Race Date: Sunday 9th March 2025
This iconic race taking in Cambridge land marks, combined with scenic countryside sells out faster than The Percy Pud.
Pre-event information was excellent. The organisers embrace inclusion and have a ‘Women’s inclusion policy’. This includes an option to book onto a zoom session ahead of race weekend for a briefing with opportunities to ask questions. The organisers have a Race Buddy Scheme and a walk-through event on the Saturday for women, who are not familiar with Cambridge and feel vulnerable. I didn’t need the support, so I didn’t book onto any of these sessions.
There was an option to take part in a social 5K shake out run, on the Saturday before the race, for those who wanted to participate. I did Milton Country Park Run with my daughter and we had other plans for the day, so I didn’t join the 5K shake out run.
The race starts on Midsummer Common. On the morning, several local venues were open for pre-race drinks. They were happy for runners to use their facilities.
The event village was well equipped with vendors providing hot drinks and facilities including female only toilets, with sanitary products available, in line with the women’s inclusion policy. Dedicated breast feeding and baby change areas were available to participants who needed the facilities.
As part of their commitment to inclusion, the organisers provided ‘Run Angels’. These roles are to provide support to runners in need of encouragement and run alongside them for a short time, if needed.
It was a very warm day for early March. Temperatures had already reached 18 degrees before the race started. Sun screen was recommended. I had pre-hydrated and taken on extra fluids, whilst waiting to enter the start pen.
The organisers were very strict on race etiquette. Runners were given strict instructions to stick to the roads and avoid jumping onto pavements or pushing others. The first couple of miles of the course has a few bottlenecks. Runners were asked to embrace the crowded sections and use this as recovery time.
The course runs through the historic streets of Cambridge, passing through college courtyards, including St John’s, Kings and Jesus Colleges. The courtyards, city streets and country roads are lined with spectators throughout, cheering and encouraging the runners, creating an amazing atmosphere.
As it was a very warm day for early March, the water stations were in demand. This led to queues at every aid station on the course. The volunteers manning the aid stations were working flat out. They couldn’t have done anymore. There were lengthy queues for toilets on route, due to runners taking on additional fluids.
I lost time queuing for water, but I would always prioritise safety over a PB. I waited for 4 minutes in a toilet queue, at mile 8. Again, this was down to the temperatures and participants following advice to drink enough fluids.
Despite these hiccups, it was an amazing event. All finishers were presented with a medal, goody bag and finishers t-shirt, unless they had opted to plant a tree, instead of taking a t-shirt. Post race massage was available, together with complimentary hot or cold drinks, from event partners.
I didn’t get a PB, but I enjoyed the event and finished safely. Next years’ place is booked.
One of the most memorable acts of kindness from the day, was meeting two little girls, who were sat on a wall, at one of the exits from Midsummer Common. As each runner came by, they greeted them with a ‘Well done’ and handed a slip of paper. Mine read ‘You did it!!! Wow! Incredible! Well Done’. This was a lovely gesture. I appreciated their kind thoughts and the time they had taken to prepare all of those hand written messages.
The day after the event, all runners received an email of apology from the organiser, as some participants had provided feedback about the queues at water stations and inadequate toilet facilities on the course route. They have embraced the feedback and have pledged to provide more volunteers and tables at each water station, in 2026 and more toilets on the course.
I don’t feel that the above issues were down to a lack of planning or preparation by the organisers. The temperatures on the day were atypical for early March. I doubt many of the faster runners would have stopped to take water at every water station, had it not been so hot.
The male race was won by Jonathan Escalante of Cambridge & Coleridge AC in 1.06.12. The female race was won by Sarah Potter (unattached) in 1.13.48
Striders Results:
