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Using a carefully constructed mathematical model, we will compare times of runners throughout the fields of both sides to find out who performed the best.
Entries
Entries will open soon on Let’s Do This and are priced at £30.
Minimum age for entry is 18 years old on race day only.
Unfortunately the race is not suitable for canicross racing as the track is narrow in places and runners will be frequently passing each other in opposite directions. Runners will be asked to keep left at all times.
The race cut-off time is 7 hours. If you think that it might take you more than this, then please get in touch before entering.
Entries, and transfer of entries, will close 7-days before the event.
Start time/location
The start time is 09:00.
Links to the start/finish locations are below:
Northampton start/finish
Market Harborough start/finish
Depending on your chosen start end, the parking below is available. The start will be signed from each car park.
Boughton Car Park, Brampton Lane, Northampton, NN6 8AA
Market Harborough Leisure Centre, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, LE16 9HL
The route
The elevation gain is a relatively modest 280m. Irrespective of which end you start from, you will still cover the same 2 x 14 mile stretches but in different orders. Links to the route and GPX files* are below.
Northampton start/finish
Market Harborough start/finish
*use the ‘More’ button, then ‘Export as File’ to download the GPX Track file.
The route map below shows the route from Market Harborough to Northampton and back. Both route maps can be viewed using the links above.
On-course support
As with all Race Harborough events, there will be professional first aid on hand at the start and finish with the ability to access runners on the course. Race Harborough volunteers will be at each road crossing. Most of these are minor roads. The crossing at the A508 is much busier. There will be feed stations every 4.5 miles (two mid-course and and one at each end, 4 in total).
Kit
The surface is suitable for road or trail shoes as it is hard packed track with only the occasional puddle (and a baby ford!). Our races are cupless, so you will be required to bring your own cup or hydration vest.
You will need a head torch or small handheld torch as you will pass through two very dark tunnels. One is 294m long and the other 422m. The surface in the tunnels is a bit sketchy with quite a few ruts and puddles.
Prizes
There will be the usual prizes for top 3 male and female finishers, and all finishers will receive a specially commissioned event medal.
Race t-shirts
Short sleeved technical t-shirts will be available to buy priced at £16 when you enter or by logging into your Let’s Do This account. These can be ordered up to 3 weeks before the event. If you decide to log back in to order a t-shirt, Let’s Do This will charge an additional card handling fee.
There will not be t-shirts available for purchase on race day.
A link to the sizing charts is available here: MALE / FEMALE
Free race photos!
As with all Race Harborough events – you don’t pay for your race pics! Free digital downloads of your race are available to download soon after the race finishes and we’ll announce their availability on our Facebook page.
Charity
For 2025, the main focus of our charity support will be the Jubilee Foodbank, Market Harborough, and the Weston Favell Centre Foodbank, Northampton. Everyone who enters a Race Harborough event will be given the opportunity to make a donation to support these good causes and, we hope, our event community will rise to the challenge and help make a difference to those that need it most.
Latest updates
For the latest updates about this and other Race Harborough events, please Like & Follow the Race Harborough Facebook page.
After doing my first Race Harborough event last year with a trail half marathon, thought I’d try my first ever Ultra! Knowing this was flat and perfect to take the next step, I was still nervous of attempting 45km having only ever ran 50km once before and only 6 weeks before the event!
Great pre-race info and clear details, and couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day with glorious sunshine throughout. The route was dry flat gravel track, with the added quirkiness of the 2 pitch black tunnels to run through!
With chip timing and a great medal to finish with it’s a great value for money run to take on. Will be signing up to next years event. 👍🏼
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