What is
survivalrun?

What you do

You run a largely unpaved course and encounter natural obstacles (culverts, ditches, trees) and built obstacles (beams, nets, ropes, peg ladders). Sometimes activities like archery, log-splitting or kayaking are part of the race.

Survivalrun is not an obstacle course race, not scouting and not bushcraft: it is a recognised sport with regulations, standings and its own federation. SBN is explicit about this: the technical skills and sporting approach set survivalrun apart from recreational activities.

Recreational or competitive

At most events you can choose: as a recreational runner (no licence) or as a competitive runner (with a licence). Recreational runners often run the same or a lighter version of the course; time is recorded but there is no SBN standings. Recreational distance: often from ~4 km upwards.

Between recreational and licensed racing sits Basis Survivalrun (BSR): an entry-level standings category without an active licence requirement. Ideal for anyone making the step from recreational to competitive running.

More about the categories: JSR, BSR, KSR, MSR and LSRlink

Honest difficulty

SBN tracks the average finishing time of the first ten participants who complete the course according to the rules (with wristband) per category. Race organisers align their course to this target time so that races within the same standings are comparable.

BSR and JSR 10-11 have no target time. Distances and times can change per season.

Where it began

The sport began in the 1980s in the Achterhoek village of Beltrum. In sporting culture Beltrum is still known as a tough LSR: long, technical obstacles and combinations, often in poor weather: an honourable reputation. In 1991 Survivalrun Bond Nederland was founded. Today the sport has more than 17,000 members.