INFORMATION
The 38th running of the Grizzly/Cub races will take place at 10.30 on Sunday 8th March 2026.

We will be using a ballot again this year which will open on 29th September until 12th October. The ballot will be drawn on 16th October 2025.

The Grizzly consists of two races, full Grizzly of 20 miles and shorter Cub run of 9 miles.  This entry page covers both races and the total entry limit is for both races combined ie there is no specific allocation for either race.

The Grizzly and Cub races start and finish on the Esplanade, Seaton.

The Grizzly is a RUNNING RACE and has more than 3,000’ ascent in its 20 miles. The Cub is 9 miles. There are two sections of beach (pebbles), totalling well over a mile; two energy-sapping bogs, where runners are often up to their waists in water and mud; and the infamous ‘Stairway to Heaven’, a steep path up the side of Hooken Cliff (beware if you suffer from vertigo). Some of the descents are steep and often very slippery, so please take care. It will take roughly your marathon time, perhaps longer if conditions are grim.

Runners should expect to encounter:-

• hard physical effort
• adverse weather conditions e.g. cold, wet, wind, snow
• rough, uneven ground
• mud and other slippery surfaces
• trees (including exposed roots and branches)
•  water hazards e.g. streams, puddles & muddy bogs
• Agricultural land, including farm animals,

For full Information Race Information - Axe Valley Runners
This is a not for profit race organised solely by local volunteers and any net profits from the race are donated to various local groups, organisations and charities. To date, over £500,000 has been donated over the past 36 years.

WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE?
Here’s a taster of what you can expect from the Grizzly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b15HOJWuL6c  1 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cE24z7cGn8 18 mins
Start: 1030
Location: Esplanade, Seaton, Devon

ARC Licence: 26/0043

WHAT WE OFFER:

• A unique challenging race
• Chip timing
• 9 water stations 
• Over 300 marshals on the course to provide encouragement
• Full medical support on the course and at the start/finish line
• Refreshments at the finish line
• Grizzly medals for all finishers

THIS IS A RUNNING RACE - CUT OFFS

The Grizzly & Cub are running races. 
Please be aware that the 20 mile Grizzly and the 9 mile Cub present tough challenges over a multi-terrain route including bogs, streams, beaches, clifftops and ascents/descents up/down steep hills.You will be required to run the majority of the route and maintain at least an average of 19 minutes per mile or you will not make the Shortcut & Cut-off points. These will be strictly enforced by dedicated marshals on both routes, the purpose of which is:-

1. To minimise the time marshals are kept out on the course, sometimes in inclement weather, & therefore ensuring the good will of our marshals is maintained without which we could not hold this iconic event safely for you the runner.

2. To ensure runners are not still out on the course after 5pm when the public roads have  to be reopened in line with our traffic regulation orders. 

3. To protect the safety of runners and other footpath users by ensuring congestion on the narrow parts of the course is kept to a minimum.
Cut off times will be strictly enforced by dedicated marshals & anyone failing to follow any race officials instructions to cut-off or withdraw from the race will have their race number taken from them, will no longer be insured and will effectively be trespassing on private land.

Cut Off Info - Click Here

CUP-LESS  RACING
To help us with our aim of providing a more sustainable race in particular the use of single use plastics, the event will again be CUP-LESS!  This means that we will NOT be providing disposable cups at water stations, volunteers will be happy to fill your own bottles/ cups. In our quest to reduce the waste produced by running events we ask you to respect this and run with your own drinking vessel.
HEADPHONES
For your own safety, headphones of any type, including bone conducting, are not permitted
RACE T SHIRTS
To help us with our aim of providing a more sustainable race, runners will again not receive a race t-shirt as part of their entry fee. Runners will be able to separately purchase a race t-shirt online and details of this process will follow separately. 

RACE NUMBERS
Race Bibs (numbers) will posted to your registered address approximately 5/6 weeks before the race. We will send a reminder just after Christmas and will ask that you check we have your correct address, this is particularly important if you have recently moved.

Official charity partner –

Farming Community Network Charity -What is FCN? - Farming Community Network
The Grizzly race would not be possible without the cooperation of the local farming community for which we are extremely grateful. We are pleased to announce we have chosen the Farming Community Network as our official charity partner this year. The FCN  supports  the farming community through difficult times and periods of change.