Road Championship 2026

Our 2026 Road Championship is open to all first claim members of Steel City Striders.

The race calendar includes 12 open races, of which you need to run at least 5. For each race, you’ll score points based on how your time compares to the first-placed runner of the same sex: 100 points x (winning time / your time). So for example, if the winner takes 60 minutes and you take 75, you’ll score 100 x (60 / 75) = 80 points. A slower runner who took 80 minutes would score 100 x (60 / 80) = 75 points. At the end of the season, your total score will be your best five race scores added together.

This is considered a whole-club event, so all members who run a listed race are automatically included: to take part, just enter the races of your choice in the normal way, there’s no separate registration process. When you enter races, please remember to give your club as “Steel City Striders” if given the option, as that makes our admin much easier. If you join the club part-way through the year, you can score points from the day you join onwards.

Prizes will be awarded to the male and female winners and runners-up in senior, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+ age categories. Your age category is determined by your age on January 1st at the start of the year. So if, for example, you were 49 on January 1st and turned 50 on January 2nd, you’ll compete in the 40-49 age category until next year. You must complete at least 5 races to be eligible for a prize.

We will also award a prize to the runner with the best age-graded score from any five championship races, using WMA age-grading standards. This compares runners’ times to the world record for their age and sex, allowing all runners, younger and older, male and female, to compete with each other on a fair basis.

Our Championship calendar includes our most popular local events, some scenic challenges for hill-lovers, and a couple of fast courses where PBs and club records will hopefully fall. See below for a full list of fixtures and when we expect the races to take place (but note that race dates may change!).

If you run a road marathon that appears on Power of 10 before the final race of the series, that will score you points too, but the calculation will be based on how your time compares to the best by a Strider throughout the year, not the winning time in your particular race.

Road Championship Race List 2026

  1. Dewsbury 10k (February 1st)
  2. Wombwell 5 Mile (February 15th)
  3. North Lincolnshire Half Marathon (March 1st)
  4. Sheffield Half Marathon (March 29th)
  5. Dronfield 10k (April 19th)
  6. Eyam Half Marathon (May 17th)
  7. Loxley Lash 5k – race 3 only (date TBC)
  8. Barlow Carnival not quite 10k (July 10th)
  9. Sheffield 10k (September 27th)
  10. Worksop Half Marathon (date TBC)
  11. Derby 10 Mile (November 15th)
  12. Doncaster 10k (November 29th)
  13. + any road marathon that appears on Power of 10 before the final race

Remember that this is a menu, not a schedule: there’s no expectation that anyone will do all of the races! The idea of having 12 races spread throughout the year, of which your best 5 count, is that you can skip the races that you don’t fancy or which don’t fit your schedule. The aim is to offer enough options that anyone who wants to take part can find 5 that work for them, even though we all look for different things when choosing races.

Throughout the season, the latest standings will be available in The Spreadsheet.