The Rasselbock Marathon returns to Sherwood Pines Forest in Nottinghamshire on 12 July 2026 with organisers expanding the event programme to include a brand new 50.6K ultra marathon alongside the established marathon, half marathon and mini race distances.

Organised by Rasselbock Running, the off road event continues to grow as one of the Midlands’ developing trail race weekends, attracting runners of all abilities to the forest trails and fire roads around Sherwood Pines. The 2026 edition marks the third running of the half marathon and introduces the ultra distance for the first time.

The half marathon follows a single 13.1 mile loop through the forest, while marathon runners complete the route twice across mixed terrain including woodland trails, gravel tracks and quieter sections deeper inside the forest. The new ultra marathon adds an extra loop to extend the challenge beyond 50K.

Sherwood Pines has become a popular venue for trail runners looking for accessible off road racing without extreme elevation or technical terrain. Organisers expect roughly 250 metres of elevation gain per loop, making the event suitable for runners moving up to longer trail distances as well as experienced endurance runners.

One of the biggest attractions for runners is the event village atmosphere at the forest arena start and finish area. The central hub includes live music, food vendors, local businesses and spectator support throughout the day, while marathon runners pass through the arena midway through their second loop.

Generous cut off times remain part of the event structure, with organisers continuing to encourage runners of all abilities to take part. Entries remain open across all distances ahead of the July return to Sherwood Pines.

You can enter now via Rasselbock Running here.

Image by Peter H from Pixabay