Imagine entering a running event without knowing the route. Now remove your phone, GPS, watch, map and compass. Finally, put on a blindfold, climb aboard a bus and let somebody drive you to an undisclosed location.

Welcome to The Drop Chester.

Returning on Sunday 18 October, The Drop turns the conventional running event on its head. Instead of following arrows towards a finish, participants begin by surrendering their electronic devices and navigation aids at the event centre at Up & Running in Chester.

They are then transported under blackout conditions to an unknown location. Once the blindfold comes off, the clock starts and there is just one objective: find the way back to Chester on foot.

There are 6, 10 and 15 mile challenges, although those figures come with an important warning. They represent the straight line distance from the drop point to the finish. The route actually travelled could be considerably longer, particularly if an early decision sends a runner in completely the wrong direction.

The 15 mile option is the original and toughest Drop, while the 10 mile version applies the same restrictions over a shorter distance. The Drop 6 has an additional twist. It is reserved for participants without strong local knowledge, preventing familiarity with Chester and its surroundings from removing the uncertainty that defines the event.

There are no course markers because, quite literally, there is no course. Participants decide where to run, walk or turn and must resist the temptation to break the seal on their emergency equipment unless it is genuinely needed. Organisers carry GPS trackers for safety, but runners cannot use them for navigation.

Last year's Chester 15 mile event demonstrated just how differently the challenge can unfold, with the fastest finisher returning in 2:24:36 while others spent considerably longer finding their way home.

Most races test how quickly you can follow a route. The Drop asks a much more intriguing question: what happens when the route disappears altogether?

Entries are available now via the runABC race hub.

Image courtesy Organic Adventure.