Windlesham Pram Race, Boxing Day, Surrey
Part race, part pub crawl, the Windlesham Pram Race sees runners make their way along a 3.5 mile course through the village, stopping off at local pubs to refuel as they go. Runners work in teams to transport their “pram” around the course and you can expect to see some rather ambitious creations on the track; prams shaped like swans, aeroplanes, Noah’s ark and the Batmobile have all made appearances in the past. Prizes don’t only go to the fastest team, but also for the best dressed and best engineered prams. And although there’s plenty of boozing, competitors are advised to eat something on their way round too. It may be a race, but there’s no rush after all.
Registration from £5-£10, pramrace.com
Saltwood Boxing Day Run, Kent
Organisers claim it’s the “perfect hangover cure”. Indeed, three miles racing over muddy hills should be more than enough to shake off any Boxing Day malaise. The popular race, now in its 40th year, always earns a big turnout – of all ages and abilities – and sends runners on a cross-country route along footpaths and trails in the Kent countryside.
Registration from £2-£10, starts at midday, nice-work.org.uk
Boxing Day Swim, Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Now in its 44th year, the Tenby Boxing Day swim is a spectacle that sees around 600 brave souls race into the sea, watched by thousands of spectators. The tradition raises money for local charities and has a fancy dress theme – so if you’re taking the plunge this year make sure you’re kitted out as a pirate or a princess. The event has grown in size every year and now includes a raft race and a fancy dress parade. Everyone who takes part gets a medal, but perhaps more important is the roaring bonfire on the beach for swimmers to warm up by afterwards.
Starts at 11.30am, tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk
Serpentine Christmas Day race, London
London’s flagship Christmas swim, the Serpentine Christmas race, is always bound to get its photo in the Evening Standard, although it is, sadly, a members-only event. Still, plenty of people show up to watch the race, in which hardy swimmers compete to win the Peter Pan Cup, named due to author J M Barrie’s long association with the club. You might not be able to get wet yourself but it’s a nice excuse to go for a morning stroll around Hyde Park and feel remarkably warm by comparison.
Starts at 9am, serpentineswimmingclub.com
Boxing Day Dip, Lake District
Taking place on the shores of Windermere, the Boxing Day Dip is a chance to burn off that Christmas excess by plunging yourself into the icy water. There’s no pressure to actually swim at this family-friendly event; you don’t even need to sign up in advance – so it’s perfect for anyone who gets a sudden urge to flee the family home in the midst of a morning Turkey preparation disaster. Participants can take to the water as they feel comfortable and are more than welcome to merely dip a toe in, or even turn up in a wetsuit. Fancy dress is encouraged and all money raised goes to charity.
£7 adults, £3 kids, starts at 11am, chillswim.com/boxing-day-dip
New Year’s Day Loony Dook, Edinburgh
A highlight of Edinburgh’s Hogmany celebrations, the Loony Dook is an ice-cold New Year’s Day plunge in the River Forth, held in the shadow of the iconic Forth bridges. This year’s event was almost cancelled due to funding shortfalls but thankfully will still go ahead, as it has done for over a quarter of a century. The event kicks off with the Dooker’s Parade, featuring the Beastie Drummers, before the 1,000 or so “Dookers”, well, do the Dook.
Registration £9, check in 11.30am-1pm, parade 1.20pm, the Dook 1.30pm, edinburghshogmanay.com/the-loony-dook
Whitley Bay New Year’s Day Dip, Tyne and Wear
Hundreds of dippers join the Panama Swimming Club for its annual New Year’s Day swim in the North Sea. Public turnout is, as you would imagine, largely dependent on the weather, but you can count on the swimming club’s hardy members to be there; they’ve been swimming up to three times a week in the sea off Whitley for over 40 years … even in the snow. Fancy dress is optional and it’s free to take part. A much needed cup of tea will be waiting for you at the clubhouse.
10.45 meet at the clubhouse, 11am start, panamaswimmingclub.co.uk
Brutal 10, Hampshire
Brutal by name, brutal by nature, this obstacle course of a cross-country run requires racers to tackle hill climbs, water features and sand dunes until they burn off every last calorie of their Christmas dinner. Taking place on the 27 December at the Longmoor military camp in Hampshire (don’t mess around here, kids), racers have the choice of doing one or two laps of the unforgiving 8km course.
Registration £10 for 8km, £20 for 16km, brutalrun.co.uk
Hardmoors 15 and 30, North Yorkshire
If you’re looking to see in the new year with a real endurance challenge then the Hardmoors runs in North Yorkshire should get your heart pumping and the blood flowing. The 15- and 30-mile runs follow a circular route along old railway lines between Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby and are suitable for experienced long-distance runners. You have seven hours to complete the shorter race and nine hours to complete the longer one.
Registration £15-£40, hardmoors110.org.uk
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