By: Karen Clark  

Race Date: Sunday, 21st September 2025   

Location: Almondbury, West Yorkshire   

This race, hosted by Almondbury Striders is a free event. Participants are allocated a place by making a request to the club.

Race day was Sunday 21st September. It was a warm day for late September.

I left home at 7:40, which should have allowed time for travel, parking, number collection and a warm up. The race was scheduled to start at 9:30.

The journey didn’t go to plan. I encountered slow moving farm vehicles, a road closure and a detour on a single-track road, which delayed the journey by 20 minutes.

It was 9:25, when I arrived at the location. I was directed to the cricket pavilion, where parking was available and race numbers were being allocated. Unfortunately, as I reached the entrance to the cricket pavilion, a marshal calmly asked me to find a safe parking space on the local housing estate, as the car park was full and then report to the registration desk, where I would be allocated a number.

I was able to park about ½ mile away. I changed into my running shoes and jogged back to the cricket grounds. A marshal said that the race had started but I could register and then join the race.

As I approached the registration desk, the Race Director said, ‘I can’t let you start. The race went off 10 minutes ago!’

Time to be assertive.

Me: ‘I’d like to run the route. I’ve driven a long way to take part!’

Race Director: ‘Well you can’t win a prize!’

Me: ‘I’m not expecting to win any prizes. I’d just like to take part in the race’.

Race Director: ‘Do you know the course?’

Me: ‘No. I haven’t been here before. Are there Marshals at key points?’

Race Director: ‘You’re going to struggle! We’ll be standing the Marshals down, when the last runner is through’.

Race Volunteer: ‘We’ve got a whatsapp group. I’ll let them know and then I’ll sort this lady out with a number’.

Result!

I was issued with a race number. The Race Director set me off manually.

I set off from the cricket grounds, taking a left turn at the end of the drive, for a gentle uphill climb to the corner, where I had noticed a marshal as I drove to the Race Headquarters. It did feel scary, as there were no other runners in sight. As I reached the corner, I checked where I was heading next. It was straight down the high street, where there was another marshal, outside the Co-op.

As I reached the Co-op, I stopped briefly to ask for directions. The marshal said, ‘follow the road, it bends to the right’. I was assured that I would see another marshal, part way up the road.

I continued as directed. I was able to spot the hi-viz in the distance. The marshal was based at a road crossing.

As I crossed the marshal said he would follow me in his car, as I didn’t know the route. I was asked to cross over the road onto the footpath and continue up the road, where the next marshal was standing over the brow of the hill, as the course takes a left turn.

I made my way to the next marshal and after crossing back over the main road, I was told to continue along a narrow country lane. I noticed the 3k marker. This was encouraging, knowing that I had kept on course for 30% of the route. There were a few supporters out, as I ran through a small hamlet. This was encouraging.

The next section of the course was picturesque with beautiful views on a downhill section. I could hear the car following, at a distance, which was reassuring.

I could see another hi-viz ahead. The next marshal was positioned at the corner where the road turned for a steep uphill climb. I could see another runner ahead.

I managed to catch up with the other runner, just before the 5K marker. The water station was still available. I stopped to take a cup of water, as it was quite a warm day. There was no need to rush!

I could see another 3 runners ahead and other runners returning on the other side of the road, indicating that there was either an out and back section or a loop. I noticed the 7K marker, at the other side of the road, where it forked, heading uphill.

I continued, following the other 3 runners. The course looped round, incorporating a steep ascent, followed by a gentle incline before descending downhill doubling back to the start of the loop. The car driver pulled up next to me, at this point, saying that he could leave me now, as I had caught up and would find my way round the rest of the course.

I carried on heading back past the water station. At this point, I had passed several other runners, who were making their way around the course, at a modest pace. At the top of the hill, there were no other runners or a marshal in sight. I didn’t know whether to turn right or left. All I could do was wait for the next runner to catch up. The route turned right and right again. I continued on and on the second right turn, I could see 3 or 4 runners towards the top of the hill.

As I reached the top, I recognised the high street and I was able to navigate my way back to the cricket pavilion.

As I ran towards the finish line, the Race Director made an announcement. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, can we have an applause for this lady from Steel City Striders in Sheffield. She started 20 minutes after everyone else’.

There was a round of applause. I was handed a medal. Several marshals and spectators wanted to talk to the woman from Sheffield, who had started the race after everyone else.

More people wanted to talk to me, than the runners who had podium places.

I was still there talking to people, when the prizes were presented.

After the presentation, the Race Director announced that they had a few spot prizes.

The first spot prize was to the lady from Steel City Striders, who started the race 20 minutes after everyone else. I was given a bottle of prosecco. The Race Director jokingly said, ‘Next year, leave home an hour earlier!’

The course was pretty. The marshals were supportive on route and back at base. It was a lovely community atmosphere. There was no cost to participate. Free parking and a bottle of prosecco. What’s not to like?

The race was won by Richard Cottam (Penistone) in 00:36:21 and Sofie Armitage (Almodberry Striders) in 00:45:43 .

 Strider’s Result: