Pilgrims Reckoning by Thunder Races

16/09/2026

A new British ultra just tried something unusual. Take a 17th-century pilgrimage route and see if anyone can run it in a day.

The inaugural Pilgrim's Reckoning sent 46 runners into the Bedfordshire countryside on Saturday evening, starting from Bedford at 18:00 BST. The course loops 81 miles along the John Bunyan Trail, passing through Meppershall, Barton Le Clay, Streatley, Harlington, Ampthill, Cranfield and Bromham before returning to Bedford.

Race director Sarah Groves built the event around the John Bunyan Trail after seeing its markers on her training runs. "After seeing how beautiful it was, I thought I had to share it with other people, and that's how it was born," she told the BBC.

Bunyan, born 1628 in nearby Elstow, wrote The Pilgrim's Progress in 1678, considered by some the first modern novel. He was imprisoned in Bedford for 12 years in the 1660s for refusing to stop preaching.

The route now bears his name. So does the race.

1,219 metres of elevation. Seven aid stations. A drop bag at halfway. Charity runners raising money for Save the Rhino International and homelessness charity Hope Works.

A pilgrimage, condensed into 24 hours.

📷 Sarah Groves

15/09/2026

The official photos will be available in the next few days but here’s a little sneak peek of what’s to come 👀

📸 by Graham Philip Watson

14/09/2026

Thank you to all our incredible runners who took on the challenge of running The Pilgrims Reckoning this weekend! 46 started, 31 finished.
The rain was relentless during the night which made for some tough conditions but our amazing volunteers welcomed them in to the warm aid stations with hot drinks, pasta and roast potatoes to get them through. Whether you finished or not you should be very proud of yourself! 🙌

The free race day photos by the amazing Graham Philip Watson will be available later this week please keep on eye on your emails 👀

13/09/2026

Congratulations to our First Lady Eszter Adam, epic achievement 🙌

13/09/2026

2nd & 3rd place running together through the final checkpoint!

13/09/2026

The pilgrims reckoning was absolutely smashed by Nick Smith in an incredible 12.02 🤯 What a course record!💪

12/09/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgyv0xg49zo

Sarah Groves finds that 46 people were "crazy" enough to take on the challenge.

11/09/2026

Follow our runners as they take on this massive challenge ⬇️

Link in bio 🔗

https://www.geotracks.co.uk/live/5896

13/08/2026

The first Pilgrim’s Reckoning Recce Weekend last month was an amazing couple of days out on the trails, and we’re doing it all again this weekend!

Join us for our second guided Recce Weekend on 15–16 August, taking on another section of the Pilgrim’s Reckoning route along the John Bunyan Trail through Bedfordshire.

It’s a brilliant chance to experience the course before race day, meet fellow runners and get some solid training miles in on the actual route.

🏃 Approx. 20 miles per day
🗓️ 15–16 August
🎟 £20 per day / £30 full weekend
👣 Social pace • Guided route • Great training miles
Last chance to join us this weekend: https://www.race-space.com/gb/thunder-races/pilgrim-s-reckoning-recce-run-2

12/08/2026

1 month to go.

In just one month, the first ever Pilgrim’s Reckoning begins.
Runners will step onto the John Bunyan Trail and take on 81 miles through the Bedfordshire countryside, following one full loop through quiet villages, open fields, long runnable trails and the night miles that make an ultra unforgettable.

24 hours to complete the journey.
7 aid stations.
Halfway drop bag.
Live tracking.
Finisher medal.
Official event T-shirt.

This is more than a race. It’s a full day and night on the move, a test of patience, pacing, resilience and the decision to keep going.

Limited places remain.

📍 Bedfordshire
📅 12 to 13 September
🏃 81 miles • 1 loop • 24 hours
Enter now!