10 Unusual Running Races You Never Imagined (UK and Worldwide)
Published September 2026 | Written by Andy Hood
When I wrote about the IKEA Marathon, I had no idea how many of you would love it as much as I did. That article has done incredibly well, and it turns out plenty of you love unusual running races as much as I do.
I guess I just don't follow the crowd. I design my own runs you'd never imagine, like a 50K to thank Jeremy Clarkson for saving my life, a 50K on a treadmill in the middle of a busy shopping centre, or powering an ultra through London on doughnuts alone, visiting 20 Krispy Kreme shops along the way. Not once, but twice, and probably by the time you read this, a third time!
My planning spreadsheet has several more in various phases of planning, from initial idea to very nearly there. I can't share any of those with you at the moment, so you'll just have to subscribe to the blog to follow the updates.
But this got me thinking: what else is out there, and what could you enter that definitely isn't a city marathon? (And if a city marathon is more your thing, my 20-week first marathon training plan has you covered.)
Perversely, I enjoy training for these events. They take a different approach and mentality to training for a trail ultra, which is where you'll usually see me. Some of the events in the plan mean I'll have to include months of targeted ankle and hip strength training alongside the running, not something that's part of your usual training plan.
A note on why I design and take on these runs, mostly solo. It was cancer. It got me, so now I design these runs to get attention. They get a lot of media attention (see the Press & PR section on my website), but they are also fundraisers for cancer charities, and that's very personal to me.
So I went digging. And wow, the running world is a wonderfully weird place.
Here are my top 10 unusual running races you never imagined, from the UK and around the world. There are indoor races in London, underground marathons, quirky trail races in Wales and bucket list fun runs in Europe. Some are underground, some are up 58 floors, and one of them involves a horse. Let's go!
Key takeaways
Unusual running races range from a marathon inside IKEA Croydon to a marathon 1,120 metres underground in a Swedish zinc mine.
The UK has its own underground marathon: the Tunnel Marathon, run 100ft below Portsmouth on 21 November 2026.
In Wales you can race a horse at Man v Horse, or a steam train at Race the Train.
The RNLI Tower Run is billed as the UK's tallest and toughest stair climb, with 58 floors and over 1,500 stairs.
Many of these races sell out fast, so now is the time to plan your 2027 entries.
Contents
Unusual Running Races at a Glance
Race | Location | Distance | When |
IKEA Marathon | IKEA Croydon, London | Marathon, about 17 laps | 13 December 2026 (sold out) |
RNLI Tower Run | 22 Bishopsgate, London | 58 floors, 1,500+ stairs | Usually October |
Tunnel Marathon | UCAP Bunker, Portsmouth | Marathon, lapped | 21 November 2026 |
The Tunnel | Combe Down Tunnel, Bath | 200 miles | Check with the organiser |
World's Deepest Marathon | Garpenberg Mine, Sweden | Marathon, 11 laps | Held October 2025 |
Kristallmarathon | Merkers Mine, Germany | Marathon, 13 laps | Listed for February 2027 |
Man v Horse | Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales | About 22 miles | Every June |
Race the Train | Tywyn, Wales | Up to 14 miles | Every August |
Marathon du Médoc | Pauillac, France | Marathon | Early September |
Wife Carrying World Championships | Sonkajärvi, Finland | 253.5 metres | First weekend of July |
Unusual Indoor Races in London
1. The IKEA Marathon, Croydon
We have to start here, don't we? On 13th December 2026, runners will line up inside IKEA Croydon and run 26.2 miles without ever leaving the building. That's around 17 laps of a 1.5km loop through the showroom, past the tills and along the warehouse floor.
The race starts at 6pm and has a hard six-hour cutoff, because the store needs to be cleared by midnight. There are meatballs at the aid station and, of course, the medal needs assembling at the finish. I love it.
The 80 places sold out almost instantly, so if you missed out, keep an eye out for a second edition. You can read my full article on the IKEA Marathon, including why you definitely won't find me on that start line!
2. The RNLI Tower Run: The UK's Tallest Stair Climb
Forget miles, this one is all about floors. The RNLI Tower Run takes you up all 58 floors and over 1,500 stairs of 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London. It's billed as the tallest and toughest tower run in the UK.
Here's the bit I really love. 22 Bishopsgate stands on the site where the RNLI was founded over 200 years ago. So every step you take is on the very spot where a charity that has saved thousands of lives at sea was born.
Entry is £35 and you're asked to raise £150 for the lifeboat crews. Your reward is a medal, a t-shirt and a view across the London skyline that you'll have well and truly earned. It usually runs in October. Find out more and sign up on the RNLI Tower Run page.
