Race Date: Sunday 4th May 2025
Race Report by: Jamie Manton

As race preparation goes, this particular day couldn’t have got off to much more of a worse start as I rolled over in bed and glanced at my phone to see the time was 08:56. I’d slept through my alarm – very unlike me – I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell you the last time I did that. Jumping out of bed and chucking on some race kit, I ran downstairs and wolfed down some granola and yoghurt – my go to pre-race meal! Thankfully, I’d already prepared my kit the night before so I was able to exit the house pretty sharpish and get in the car for the 20 min drive to the start line. The fact it was a Sunday morning and therefore limited traffic on the road was to my advantage as I was able to park up on a nearby street and make it to race HQ in time to pick up my race number and then walk across to the start line with all the other runners ready for the mass start at 10. Unfortunately however, I did miss the traditional pre-race Striders photo.

RunGreno began in 2023 and seems to grow more popular with each year since. Entries for the 11km (7.3 mile) trail race/fun run opened at the end of December last year and sold out in less than 4 weeks. You had to be quick to get a place. 350 runners signed up to take on the 270 metres (900ft) of elevation this year – an advance on the 214 who crossed the finish line in last year’s edition. It’s a race that is incredibly challenging in places, but one I would highly recommend in equal measure.

Beginning in Greno Wood and carrying on through Wheata Wood and eventually Wharncliffe Woods, it feels like you are going uphill on undulating terrain for the first 3 or 4km. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t stop to walk during these early stages. More than once! In hindsight, perhaps entering the Dronfield 10k the previous Sunday followed by the SYCAA race out at Worsborough in midweek and now this wasn’t the most sensible thing I’ve done.

Eventually, the route begins to plateau in terms of elevation and rocky, muddy trail gives way to tarmac paths. Albeit briefly. Watch out for the panicked sheep crossing these paths from one field into another by the way! We’re then treated to a little bit of downhill before more climbing around 7-8km in, up through Wharncliffe and back into the woods.

After descending down into Grenoside village, the race ends not far from where it begins. At race HQ with an anti-clockwise lap of the playing fields at the front of the community centre. Anybody familiar with the Greno Chase that usually takes place later on in the year will recognise this as being the same finish point.

32 Striders completed the race, an increase on the 23 of us that took part in the sweltering heat of last year’s event. This may (or may not) have something to do with the fact it’s been included as one of the club’s trail championship events this year.

Striders very own Rob Byers set a new course record and won the event in an impressive time of 44.14. For the second year running, the fastest female was Bridget Coomber of Denby Dale AC in 56:25 with Striders Kathryn Liddiard coming a close second. It proved to be a successful day for Striders as Caroline Greenhough finished first in her category (F50), Nicky Rafferty scooped 1st place in the F60 category, Jed Turner finished 1st in the M60 category and Nicole Nield was the first F70 to cross the line. I, myself managed to knock almost 9 minutes off of last year’s time which I was more than happy with.

Striders results: