Bleasdale Circle by VÅGA
Fell racing, arguably the purest form of running. A pursuit steeped in history, camaraderie, and raw talent.
For VÅGA, it is also where everything began.
Long before VÅGA became a brand worn around the world, it was mud on shoes, wind in the face, and a start line scratched into the side of a hill. Early mornings.
Rough weather. The quiet understanding between runners who know the mountains never give anything away for free.
That is where this brand was shaped.
So when the opportunity came to host the Bleasdale Circle Fell Race, it was never about creating a campaign. It was about staying connected to the sport and the community that helped build VÅGA in the first place.
Because fell running is kept alive by the people around it. The volunteers standing out in the cold. The clubs and local races that form the backbone of the sport. The small start lines that mean everything to the runners who stand on them.
Supporting an event like Bleasdale felt like the right way to give something back.
The 2026 Bleasdale Circle delivered proper fell running conditions. A five mile route across wet fields, steep climbs, and technical snowy descents. The wind chill dropped to -8 on the tops, and the ground demanded respect from the very first step.
It may only be five miles on paper, but the course is relentless. Every climb tests the legs. Every descent demands focus. Those who stood on the start line delivered a gladiatorial effort, pushing through snow, mud, and biting wind to make their way around the course.
Yet the race itself is only a fraction of what makes a fell race special.
Runners returned to the parish hall muddy and exhausted, but that is when the atmosphere really began. Stories from the hill travelled around the room as competitors who had just battled each other on the course now stood side by side.
Laughter filled the hall. Cups of sweet tea were poured. Cakes disappeared quickly. Then the results were read out.
The depth of talent in fell running never fails to impress. Remarkable times are matched only by remarkable stories, and the ages of those who make it around the course are often just as impressive as the performances themselves. It is a celebration of every runner who takes on the hill.
VÅGA was never built in a boardroom. It grew from the same ridgelines, rough weather, and stubborn determination that define fell running itself. From the climbs where the only thing pushing you forward is a love for the sport and a refusal to stop.
The fell running community shaped what VÅGA is today, and events like the Bleasdale Circle are a reminder of where it all started.
That is a wrap on the 2026 Bleasdale Circle Fell Race by VÅGA.
A huge thank you to all the runners, the volunteers, and Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team for keeping everyone safe on the hill. It was an honour to be part of it.
See you next year.