Race date: 17 November 2022

Race distance: 5 miles

Report by Matt Broadhead

The Hathersage Night Race starts in Hathersage, ends in Hathersage and takes a route that is a total mystery to most of those running it because it’s made up of darkness and fog. We are obliged to trust in the map, and the description on the organiser’s website, which states that it passes through “The Warren” and “The Plantation”, then no doubt second to the right and straight on till morning, before a brief burst of familiarity at Stanage Edge and through the labyrinth to the castle beyond the Goblin City, down through a greasy, slidey field and along a lane to the finish.

This year’s race followed a fair bit of rain, and to climb to the edge runners had to fight against both the gradient and torrents of water, before leaping from rock to rock across the top. The many marshals did a fine job of making sure competitors didn’t disappear in the dark, and the course was very well marked. For those of us not at the front of the field at least, the darkness and bleakness brings out a great sense of camaraderie, and it’s one of the most talkative races in the calendar. The final long descent, keeping your footing across pasture and then belting hell for leather down a narrow road before the finish appears out of nowhere, gives you a great rush of endorphins at the end. Recommended.

The race was won by Samuel Moakes (Sutton in Ashfield Harriers & AC) in 33:35, and by former Strider Jennie Stevens of Dark Peak, whose 49:45 put her comfortably ahead of most-famous-person-in-the-race (and post-race speaker) Sabrina Verjee, who was third woman in 51:29. 110 braved the murk, among them five Striders.

Striders results