Whoever thinks running is all about you, the road and lifting one foot after another may need to pick up an internet-enabled device. Running races, marathons, trail running and more have innovated far beyond you and the open road. New, unique fitness races for running now include elements like tourism, burpees, wildlife and more. Now, crossing the finish line can involve much more than pounding the pavement, making running races bucket-list experiences people itch to try.
Creating novelty in running races is a growing trend. Globally, the number of new race formats is growing, turning into year-long championships the world over. Hyrox, the most popular functional fitness race, has over 80 events worldwide, with over half a million athletes, according to their website.
READ MORE: Everything To Know About Hyrox, The Tough New Fitness Race
And, if you were looking for an excuse to travel, these unique races make running (or farmer’s carries) your passport for an active holiday. Not all races are focused on functional fitness: some are set in unique locations, take place at special times, like after dark and could involve many modalities, like swimming or horses. Below, the strangest, coolest, most unique fitness races – and more – you’ll want to add to your calendar.
Legendary South African Fitness Races
1. Sani Stagger
WHERE: Drakensberg, South Africa
DISTANCES: 42.2km/21.1km/38km trail/21km trail/ 16km gravel
Known as South Africa’s steepest marathon, this running fest offers a menu of races, from a full marathon, one half, two trail events *and* a gravel edition. It all takes place in the Drakensberg mountains, heading to Lesotho and back again, traversing up and down the Sani mountain pass, racking up a total 1.4km elevation gain. Not for the weak.
2. BatRun
WHERE: Cape Town, South Africa
DISTANCE: 30km
If you’re not dizzy from the literal cross-country run, might we suggest donning your headlamp for a full moon jaunt along Cape Town’s triple threat? Starting as the moon rises, BatRun involves 10 hours of running from Devil’s Peak, along Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, at 2 250m elevation. You’ll be home before breakfast!
3. Skukuza Half Marathon
WHERE: Kruger National Park
DISTANCES: 21km
A truly wild race, the Skukuza Half Marathon journeys through the Skukuza village in the reserve, where elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions and leopards roam freely. The wildly (ha!) popular race allows no more than 2 000 runners and fees go toward important conservation efforts in the Park. It’s considered a true bucket-list race by many – with one year’s event featuring a guest appearance by lions.
READ MORE: Explore The Wildest Half-Marathon In The World
4. Ponte Challenge
WHERE: Johannesburg, South Africa
DISTANCE: 948 stairs, 54 floors. Remember when your doc told you to take the stairs to help your fitness? You’re gonna wish you had listened once you’re taking on the Ponte Tower challenge, a daunting climb up the 948 stairs inside the iconic structure in Joburg. The challenge, hosted by Dlala Nje tours, takes place once a month and rewards you with a breathtaking view – and breakfast – at the summit.
5. Torpedo Swim Run
WHERE: Nation-wide
DISTANCE: 16km/7km
Icy and feisty, the Torpedo Swim Run is a 16km trip along coastlines, rivers and dams. Wear the lightest running shoes you have, with your thickest wetsuit: you’ll have to swim in your sneakers and run in your wettie as you freestyle your way from beach to beach or bank to bank. And, if you’re really brave, do the whole thing in “skins” – wetsuit-free.
READ MORE: I Took On The Infamous Torpedo SwimRun Race… And Survived
6. Deadly Dozen
WHERE: Nation-wide & global
DISTANCE: Various
Made up of a circuit involving 12 400m sprints (known as ‘Journey’) interspersed with exercise stations (known as the ‘Labours’), this fitness race is a true test of skill. ‘Labours’ are a mix of bodyweight moves and weights, and, like Hyrox, you can go solo, in pairs or as a relay.
Global Bucket-List Races
7. World’s Deepest Marathon
WHERE: Sweden
DISTANCE: 42km
An extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime event, this underwater race, organised by Bear Gryll’s organisation BecomingX, pits runners against each other in a Swedish underwater zinc mine. The depth? A casual 1 120m *below* sea level, which is deeper than the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, is tall (828m). 2025 marked the maiden run, with more to come if possible, organisers say. Watch that space.
