If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to spend the night running across the Humber Bridge, welcome to Hell on the Humber. It’s one of those events you hear whispered about in running circles, the kind of race that makes you question your sanity, then immediately click “enter” anyway.
This isn’t my first time waking up in Hull on a Sunday morning with wobbly legs and an urgent need for a McDonald’s breakfast. But this time, I had a shiny medal, tired legs, and that unbeatable sense of achievement that only comes from conquering the Hell on the Humber.
What is Hell on the Humber?
For anyone new to the event, Hell on the Humber (often called HOTH) is a series of endurance races that take place on the Humber Bridge in East Yorkshire. Runners take on repeated laps of the bridge, each lap around four miles (two out, two back), for a set amount of time.
There are a few different events across the year:
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The Mad Hatter – daylight races of 6 and 9 hours
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The HOTH – the big one, an overnight race of 6 or 12 hours
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Helloween – a spooky 6-hour run on the last Saturday of October
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HOHO HOTH – a festive 6-hour challenge on the first Saturday of December
Sounds simple enough, right? Just keep running back and forth. But anyone who’s ever set foot on the Humber Bridge knows it’s not flat, it’s always windy, and mentally, it’s a real test.
My Hell on the Humber Race Experience
For me this race makes perfect sense; I’m local and I’m no stranger to a challenge (I’ve raced against a steam train so anything goes now). The main draw was – it’s overnight and with the weather being unbearably hot recently I thought it would be good to use as training and get a few cooler miles in. I can also call in the 24-hour Maccies on the way home.
I went in with a plan to run 16 miles for my marathon training, then switch to a run/walk strategy for the rest. Running at night actually felt refreshing, with the cooler air and the glow of the bridge lights. The sunset around 8.30 pm was stunning, and chatting to other runners helped with the earphone ban.
By lap five, the tiredness kicked in, and I swear I saw “creatures” on the bridge that weren’t there. That’s when you know fatigue is playing games. I finished my last lap at 11.30 pm, clocking 7 laps – 28 miles in total – and collected my medal and T-shirt with pride.
What to Expect at Hell on the Humber
If you’re thinking about signing up, here’s what you need to know:
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Location: Humber Bridge, Hull, East Yorkshire
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Parking: Available at the Hessle side
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Support: Don’t expect crowds of spectators, it’s low-key, but the volunteers are brilliant.
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Food & drink: There’s a table with snacks at race HQ, but bring your own fuel if you’re fussy.
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Rules: You need to complete at least one lap every 3 hours to be classed as a finisher.
It’s not a glamorous race, but that’s the charm. It’s about grit, determination, and the surreal experience of running laps of a bridge at midnight.
The Route
The route is straightforward – start at a cone, run accross the bridge, turn around at another cone, run abck accross the bridge and finish at yet another cone. Log your race number after each lap, and there’s a fully stocked table of snacks (priorities, of course).
During the Race
Running at night proved enjoyable; the cooler temperature and changing daylight made each lap unique. A beautiful sunset over the bridge around 8.30 pm added to the experience. Despite a strict earphone ban, chatting with fellow runners made the course less lonely.
The course isn’t flat, featuring inclines at either end of the bridge. Running on iron with a thin layer of tarmac makes it quite firm underfoot. Regardless of the weather, it’s always windy, especially near the towers.
By the fifth lap, I started seeing ‘creatures’ on the bridge – a testament to the mind playing tricks. As my last lap was recorded at 11.30 pm, I received a medal and a T-shirt. Seven laps, 28 miles completed!
Post Race
This is not the first time I have left Hull at dawn on a Sunday, with wobbly legs, and desperately trying to locate the nearest McDonalds. This time, however, I had a huge sense of achievement and a shiny medal to show for my efforts!
Call it weird, call it a challenge – the Hell on the Humber is an experience that pushes your limits and rewards your determination. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible team and volunteers who made it all possible. Until next year’s adventure!
Unlock the Ultimate Fun: Join the Hell on the Humber events in Easter, August, Halloween, and Xmas! 🎉🌟
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