Underground Marathons and Tunnel Races
3. The Tunnel Marathon, Portsmouth: The UK's Underground Marathon
This is the UK's first fully underground marathon, and it's run 100ft below ground in the UCAP Bunker, just north of Portsmouth. The bunker was the Royal Navy's underground HQ during the Second World War, where they plotted the progress of the Allied troops during the D-Day invasion. History and miles, my favourite combination.
Now a warning for my taller friends. Some of the tunnels are only 6ft high, so you'll be stooping for short sections. And because the course is lapped, you'll be stooping a LOT. The organisers have even said, in capital letters, no moaning afterwards!
It's put on by Sussex Trail Events, the same team behind the IKEA Marathon. The next one is on 21st November 2026, with a six and a half hour cutoff. Full details are on the Tunnel Marathon page.
4. The Tunnel, Bath: A 200 Mile Underground Ultra
If the Tunnel Marathon sounds like a gentle warm up, meet its big brother. The Tunnel is a 200 mile ultramarathon through Combe Down, the UK's longest foot tunnel.
You run roughly 100 out and backs, or 200 passes through the tunnel, and you have 55 hours to do it. Between 11pm and 5am the lights go off completely and you're running in pitch black. As an ultra runner, that sensory deprivation genuinely scares me more than the distance.
You need a 100 miler under your belt just to apply. The checkpoint serves water, coke and snacks, and that's about it. No frills, just you, your head torch and your thoughts.
You'll find it on the Cockbain Events website. If you'd prefer your ultras above ground, have a look at my guide to the best UK ultra marathons.
5. The World's Deepest Marathon, Sweden
Think 100ft below Portsmouth is deep? This one goes a whole lot deeper. In October 2025, 55 runners from 18 countries ran a full marathon 1,120 metres below sea level in the Garpenberg zinc mine in Sweden.
They ran 11 laps of a 3.84km tunnel in almost total darkness, on gravel, with high humidity and temperatures of up to 30°C. It was co-organised by Bear Grylls' BecomingX and raised money for charity along the way.
No scenery, no landmarks, just rock, head torches and the same loop over and over. That's a real test of the mind as much as the legs. You can read more about how it went in this report from Global Mining Review.
6. The Kristallmarathon: A Salt Mine Marathon in Germany
And if you want to run underground abroad, this is the one that started it all for us Brits. The Kristallmarathon is held underground in a working salt mine in Germany.
It's run 500 metres underground in the Merkers Adventure Mine, near Eisenach. Even though it's held in February, it's a steady 21°C down there. You run 13 laps of a 3.3km loop, and you need to have finished 12 of them within 4 hours 45 minutes.
The Sussex Trail Events team travelled over to run it a couple of years running, and loved it so much they brought the idea home and created the Tunnel Marathon. The next edition is listed for February 2027, so check the event listing for the latest details before booking.
Quirky Trail Races in Wales
7. Man v Horse Marathon, Llanwrtyd Wells
The best races start in the pub, and this one is proof. Back in 1980, the landlord of the Neuadd Arms overheard two locals arguing over whether a man or a horse would be quicker over a long distance. Rather than settle it over another pint, he organised a race.
The course is around 22 miles of farm tracks, forestry roads, moorland and river crossings. For 24 years the horses won every single time. Then in 2004, Huw Lobb finally beat the fastest horse by two minutes and walked away with a £25,000 jackpot.
Only a handful of runners have done it since. In 2026, the horse took it again, winning by eight minutes. So the question remains: are you faster than a horse? It runs every June, and you can enter through Green Events.
8. Race the Train, Tywyn
From racing horses to racing steam engines. Race the Train pits runners against a steam locomotive on the historic Talyllyn Railway, out to Abergynolwyn and back.
The train whistle starts both the runners and the train. The course follows the railway line over roads, farm tracks and rough, muddy fields, and in places the track is right over the fence. If your family are on board, they can cheer you on from the carriage window. How brilliant is that?
The main event is the 14 mile Rotary Challenge, with 10K, 5.5 mile and 3.5 mile options too, and even a Toddlers Trot. It's held every August and has been running for over 40 years. Entries and train tickets are on the Race the Train website.
Bucket List Fun Runs in Europe
9. Marathon du Médoc: The Wine Marathon in France
Fancy running a marathon and drinking wine at the same time? Welcome to the Médoc. Starting in Pauillac, near Bordeaux, around 8,500 runners from roughly 75 countries run 26.2 miles through the château vineyards.
Fancy dress is a must, and there's a new theme every year. For its 40th anniversary in 2026, the theme was the 80s. Along the way there are around 21 wine tastings, 23 bands, oysters at 38km and steak at 39km. It's less of a race and more of a moving festival through wine country.
One practical tip if you're tempted: French law requires you to bring a medical certificate signed and stamped by your doctor. No certificate, no start. It's held in early September, entry is €110, and it sells out fast, so keep an eye on the official Marathon du Médoc website. If you prefer your European marathons with more PBs and less Pinot, take a look at my Best European Marathons 2026 guide.