8. Wings For Life World Run
WHERE: Everywhere
DISTANCE: You decide
Another truly unique race format, this long-running fundraising race starts where you are and ends when the Virtual Catcher Car catches up to you. In short: you are the finish line. The race starts at the same time globally, meaning some countries begin in the dark, and at participating race venues, an actual catcher car follows runners. In South Africa, an organised Wings For Life World Run for everyone takes place in Cape Town and Pretoria, if you’d rather not run alone. Every entry goes towards spinal cord research.
READ MORE: These Are The Average 10k Times For Women – And How To Improve Yours
9. The Ten Thousand 10K
WHERE: New York, USA
DISTANCE: 10km
Hosted by clothing brand Ten Thousand, this notably gruelling test involves 250 burpees that punctuate 10km of running – and only 50 athletes can enter. Each round is a 1km lap, followed by ten burpees. Repeated 25 times. Winning equals claiming your title as “New York’s Toughest Athlete” – but if you need to prove yourself, you’re welcome to try this at home. Are you Brakpan’s toughest athlete?
10. Everest Marathon
WHERE: Everest, Himalayas
DISTANCES: 70km/42km/21km
Held annually on the 29th of May, this high-altitude vent starts at Mt. Everest Base Camp, celebrating the Historic Everest Ascent by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. It’s billed as the highest marathon in the world, and starts at the top, descending towards Namche Bazaar at the finish.
11. Man V Horse
WHERE: Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
DISTANCE: 35km
What started as a pub debate in 1980 has developed into a curious 35km jaunt through the Welsh countryside, man and horse pawing through marsh and mud for the title of Ultimate Beast. In order to determine if man is truly equal to horse, humans start 15 minutes before horses (for safety reasons), traversing knee-deep bogs and river crossings. The first time a human competitor finished ahead of a horse in the race was in 1989, when Tim Gould, riding a bicycle, achieved the victory. According to BBC, only five humans (including 2025’s Dewi Griffiths) have managed to best horses in the race’s 45-year history.
READ MORE: The 10 Best New Running Shoes That’ll Inspire Your Next PB
12. Fallout
WHERE: Oxfordshire, England
DISTANCE: As far as you can go
Keen to test your survival skills and running in one fell swoop? This race is a story: a nuclear mishap means you’ve got 12 hours to run away as far away from the blast radius as possible. According to the race site, “go any direction you like, but you’ll need to stay ahead of the ever-expanding cloud or be instantly vaporised.” 2025’s winner managed a whopping 172km from the start.
13. Nîmes Urban Trail
WHERE: Nîmes, France
DISTANCES: 42km/24km/16km/10km
Urban trail events are new and none capture their essence like this one. Part tourism, part race, you’ll traverse this historic town rich in Roman history, crossing through underground canals, military sites and retirement homes (not around – through!). A sold-out race each year, this must-do race feels like a run through history; organisers say they scoured land registry records to uncover undiscovered or forgotten architectural wonders.
14. Spartan Race World Series
WHERE: Worldwide
DISTANCE: 5/10/21km
This OG obstacle race format happens all over the world – South Africa included – and is notoriously muddy. In just 5km, you’ll complete 20 obstacles, Spartan-style, including wall climbs, crawls, monkey bars and more. There are two 5K options, one in the wild (mud! Trails!), while Stadion takes place in a stadium filled with functional fitness stations. The events culminate in the World Series, where the best athletes in the world compete.
15. Ötillö Swimrun
WHERE: Sweden
DISTANCE: 70km
If you were looking for a cross-country challenge like no other, this island-crossing race might entice you. As a team, swim 9km of open water and run 61km, travelling between 24 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago. You’ll need to collect Swimrun Ranking points in order to enter (or try for a wild card) this prestigious endurance event.
READ MORE: The Hiking Workout Every Woman Should Do Before You Hit The Trails
