Search
shop

Red Bull Quicksand: How hard can it be?!

Red Bull Quicksand returns to Margate beach for 2019 - Chris Hovenden helps answer the question, how hard can one mile be?!
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Red Bull Quicksand returns to Margate beach for 2019. Chris Hovenden parted with his own hard-earned cash to race in the inaugural event last year in order to find out just how hard a mile can be.

Heart beating so hard all I can hear is the rapid pounding in my head, and gasping for breath, I have just reached the top of the fourth substantial and leg-sapping man-made sand dune … of the first lap on Margate beach and I wonder: “Can I manage to maintain this pace for another 800m…?”

Welcome to Red Bull Quicksand. This year’s edition is scheduled for 18 May 2019 and looks to be even more challenging that last year.

I have always been intrigued by Red Bull’s adventure races. A race on the same beach that I had the occasional pleasure of running on for pre-season football training 15 plus years ago, and with the tag-line “how hard can a mile be?”, was too good to miss.

On reflection, how hard can a mile be? Hard, very hard.

Photo Credit: Ian Corless / Red Bull Content Pool

Supposedly, when running on sand you expend 1.6 times more energy compared to running on a road surface. If you’d asked me immediately after completing the mile I’d have been convinced that was an overly conservative statistic.

In fact, I’d say that rather than running hard or easy, you simply just ‘go’ – it’s survival, not a decision to go fast or slow.

The 2018 course included trenches, rollers (undulations), and giant sand castles, in addition to the general difficulty of running through thick sand – and each mile consisted of two laps. Red Bull promises that the 2019 event will have bigger and tougher obstacles.

The 2018 event consisted of male and female fields with participants taking part in opening rounds where the top 50% of each wave progressed to the semi-finals, with the remainder having the ‘lucky’ opportunity to race in the repechage. In the semi-finals the top 25% made it into the final.

Importantly, depending on what round you got to you received a medal with a different colour ribbon – due to logistical failings on my part (but in my defence a slightly misleading sign was a contributing factor) I expect I was the only person to leave with a ‘final’ medal without actually racing in the final….

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnYjN3uBm9_/

Last year I spotted several triathletes taking part – including numerous members of Deal Tri.

If you also fancy adding some variety to your training and early season racing, entries for Red Bull Quicksand are now open and cost £30. There will be 750 entries available.

To secure a place, or to find out more information on the event please visit the Quicksand website.

Runners Take on Red Bull Quicksand, Margate, Kent Sept 2018 // Ian Corless / Red Bull Content Pool // AP-1WS4M3PC12111 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //
Photo: Ian Corless / Red Bull Content Pool
Written by
Chris Hovenden
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
Danielle Lewis (USA) takes the win in Lake Placid.
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025: Date, start time, how to watch and who’s racing
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...