Distance: 16km (9.9 miles)
Ascent: 518m (1,699 ft)
Race HQ: The Diggle Hotel, Station Houses, Diggle, Oldham OL3 5JZ
Cost: £8 (FRA member), £10 (non member) - pre-entries via SiEntries when opened. Entry on the day with £2 premium if race not full
Entry Limit: 300
Start Time: 11.00am (10.15am early start available - only start early if you will take over 1 hour 50 minutes, so that the first over the line is the winner)
An interesting moorland course with as much cake as you like to eat at the end. Who could ask for more?
There will be a cut-off point where a runner reaches the downward steps besides Butterley Reservoir at Marsden. If a runner has not passed this point 1.5 hours from the start of the race then at the discretion of the Marshall (and sweepers) the runner may be requested to retire from the race. This is for safety reasons.
The first mile or so is up hill onto the moors, which is very runnable, we call the path boat lane, since it was build to take the horses from the canal barges over the hills. Once up on the Moors you take the flagged path to Brun Cough Reservoir. The course is fast at this point, although care is needed as the flagstones can be slippy. The route splits the reservoirs at Wessenden Head and turns down toward Marsden where you can run fast down towards Marsden. The hardest part is yet to come as runners meet a long flight of stone steps that sweeps them down the side of the dam only to return them up a similar flight on the other side! Save a bit of energy for the climb back up onto the Moors, against the prevailing wind, you will be rewarded with stunning views across Marsden Moor.
The track brings runners back to the top of Boat Lane and a good long run into the finish where cakes and tea await all finishers.
Please visit the race homepage below for full information, including kit requirements and the cake competition.
Pre entry via SiEntries – entry not yet live – will update when available.
Entry on the day available subject to race not being full.
