RNLI REINDEER RUN – WEST YORKSHIRE
7 December 2014
Situated at the home of Leeds Festival, Bramham Park will host the final leg of the RNLI’s Reindeer Run for 2014. There are three runs of 1k, 5k and 10k and all are done to help Rookie the Reindeer save lives at sea. The 1k ‘Santa Saunter’ run is open for children, who are accompanied by adults of course, and kids will run for a fee of £8. It is £16 to enter the 5k run and £18 to enter the 10k run. The 5k run kicks off proceedings at 10:30 am, followed by the ‘Santa Saunter at 10:45am and the 10k run kicking off last at 11am. Runners will then run through the picturesque grounds of this 18th century country house. The track is relatively flat so a PB is more than achievable. Refreshments are available afterwards and visitors are advised to follow the Reindeer Run signage rather than the brown tourist signs for Bramham Park, otherwise you will get lost. There are also no changing rooms, so wear your kit to the venue.
www.rnli.org/reindeer
EDINBURGH CHRISTMAS 5K – EDINBURGH
7 December 2014
The Edinburgh Christmas 5k is located in Inverleith Park, a large green open space just north of the busy city centre of Scotland’s capital. The course is 85% flat and runs alongside the Water of Leith for 1k of the distance. Entry fee is £20 but there are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd best male and female runners, while all runners will receive a medal and goody bag once arriving at the finish. Changing facilities and baggage storage are available and there will be live entertainment, refreshments and a Santa’s Grotto with Reindeer. Although the race is on Sunday, festivities begin on the Saturday and will run through the whole weekend all in the name of charity, so take the family along to visit.
www.christmascharityfestival.com
FESTIVE FUN AT DELAMERE FOREST – CHESHIRE
13 December 2014
This is Round 2 of the Petzl Night Runner series and has over 600 entrants from all over the northwest of England and north of Wales itching to have a go at the challenging course Delamere Forest has to offer. Entry is £20 for adults but kids go free and can run in the Trail Kidz 1k event at 6:30pm before the main event at 7pm, a testing 10k trail course through the idyllic scenes of the Forest. The festive feeling will be present too, with Santa Claus on marshalling duty, popping up at various locations around the circuit and there will be fairy lights and decorations to guide runners toward the finish line. Delamere Forest is perfectly located in the triangle between Chester, Liverpool and Manchester.
www.thenightrunner.com
AVON VALLEY SANTA DASH – SOMERSET
21 December 2014
Be prepared to get wet and muddy as you trudge through the 10k or 5k courses in Avon Valley Country Park. The park is easy to find, located between Bristol and Bath and not far from the M4 and M5 motorways. Kids under 5 go free, with kids aged 5 to 11 costing £7; the adult entry fee is £11. Online entries close on the 18th but organisers will accept a limited amount of ‘pay on the day’ entries and this will come at a charge of an extra £2. Everyone will receive a Santa suit on the day with the 10k race starting at 11am and the 5k following 10 minutes later. Once they’re all done the adults can cheer on their little Santa’s in the 50m, 200m and 500m dashes for children as they race against Felix the Fox. Hot and cold food and drinks will be available as will access to all the country park’s facilities, all donations on the day will be forwarded to Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
www.aspirerunningevents.co.uk
THE GUT BUSTER 10K & 10 MILE – BERKSHIRE
28 December 2014
What better way to run off those Christmas calories than the self-acclaimed ‘Gut Buster’ run, now in its fourth year of participation. Runners will twist and turn through the hills and fields of the Berkshire countryside and multi-terrain course. Entry is £18 for the 10k race and £23 for the 10-miler. The event has become so popular in recent years organisers have had to use an overflow car park and shuttle service to the start at Butler’s Land Farm. In order to keep with the festive feeling, mince pies and mulled wine will be waiting for all runners at the finish line along with other refreshments and prizes! Organisers haven’t stopped there as they have also negotiated rooms with a local hotel for any runners wishing to stay the night previous. The farm is not far off of the A33 between Reading and Basingstoke.
www.thegutbuster.co.uk
RUN ETON DORNEY – BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
3 January 2015
Run Eton Dorney is a perfect way to kick off your new years resolutions or be ideal preparation for any upcoming running events that’ll test you. Its smooth, flat lakeside paths will be a welcome relief to any incline-haters or any new runners. Located near Windsor and at the site that has hosted the rowing for the London 2012 Olympics and two Rowing World Cups and will certainly make runners a part of the Olympic legacy and spirit that has lived on from the Games. The January event will be the first of its kind and Run Eton Dorney will then be held on the first Saturday of every month until April. Distances available are 5k, 10k and 20k road races giving runners a chance to build on their lengths and give a sense of progression as the months go by. Prices are £16 for the 5k, £18 for 10k and £22 for the 20k race.
www.votwo.co.uk
