REPORT BY RACHEL HOWARD
10th August 2025
A slightly cooler morning than expected, which was a welcome relief. Child 2 came to cheer me on, who am I kidding, she came because we were then going on to Grandma’s and nothing beats Grandma’s lasagna.
We started with a quick lap around the cricket pitch to warm up and then boom, one a half mile up hill. First mile was on the road, before heading off onto a track for the remaining climb. It was undulated on the top, over fields, on tracks and footpaths. Before heading back down the steep hill over fields to the village and cricket pitch.
This series only normally provides water at the end of races. The host club decided to provide on route due to the forecast. The drinks station was before we reached the top of the course, perfectly positioned as we looped back that way and passed it again, just before the last downhill section.
You enter the cricket pitch through a gap in the wall for the final 200m to the finish line. 5.4 miles in total, with 891ft ascent.
I’m pretty good at downhill running and I managed to overtake a handful of runners on the descent. The last one I overtook was not far behind me as we entered the cricket pitch. I heard him speed up as we rounded the corner and a spectator said “Oh come on, be a gent” But no, why would I want him to do that! I looked at him & laugh, then we both set off at full pace. We crossed the line together and the results have us on the same time too, gutted there isn’t any photo’s of the finish line.
I finished 11th Female and 6th in age, 2 minutes slower than last year. There are a number of reasons for the time difference, the main reason for this is lack of rest. I’m not competing for the series anymore as I missed a race due to illness. The remaining races are my favourite venues, with the best routes and views. I will still be flying the flag for Stocksbridge and enjoying my running.
