Ultra runners must possess a certain level of tunnel vision, and for those preparing for one of Britain’s most extreme events, “The Tunnel,” it’s a necessity. Approximately 40 fearless athletes will run the length of a one-mile-long former railway tunnel on the edge of Bath 200 times in complete darkness for up to 55 hours. The event, which was created by former ultra runner Mark Cockbain, requires mental and physical endurance beyond what most athletes are used to. The Tunnel is only open to hardcore ultra runners who have completed 100 milers, and only 14 people have completed the challenge since it began in 2019.
Cockbain, who ran ultras in the Himalayas, Arctic, and Death Valley until his knees gave out, wanted to create an event that is not only extremely difficult to finish but unforgettable for those who do finish. He was looking for an event with some “X factor,” and Combe Down Tunnel provided it. The Tunnel is described on the official website as “a mind-bending test of extreme endurance and sensory deprivation.” Runners are provided only with water and basic snacks and must wear high-vis kit, whistles, and a head torch. Those who don’t complete 100 miles in 27 hours are disqualified.
For much of the event, runners will be alone in pitch darkness with only their head torches lighting the way. Listening to music via headphones to break the monotony is forbidden. Since The Tunnel’s inception, many runners have succumbed to exhaustion, and some have lost their marbles. One French ultra runner had a particularly bad experience, getting severe hallucinations on the second night and talking gibberish.
Vic Izzy Owens, who set a world record for the furthest barefoot run by a female in 24 hours and completed a 253-mile non-stop run down the length of Wales, knows a thing or two about extreme running. She met her match in The Tunnel in 2021 and is returning this year to give it her all. Owens says, “The Tunnel is a mental battle. I’m prepared to give it my all and embrace every mental breakdown that’s going to hit me, over and over again.”
For some previous entrants, severe hallucinations were a common occurrence. Former army driver Karl Baxter, who is attempting to complete The Tunnel for the second time, described the experience as nightmarish. He saw a family of abominable snowmen clinging to a wall and a massive slug approaching him with a cigarette in its mouth.
For others, like builder Brendan Turner, it’s not quite as traumatic. He ate so many sweet snacks during the event that it was like running to dozens of children’s parties. “For me, the darkness side of it never got to me,” he said. “I just survived on pot noodles, Jaffa Cakes, and Pringles, really. Some people can run on a sniff of wheatgrass and a Brussels sprout, but I need lots of sugar.”
Falling asleep is not an option during The Tunnel. Turner nodded off while running and became disorientated and didn’t know which direction he was going. However, like all ultra runners, he said any discomfort is quickly forgotten as they seek the next fix. “The week after you’ve done one, it’s a big anti-climax,” he said. “That’s when you sign up for the next race.”
