The first race over a similar course, called the Beagle Bash, was held in 1990 changing its name in 1999 to the Sodbury Slog. The race always coincides with Remembrance Day and is preceded by a blessing, two minutes silence and playing of the Last Post, which sets the scene for a memorable day.

Local farmer, John Ludlow, who is an active member of the Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury, obtains the necessary landowner permission for the race to go ahead, as much of the race takes place on private land. Without the support of the landowners (for which we are most grateful) the race simply could not take place.

Members of the Bitton Road Runners, the Rotary Club, and the local community all help marshal the event. In return each year over £2 per entrant is donated to local charities and the community. This is distributed by the Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury.

Attracting in excess of 1300 runners the route has remained virtually unchanged over the years. The course is varied, but you can guarantee it will be wet, muddy, scenic, and as hard as you want it to be. It really is a race for all abilities and all standards.

The race attracts runners from all over the UK from Kent, Cornwall, Lancashire, Yorkshire the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The excellent race organisation by Bitton Road Runners has ensured the race's reputation for a well-organised value for money race.

See what Runner's World readers think of the race by viewing their comments HERE.

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A message from the person responsible for the pain and suffering

Firstly can I thank the following people for making the 2009 event so successful:-

All the marshals,
Members and families of Bitton Road Runners
The Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury, and local land owners.
Our sponsors
St John Ambulance
Chipping Sodbury School and PTA
and to the 1300 athletes who entered the race

Thanks to everyone for a fantastic day.

Over 1000 athletes finished the race. Every finisher received a quality "goody bag", t-shirt and some Sodbury mud to take home.

From the proceeds of last years race £2700 will be donated to charity. This is distributed by the Rotary Club and their chosen charity in 2009 was The Jesse May Trust

For the third time in 2009 race numbers were reserved for athletes who were prepared to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care and these athletes raised over £3500 in addition to the above.

The route for 2010 will be the same as last year and the school will have been fully rebuilt by November giving us much more space.

It is our intention to maintain the quality and standard of the race. We want it to be the No 1 race in the UK.

To ensure everybody enjoys the experience of running in the Slog, the race limit of 1300 will remain and not be increased.

So enter early.

Keep on Running

Gordon Robbins
Race Director