Belgian Front Memorial Trail
May 3, 2025
A running pilgrimage through Flanders' history
What?
Run along the front lines of the Great War. You run trough beautiful landscapes and will pass numerous monuments and cemeteries.
You start from Messines towards Ypres and Diksmuide to finish at the Ganzepoot and the mouth of the Yser on the beach of Nieuwpoort. Do you go for a half marathon, or do you dare the full 100 km with a team or alone? Choose your challenge at the Belgian Front Memorial Trail!
Details.
When?
Where?
How far?
Registration is possible until?
Terms and conditions?
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The Long Way - 102.9 km
SOLO or in team!
Is 102.9 km too far for you to run alone? Make it a relay race and alternate at a supply station. A team consists of a maximum of 9 participants.
Route
A detailed overview of the supply stations, the course and the altimeters can be found here.
The Long Way starts in Messines and takes you past the green fields of Palingbeek, past the cemetery of Tyne Cot and through the beautiful marshes of De Blankaart. Then you continue walking along a straight former railroad to finish in the marina of Nieuwpoort.
Difficulty
The trail is beautiful and not exceptionally difficult. You can run it without specific equipment. But a distance of +100km does require attention. Therefore, participants are required to carry a number of items to ensure their health and safety during the race. More info can be found here.
Half Marathon - 21.1 km
The route starts at the market square of Diksmuide. From here you walk in the direction of the IJzer Tower. Then you walk along the IJzer and pass by reconstructed trenches. Not much later you come to a former railroad, here the trail meets that of the Long Way.
A detailed overview of the supply stations, the course and the altimeters can be found here.
Short Run 5 km
The Short Run starts at the edge of Nieuwpoort' s water locks at the Ganzepoot and Albert 1 Memorial site.
No supplies are provided for the Short Run, a detailed overview of the course and elevation gain can be found here.
Supporters
Cheering on your favorite runner? You certainly can!
Cycle to each supply station to support him/her while enjoying the breathtaking views yourself.
Caution! Some parts of the trail are not accessible to cyclists. Be sure not to obstruct runners while biking along the trail.
Participation fee
The first 100 participants can enjoy the early-bird rate, so don't wait too long to register!
Run The Long Way in team as a relay? Then you pay 15€ extra per participant.
FAQ
What is provided at supply points?
Water and sports drink (maltodextrin) will be provided at each refill to fill your own bottle or cup.
In addition, there will always be a selection of the following:
- Fruit Juice & Cola
- Cake or cookies
- Chips
- Nuts
- Fruit (bananas/oranges...)
- Wraps with toppings (not everywhere)
Can I also walk the Belgian Front Memorial Trail?
For The Long Way, it is unfortunately not possible to complete it while walking because you will not get to the various refreshment points in time. For the half marathon it is possible.
What is the address of the supply points?
On the map of the course you can also find the address of the different checkpoints and what is served there. For the Long Way you can find them here for the Half Marathon here.
How does the baggage drop off work?
You drop off your luggage when you pick up your start number. Your luggage will be labeled and taken to the finish line for you.
Is the course of the BMF signposted or do you have to walk it with GPS?
You can use the Belgian Front Memorial with GPS / GPX but the course will also be fully signposted are.
Do you get a medaille after the 100km / 21km / 5km ?
Yes, every participant who crosses the finish line of this exceptional event will receive a beautiful medal.
The start and finish of The Long Way & the 21.1 km are at 2 different locations. How do I get from the finish line back to the start?
When you register, you can purchase a ticket for the shuttle bus that will take you back to the start.
Personal Coaching.
Prepare for your running challenge.
Would you like to keep running injury-free and enjoy this fantastic sport while getting yourself optimally prepared for an upcoming running challenge? Then maybe our brand new coaching package is just the thing for you!
Coaching Package
completely tailored to your needs.-
1 lactate test + intake interview
-
3-month training schedule fully personalized
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Permanent coaching (remote) with weekly updating schedule
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2 live workshops (including guided training)
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Using TrainingPeaks
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Formatting personal competition plan
Partners.
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