RACE
SEPTEMBER 2019 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK 095WORDS: STEPHEN GLENNON. PHOT
OGRAPHS: ANDY MCCANDLISH
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4,500 races
by location,
terrain,
distance
and more.RACE
Stockport ‘Hatters’
Half Marathon
This race starts at Edgeley Park,
home of Stockport County FC,
and follows the River Mersey
westwards towards Northenden
before looping around and finishing
back in Edgeley. It begins and ends
on road but mostly follows paths
along the river. With a field of around
300, the Hatters is big enough to
have some atmosphere but small
enough to feel intimate. The race
aims to raise funds to help secure
the future of the club and to aid a
local charity for homeless and
disadvantaged people.
Stockport, Greater Manchester,
September 8, hattershalf.co.ukloss of life – about 8,000 soldiers –
at the battle and deaths later in
the invasion. The race itself is an
undulating but quick loop between
Battle and Catsfield.
Battle, East Sussex, September 1,
bbb10k.co.ukRichmond Runfest
Kew Gardens 10K
There are loads of UK races held in
stunning surroundings, but none quite
like this. While the marathon and half
marathon in this festival take place
mostly along the Thames, the 10K
never leaves the Royal Botanic
Gardens. This, your only chance to
run in Kew, allows you to plan your
postrace visits to attractions such as
the Treetop Walkway, the Palm House
and the newly refurbished Temperate
House. The fee for the race includes
entry to the gardens for two adults
and an unlimited number of kids, so
you can bring a platoon of children to
cheer you on and make a day of it.
London, September 14-15,
richmondrunfest.co.ukWATER FEATURESLlyn Alwen Trail Run 11.5K
The Alwen Reservoir is in north Wales
and is therefore incredibly beautiful,
but it’s east of Snowdonia and the
big hills that attract all the tourists.
This offroad event – on gravel, trails
and fire roads – circumnavigates
the reservoir and has fine views of
Denbigh Moors to the north. There’s
a canicross event, too.
Caernarfonshire, September 22,
bespokefitnessandevents.co.ukBirch Challenge
This course is a 3.3-mile loop of
Cannock Chase (heaven for birch
tree lovers) and runners can decide
how may laps they want to do. There’s
a six-hour cut-off, so a marathon (eight
laps) or half marathon (four) should
be doable for most, despite the hilly
terrain. There are no plastic cups,
so bring your own container.
Rugeley, Staffordshire, September 24,
bigbearevents.netRobin Hood 100
Channel your inner Kevin Costner
(with a more convincing accent, no
doubt) on this 100-mile ultra around
Sherwood Forest. Navigational skills
are not necessary – the route follows
a canal until it reaches the forest and
from there it’s well marked. Just keep
an eye out for stray arrows and that
dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham.
Cut-off time is 30 hours. The route
passes The Major Oak, a tree thought
to be between 800 and 1,000 years
old and where, legend has it, Robin
Hood and his merry men slept.
South Wheatley, Nottinghamshire,
September 14, hobopace.co.ukWhat’s the weirdest
thing that’s ever
happened to you
during a race?‘I saw a tortoise
walking down
the road during
the Manchester
Marathon and I’m
pleased to say I
passed it!’- Kathryn Purslow
‘Seeing a grim reaper
standing at the side
of the road during
my first London
Marathon. I panicked
slightly and had to
check that the guy
running next to me
had seen it too.’- Katie Bates
‘Someone high-
fiving the St John
ambulance helper
who was holding a
handful of Vaseline
at the time.
Quite messy.’- Peter Demick
SIGHTS FOR SORE THIGHSGlencoe Marathon
It might sound like a pity to do a marathon that only goes to the base of Ben
Nevis, but by the end of this, you’ll be glad that you don’t have to face any more
inclines. You’ll tackle the Devil’s Staircase, and the devil doesn’t lend his name to
things that are easy. The route then drops back to sea level before thrusting you
into the splendid Mamores group of mountains. There aren’t many marathons in
the UK with such a dramatic backdrop – here’s hoping the weather cooperates.
Glencoe, Highland, September 8, glencoemarathon.co.ukPeak District Challenge 2019
This event offers five distances:
10, 25, 50 and 75km races and a
100km event that includes a rather
terrifying 3,300m of ascent. Each
distance has a cut-off time, but the
one for the 10K is perhaps the most
interesting. It starts at 6:07pm, which
is precisely one hour before dusk.
The climbing starts after the two-
kilometre point and total ascent
in the 10K is 270m before you find
your way back to Hathersage, after
crossing a couple of rivers.
Hathersage, Derbyshire, September
20-21, peak-district-challenge.comTAKE A PEAK