Popular Races
Shaun Roberts
Striders race all over the country, indeed the world in some cases. Yet some races are particular favourites, and this page is intended to list them. Newcomers to the club might want to consider entering one or two of these, and members generally can use this page as a quick route to the relevant club's web page. A rough guide to the time of year the race is run is given, but you're best advised to check with the organising club for the definitive date, or else with Barry Cornelius' excellent website.
January:
- New Year 11K. Good way to start the year the way you mean to go on! Morpeth Harriers
- Run for Bob. Not actually a race, but a memorial run. North Shields Polytechnic Club
- Brass Monkey Half Marathon. Fast flat race - good chance of a PB if the weather's not too extreme. Knavesmire Harriers, York
February:
- Snake Lane 10M. Another fast flattish one. Pocklington Runners
March:
- Haweswater Half Marathon. Lovely route up to Mardale Head past Haweswater and back - quite a fast course, despite there being quite a hill to get over - twice. Eden Runners
- Dentdale Run. Fourteen and a bit mile scenic route - quite hard, though, as you climb to the finish in Dent village. Dentdale Run
April:
- Coniston 14 Road Race. Round the lake - lovely course, bit of a hill between 11 and 12 miles. Weather has been quite warm in recent years, building up quite a thirst for a pint of Bluebird in the Sun Inn. Coniston 14 Road Race
- London Marathon. Nuff said. London Marathon
- Redcar Half Marathon. Fast and flat, though often windy. Tees Valley Leisure
- Blyth Valley 10K. Nice run on public footpath and cycle ways. Blyth Running Club
- Hamsterley Wild Race. One of the shorter Wild Races, round Hamsterley Forest. All Terrain Events
May:
- Keswick Half Marathon. Gorgeous route round Derwentwater - quite a hard one though. Keswick Rugby Club
- Ripon 10M. "Four hills plus a few bumps" according to Dave - includes a deer park and Fountains Abbey. Ripon Runners
- Bowderdale Wild Race. The longest Wild Race at ten hilly miles and quite demanding, with 2,000 feet of climb. All Terrain Events
- Snods Edge 6. Invitation event from Blackhill Bounders - nice country route, great supper afterwards. Blackhill Bounders
- Pier-to-Pier. One of the most popular Striders events - seven miles down the coast from South Shields to Sunderland. Great race. Sunderland Strollers
- Les Allcorn 10K. Evening run round Hulne Park in Alnwick. Alnwick Harriers
- Whitley Bay 10K. Fast two-lap course - good chance of a PB if the wind keeps off. North Shields Polytechnic Club
- Raby Castle 10K. Another very popular race - two laps round the Raby Castle Estate - surprisingly hilly. Also 5K Fun Run for your wife/ husband/ partner/ sprogs/ live-in companion/ lover/ strange bloke you pulled the night before. Teesdale AC
- Druridge Bay 10K. New race that sounds good - free massage! Red Row Sports Club
June:
- Watergate (Lobley Hill) 10K. Mandy and Louise recommend this one, even in the rain. Low Fell RC
- Blaydon Race. Classic road race between Newcastle and Blaydon. Scenic, it ain't, but there's always a great atmosphere. Getting hard to get an entry these days ... Blaydon Race
- Swaledale Marathon. Shorter distance than a full marathon at 23 miles, but harder work as it's over the hills round Reeth. Great countryside, and not actually too knackering if you walk the uphills. Swaledale Outdoor Club
- Beamish Tram 10K. Try and beat the tram round the Beamish grounds. Derwentside AC
July:
- Pie & Peas 10K. Fast race with a downhill start from Ovington in Tynedale. Pie afterwards with, err, peas. Tynedale Harriers
- Court Inn Clamber. Our race! By invitation. Two laps of Houghall Woods. Food and drink afterwards in the Court Inn.
- Coastal Run. Very popular with Striders - great 14-mile route down the Northumberland Coast from Beadnell to Alnmouth. Alnwick Harriers
- Kielder Wild Race. Last of the Wild Races - can be a bit midgy, but quite straightforward route after an initial climb. All Terrain Events
August:
- Morpeth 10K. Evening two-lap course over undulating country roads. Morpeth Harriers
- Darlington 10K. Fast, flat two-lap course, starting and finishing in Darlo town centre - good PB potential, but the start can be a bit of a scrum. Darlington Borough Council
September:
- Jelly Tea Race 10M. Undulating point-to-point course from Hexham to Ovingham - can be fast with the wind behind you. Tynedale Harriers
- Sedgefield Serpentine 6.5M. Invitation race - off-road - popular. Sedgefield Harriers
October:
- Great North Run: Also nuff said. Great North Run
- Richmond Castle 10K. Rural, hilly route, ending up with a climb through the market square into the Castle grounds. Perhaps the most popular Strider race of the year - possibly something to do with the beer festival at the end. Swaledale Road Runners
- Hellhole 10K. New off-road race from Stanley on tracks and bicycle paths - very pleasant. Derwentside AC
November:
- Gibside Trail Run. Seven miles round the Gibside Estate - hills to climb at the start and 5 miles - lovely race. Blackhill Bounders
- Town Moor Memorial 10K. Two laps round Town Moor - potentially very fast. Heaton Harriers
- Brampton to Carlisle 10M. Slightly undulating, but pretty fast, east-to-west road race. Great in good weather! Border Harriers
December:
- Blyth Sands. Interesting handicap format, plus the chance to leap over the groynes. Blyth Running Club
- Calderdale Relays. Fifty miles over six legs, run in pairs. Dave Shipman will be in touch! Halifax Harriers
- Jolly Holly Jog. Festive multi-terrain end of year six-miler. Ripon Runners