10. The Wife Carrying World Championships, Finland
I couldn't resist this one. Every July in Sonkajärvi, Finland, couples race each other over a 253.5 metre obstacle course, with one partner carrying the other. There are log hurdles and a water jump that's waist deep.
The partner being carried must be over 17 and weigh at least 49kg, and despite the name you don't actually have to be married. The prize? Your partner's body weight in beer!
It's short, sure, but anyone who has carried a heavy pack on an ultra knows just how brutal 250 metres can feel with weight on your back. Find out more on the Wife Carrying World Championships website.
More Weird Running Races in the UK
The team behind the IKEA Marathon, Sussex Trail Events, deserve a special mention. They've held races up and down the seven levels of multi-storey car parks in Worthing and Southend, on Southend Pier, and even inside Shepton Mallet Prison. If a building exists, I suspect they've looked at it and thought "I could get a marathon out of that."
Then there's the London UnderRound. It's not an official race, but it's a brilliant challenge. You run between all 42 Zone 1 Tube stations, roughly 42 to 48km depending on your route, and you have to touch the yellow line on every platform. Stairs and escalators only, no lifts, which adds up to around 914 metres of climbing. Not bad for a run through central London!
Design Your Own Charity Running Challenge
You don't have to wait for someone else to create the race you never imagined. You can design it yourself, just like I do. Together, my self-designed runs have helped raise over £28,000 for cancer charities, and every one of them started as a daft idea on that planning spreadsheet.
And that third doughnut run is just around the corner. On 7th November I'm running the Krispy Kreme London 50, visiting 20 Krispy Kreme shops across the capital and fundraising for Chemo Hero. If you fancy joining me for a few miles (and a doughnut or two), keep an eye on my Instagram for details, and see what else is on the calendar in my 2026 ultras.
Which of these unusual running races would you sign up for? Would you take on the horse, the train or the tunnel? And if you could design your own race you never imagined, what would it be? Drop it in the comments, I'd love to hear them. You never know, it might be my next one.
Lace up and enjoy your miles.
Unusual Running Races FAQs
Is there an underground marathon in the UK?
Yes. The Tunnel Marathon is the UK's first fully underground marathon, run 100ft below ground in the UCAP Bunker near Portsmouth. The next edition is on 21st November 2026. For something much longer, The Tunnel in Bath is a 200 mile ultra through the Combe Down Tunnel.
What is the deepest marathon in the world?
The World's Deepest Marathon was run in October 2025, 1,120 metres below sea level in the Garpenberg zinc mine in Sweden. 55 runners from 18 countries completed 11 laps of a 3.84km tunnel.
Has a runner ever beaten the horse at Man v Horse?
Yes, but not often. Huw Lobb was the first in 2004, after 24 years of horse wins. Florien Holtinger, Ricky Lightfoot, Daniel Connolly and Dewi Griffiths have done it since. In 2026, the horse won by eight minutes.
What is the toughest stair climb in the UK?
The RNLI Tower Run is billed as the tallest and toughest tower run in the UK. Runners climb 58 floors and over 1,500 stairs of 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London.
Can I still enter the IKEA Marathon?
The 80 places for the 2026 IKEA Marathon in Croydon sold out almost immediately. Keep an eye on Sussex Trail Events for any future editions.
About the Author: Andy Hood
I'm Andy Hood, an ultra and endurance runner from North Devon, a cancer survivor, and an official Runna Ambassador.
Running took on a whole new meaning for me in 2021, when I was diagnosed with cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, I came back to running more determined than ever to make a difference. In 2022 I ran 170 miles from Westward Ho! to Land's End along the South West Coast Path. It took seven days back to back, with around 25,000 feet of climbing.
Since then I've taken on:
100K ultras, including London 2 Brighton and Race to the Stones
24 hours on a treadmill
The Tour du Mont Blanc, twice
50K runs across London, powered by Krispy Kreme doughnuts
The Burger Run, my thank you to Jeremy Clarkson for prompting me to check
Along the way I've raised over £28,000 for charities including the Alzheimer's Society, Macmillan Cancer Support, YoungMinds and Chemo Hero.
I'm also the founder of Check Ya Balls, a menswear range designed to remind men to check themselves. It was a prompt to check that led to my own diagnosis, and now I want to pass that on to as many men as possible.
Designing runs you'd never imagine is what I do, so researching races like these is right up my street. Every event in this article has been checked against its organiser or official listing at the time of writing. Next up for me is the Krispy Kreme London 50 on 7 November 2026, then the London Marathon in April 2027.
Follow my training: Instagram · More articles on the blog · Runna free trial
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