The Route

September 6, 2010

The course is a single circuit, all on road, starting and finishing in the village of Keyworth passing through the undulating (up and down!) rural scenery and villages of the South Nottinghamshire Wolds. The course is considered to be both challenging and rewarding, and being a little hilly, is well suited to being run in December. An independent write-up of the race can be found here.

The mens’ course record, set in 2008 is 67 minutes and 39 seconds, and is held by Tim Hartley. The ladies’ record, held by Nicola Clay of Stilton Striders is 77 minutes and 58 seconds. A full record listing is available.

The race commences at 10.15 am from South Wolds School. From there runners will head out east along Church Drive, then turn south along Wolds Drive, passing Rutherford’s Budgens (who are kindly providing the Turkeys this year), the various other shops of The Parade and Keyworth Tavern public house on the left. At the end of gentle climb up Wolds Drive, runners will turn west onto Selby Lane, passing the Village Hall, Centenary Lounge and Parochial Hall on the right, and then The Plough public house and Methodist Church on the left. Reaching Keyworth Village Square, runners will be guided onto Bunny Lane, passing the Shops and Village Amities of the Square on the left, and the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene on the right, noted for its short spire. Once on Bunny Lane, runners will run in a westerly direction, downhill, passing the boundary of the village at around the 1 mile point in the race.At the end of Bunny Lane, runners will turn south onto Wysall Road heading towards the village of Wysall, passing the 2, 3 and 4 mile points before reaching the village itself. This, the most challenging, (up and downhill, a number of times!!!!), section of the race, starts when runners pass a signpost indicating a road to the west/right heading to Bunny, a little after the 2 1/2 mile mark.

Having survived the hills, runners will reach Wysall, and turn right onto Main Street, passing The Plough public house on the left, and then turn left. Runners will now find they are heading east, on Widmerpool Road and will shortly be able to take advantage of the first drinks station. A little after the drinks station, the runners will turn south east onto West Thorpe/Hades Lane passing the 5 and 6 mile points, heading for Willoughby-on-the-Wolds.

At Willoughby runners turn left onto the A6006, Back Lane, for an uphill run, passing the 7 mile mark. Runners then turn left, onto Main Street, were they will find our second drink staion. Runners will then pass the site of the former Three Horse Shoes public house on the left, after the road has veered left, and finally turn right on to Widmerpool Lane, heading north for Widmerpool.

Runners soon pass the 8 mile mark, and continue north to the 9 mile mark, by which point the road has become Willoughby Road. Running downhill into Widmerpool, runners will be relieved to find the third drinks station, and will be guided northwest to Station Road, a notably flat section of the race.

Here runners will pass the 10 mile mark, and subsequently turn left, in a north westerly direction onto Thurlby Lane (uphill initially, and then again after a while, be warned!!!!). Runners will pass the 11 mile point, were the course thankfully becomes flat, and continue into the village of Stanton-on-the-Wolds, passing the 12 mile mark, by which time the route is starting to go downhill.

The road becomes Stanton Lane, and continues heading downhill, and then the road becomes Nicker Hill. Runners will turn left, seeing the British Geological Survey (BGS) on the right, having had a long downhill run, and then head along Wolds Drive, which is uphill at the beginning, right onto Walton Drive, gently uphill again and finally left onto Church Drive heading towards the FINISH LINE.

Last updated: September 21, 2010

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