Race Date: Monday 8th April 2025

Yasmine Chaffer reports.

As with any good weekday evening plan, our decision to enter this race started with a “Does anyone fancy this?” message in the group chat with a link to a rather cryptic Instagram post describing a five lap race around Bramall Lane stadium to be crowned “The Fastest In The City”. As a group of people who just like having something to do we duly signed up only for the person who suggested it to realise they couldn’t actually make it. Oh well, a 5k race on a Monday night for no real reason at all five days before nearly all involved are down to run at the National Road Relays…sensible, as always.

Hosted by 84 John St, competitors could get changed/use the facilities at their HQ just around the corner from the race at the Stag Works. The format was simple, pay £6 to run 5.5 laps on the pavements around the stadium. Top six men and top six women from three heats to qualify for a final at Wembley against the winners from other cities. A very welcome bonus was a chance to try on ASICS Metaspeed shoes for the race. These received very positive feedback from everyone who tried them although taking 23 very tight corners in super shoes you haven’t used before was challenging at times. The race had chip timing with instant results displayed on a screen in the car park.

The course itself was actually surprisingly favourable given the number of obstacles and members of the public in the way. Someone in the first heat fell over a bollard within the first ten meters of the race. A slight uphill on one side, with a more significant downhill on the opposite side, joined by two fairly flat slides. (Editor: Sounds like an Escher drawing.) Support was good around the course with a dedicated cheer station on Cherry Street where you would finally finish on your sixth lap.

I definitely don’t think I’m alone in saying I spent all day thinking that I really don’t want to go and run hard laps around Bramall Lane. It took every ounce of motivation I had after work to get out of the door but I think all attendees would agree that it ended up being a really enjoyable night. In the words of SJ “10/10 would do again!”.  It takes a bit of guts to put on a totally new racing event and having these people willing to try new things on a not for profit basis is essential for pushing the sport forwards. Big respect and thank you to the team at 84 John St for a fantastic night out with the running community and hopefully there will be more in the future!

The men’s race was won by Alfie Manthorpe (Hallam) in 15:14, and the women’s race was won by Nicola Curtis (OTCF) in 17:45. Good performances from Steel City with Annie Chambers in second place with 18:20 and Caroline Brock in 4th with 18:29. Both qualified for the final at Wembley and winning a t-shirt  although there was some debate as to whether wearing a t-shirt saying you are the second fastest in Sheffield is a flex (Editor: slang for boasting) or in fact quite the opposite. Also a PB for Ben Naisbitt of 16:22 who ended up in a very fast heat.