Belgian Front Memorial Trail
May 2, 2026
a pilgrimage, walking through the history of Flanders
What?
Walk along the front lines of the Great War. Through these beautiful landscapes, you will encounter countless monuments and cemeteries.
You start in Messines and head towards Ypres, finishing at the Grote Markt in Diksmuide. Will you go for a half marathon, or dare to tackle the full 100 km with a team or on your own? Choose your challenge at the Belgian Front Memorial Trail!
Details.
When?
Hour
12:30 p.m.: 5 km
2:00 p.m.: Half marathon
Where?
How far?
Registration is open until?
Terms and Conditions?
Share this event!
The Long Way - over 100 km
SOLO or in a team!Â
Is +100 km too far for you to walk alone? Turn it into a relay race and take turns at a supply station. A team consists of a maximum of 9 participants.
Course
A detailed overview of the supply stations, the route, and the elevation profiles can be found here.
The Long Way starts in Mesen and takes you past the green fields of Palingbeek, past the Tyne Cot cemetery, and through the beautiful marshes of De Blankaart. After passing through Diksmuide, you'll run the last few kilometers in a loop around the city, perfect for supporters to cheer you on! The finish line is located on the Grote Markt in Diksmuide.
Level of difficulty
The course is beautiful and not exceptionally difficult. You can run it without any special equipment. However, a distance of over 100 km does require some attention. That is why participants are required to carry a number of items with them to ensure their health and safety during the race. More information can be found here.
Curious about last year's results? You can find them here.
Half Marathon - 21.1 km
You start at the beautiful market square in Diksmuide and walk towards the Yser Tower. Following the Yser, you arrive at the reconstructed trenches (Dodengang), after which you continue your way through the countryside to walk back to the starting point.
Level of difficulty
The course is not very technical and there is not much elevation gain.
A detailed overview of the supply stations, the route, and the elevation profiles can be found here.
Curious about last year's results? You can find them here.
Short Run 5 km
The Short Run starts and finishes at the Grote Markt in Diksmuide.
No supplies are provided for the Short Run. A detailed overview of the route and elevation profile can be found here.
Supporters
Want to cheer on your favorite runner? You certainly can!
Cycle to each aid station to support them while enjoying the breathtaking views yourself.
Please note! Some parts of the course are not accessible to cyclists. Make sure you do not obstruct runners while cycling on the path.
Participation fee
Participation fees vary depending on the number of tickets sold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is provided at the supply points?
Water and sports drinks are provided at each refreshment station so you can fill your own bottle or cup.Â
In addition, there will always be a selection of the following items:
- Fruit juice & Cola
- Cake or cookies
- Chips
- Nuts
- Fruit (bananas/oranges…)
- Wraps with fillings (not everywhere)
Can I also walk the Belgian Front Memorial Trail?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to walk The Long Way, because you will not reach the various supply points in time. However, this is possible for the half marathon.
What is the address of the refreshment points?
The route map also shows the addresses of the various checkpoints and what is served there. For the Long Way, you can find this information here, and for the Half Marathon here.
How does the baggage drop-off work?
You drop off your baggage before the start. Your baggage will be labeled and brought to the finish line for you.
How does the shuttle work?
For the +100km, a shuttle will be provided to the start line before the starting shot. It will depart from the main market square in Diksmuide (Finish). No shuttle will be provided after the finish.
Is the BMF route signposted or do you need to use GPS?Â
You can find the Belgian Front Memorial with GPS / GPX, but the route will also be fully marked . For the Long Way, we recommend downloading the GPX as a backup on your watch or cell phone. Although we thoroughly check the route beforehand, we cannot guarantee that some arrows will not be moved.
Do you get a medalafter 100 km / 21 km / 5 km?  Â
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 are at two different locations.
When you register,you can buy a ticket for the shuttle bus that will be waiting at the finish line on the Grote Markt in Diksmuide in the morning. This will take you to the start. Supporters can also use this shuttle for €6.
How can I resell my ticket?
Are you unexpectedly unable to attend and have you found someone who wants to take your ticket? You can easily arrange this yourself until 8 p.m. the evening before the event. Read here how it works or watch the instructional video.
Any other questions? Send us an email at events@keeponrunning.be.
Register as a group
Fancy a fun team-building exercise with your colleagues, or would you like to encourage each other as a former management team to achieve a new running goal together? Then sign up via this link as a group.
The team captain registers the group via the link above. After that, all team members can register using the regular registration form.
View the step-by-step plan for group registrationshere. Prefer a video? View the instructions for team captainshere.
Some tips for the team captain:
- First, create an account at www.keeponrunning.be by clicking on the Login button at the top right.Â
- The website works best in Google Chrome.Â
- Complete the steps and confirm your account via the link in the email (often ends up in spam).Â
- Only then should you go to thelinkto create your group.Â
- Choose a word as your group code.
- Fill in all your details and register in a team.Â
- Payment must be made before the start of the event via the team captain's profile.Â
- If you have any questions: events@keeponrunning.beÂ
Why register as a group?Â
- Your group name on all bib numbers.Â
- Extra recognizable in photos and in the results afterwards.Â
- All bib numbers are ready and waiting at reception, so only one person needs to come and collect them.Â
- Group registration possible on invoice.Â
Personal Coaching.
Prepare for your running challenge.
Would you like to keep running injury-free and enjoy this fantastic sport while preparing yourself optimally for an upcoming running challenge? Then our brand-new coaching package might be just the thing for you!
Coaching package
completely tailored to your needs.-
1 lactate test + intake interview
-
3 months of fully personalized training plans
-
Ongoing coaching (remote) with weekly adjustments to the schedule
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2 live workshops (including guided training)
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Use TrainingPeaks
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Drawing up a personal competition plan
Partners.
Results.
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