Pagan Trails 2026: Dartmoor delivers a midwinter epic in the mud

Competitors at PAGAN Trails 2026 were left in no doubt who the real adversary was as Dartmoor produced its harshest test yet, turning this year’s event into a full-scale battle against wind, water and relentless mud.

“It was pretty rough out there,” was the understated verdict of one support crew member who drove sections of the route. In reality, this third edition of PAGAN proved to be the most brutal to date, with Dartmoor at its absolute worst — sodden, slippery, windswept and unforgiving.

At the start line, runners showed little hesitation. Despite fears of a high number of withdrawals, most athletes were keen to face whatever the Moor had in store. Confidence, however, was tempered with respect — nowhere more evident than on the opening climb, where the infamous Meldon Hill became a mud-slicked ski slope that halted any hopes of elegance or speed.

Rain fell without pause throughout the day. While there were inevitable retirements, numbers were lower than expected, and what surprised organisers most was the sheer joy etched across the faces of those who emerged from the mire to cross the finish line. For lovers of “type two fun”, it was a day to savour.

Times were generally slower than in previous editions, but at the sharp end of the field, performances bordered on extraordinary.

The standout performance came from Matteo Codacci-Pisanelli, who stormed to victory in 4:12:22, setting a new course record for the Midwinter Marathon — an astonishing achievement in such conditions.

Ryan Brown claimed second place in 4:22:42, cutting a distinctive figure in his bright orange bucket hat, while Roland Hunter of Chagford Runners took third in 4:32:11, relishing terrain that many consider his natural playground.

In the women’s race, Elizabeth Dyson (Haldon Trail Runners) underlined her consistency with a commanding win in 5:22:57, ahead of Rachel Bower (Chagford Runners) in 6:27:22, and Alison Weal (OuterEdge Trail Runners), who completed the podium in 6:48:08.

The Half Marathon was won by Wes Frewin in 2:09:05, repeating his success from the inaugural event in 2024. He was closely pursued by Joseph Cooke in 2:10:54, with Cosimo Codacci-Pisanelli finishing third in 2:14:06, narrowly missing a family double at the top.

Among the women, Fleur Dodwell delivered another impressive OuterEdge victory in 2:24:12, followed by Kate Marriott in 2:54:22 and Karine Gallais-Montgomery in 2:57:22, all thriving in conditions that would deter most runners.

Gratitude was also extended to the tireless OuterEdge crew, whose enthusiasm kept the event running smoothly despite the elements, along with Peninsula Medical, GeoTracks and Prosper Events Timing for ensuring safety and precision throughout a memorable, mud-soaked day on the Moor.