By: Brian Jenkins

Race Date: 2^nd July, 2025

Venue: Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Lap Distance: 5 KM

The proposition was a 5km course, mostly grass, part trail, part tarmac, oh, and 12 hours to run as many laps as you want / can.

The venue was Worksop College in Nottinghamshire, a place that would be familiar to everyone who has run the Worksop Half Marathon (it is on the return leg between Clumber Park and the half marathon finish).

The Big School Run starts (at 7:00 am), due to the early start student accommodation (termed as boarding, in light of the school theme) as well as a playing field for camping.

The race start is in front of the college building then goes past the aid station (which will provide snacks and drinks for the duration of the race). The course is flat and snakes around the college grounds and back to the start of the next lap.

With a 12 hour cut-off it is possible to take it leisurely and make full use of the delights of the aid station, the weather was ideal and the past heat of the summer had baked the ground hard, so mud was not to be found anywhere, and road shoes were more than adequate.

After calling it a day (running-wise) the 4 Striders in attendance retired to get scrubbed-up and ready ourselves for the race prizes presentation and evening meal (in the grand dining hall) followed by a disco, which was more appreciated by the children who had been supporting throughout the day than by those running (almost predictably), and a bar for the stiff-legged.

We returned to our accommodation to rest our legs, and returned home the next day

Amongst the Striders taking part, Robert Hoffmann was back for the second time and achieved a highly creditable 6^th place; two of us got race distance P.B.s.

It was a weekend of running with other like-minded individuals, with a race that is exactly what you want it to be (whatever that is). It is absolutely ideal for any runner who wants to run a bit further than they would ordinarily, and make a weekend of it.

The race was won by Giacomo Squinlani (Totley AC) who completed 23 laps (71.5 miles) in 11:54:45 and Hayley Wilson (of no identified club) who completed 20 laps (62.1 miles) in 11:22:25 .

Striders Results: