This delayed event took place on Sunday 25th March after being postponed because of heavy snow on 4th March.
The event was organized really well by SBR and started at the beginning of the Tissington Trail in the car park of the Ashbourne Leisure centre. There was plenty of parking close by and the atmosphere between the runners was as friendly as ever.On the day it was a cool morning and although cloudy, the weather was dry!
Registration and bag drop off was really well organized and the facilities at the leisure centre were good enough to deal with the large numbers of runners and visitors that were waiting for the event to get underway. There were three different distances available for running: 5k,10k and 10 miles.
After a thorough briefing, at 9.20, the cannicross runners started their run, leading off into the distance and through the famous dark Ashbourne tunnel.
The 10 mile runners then set off in two waves, depending on average speeds. The support at the start was really good and the banter between runners was very friendly!
The route itself was very straight forward, following the Tissington Trail straight up the route of the old railway. Running was very firm underfoot and the marshals were really supportive along the whole distance. Because you were running between the trees and through the old railway cuttings, the route was really sheltered and pleasant to run along. There were occasional other cyclists and pedestrians enjoying the route but the path was wide enough for this not to be a problem.
The first 5 miles was all uphill – described as a ‘gentle incline’! It seemed more than ‘gentle’ to me but I run around Peterborough so a pedestrian bridge is the biggest incline I get to run up! At the half way point, where the views are fabulous, you simply return back along the same route but downhill.
There were regular water stations and support all the way along the route.
On finishing the run, we were awarded with gorgeous medals with the Ashbourne tunnel taking centre place in the design.
This run is an event for runners of all abilities and the race organisers (SBR) did a brilliant job. I would thoroughly recommend!
Heather Revell