Race date: Friday, 12 July 2019

Race report by Catherine McKeown

“A 10k run on quiet country lanes in the breath-taking Derbyshire countryside. Over 190 runners took part this year, possibly our best turn out yet!”

Well you certainly get lots for your £6 entry fee.

After collecting numbers at the Hare & Hounds pub, we walked down the hill to the start which was on a residential road in downtown Barlow. Quickly we were meandering up country lanes that seemed to get narrower and then headed into a full on woods with mud, rocky bits and a climb that made me wonder would I be faster walking?

Then came a real treat at 2.5 miles, truly incredible views before a whopping drop where you can just let gravity take you down quiet country roads.

It’s fair to say this is a challenging route with big ups and big downs but the views up top stretching way beyond Chesterfield, (the spire looked dinky) are worth the effort.

After another long drop between 4 and 5 miles there is a sting in the tail; a steep climb up Commonside Road to the finish which is at the Hare & Hounds pub; there we received the best ever chip butties (free) which were of course topped off by a thirst quenching pint.

What I loved is the community spirit that really shines through, from the water stations – aka the boot of someone’s car strategically placed at the top of the woods, to the enthusiastic Marshals and local residents cheering us on. The pub staff wished us good luck before the race started and welcomed us back with loads of folk helping behind the bar to keep the drinks coming.

Good to see a clutch of Striders flying the Gold and Green and well done to Phil Skelton who took 2^nd place.

First place: Men – Phil Radford 32.43  Women – Phillipa Williams 35.26