About us

Sandbach Striders was born back in 2003. Since the early days, membership has grown with a firm ethos of the club being not just about running but social activities as well. The club is affiliated to UK AAA and has its own qualified coaches. Many other special events take place on various nights too.

The club meets on Wednesdays at 18:30 and Sundays at 09:00 at Elworth Cricket Club.

Whilst many members compete in races from 5k to Marathons, the emphasis remains purely on keeping people motivated and having fun. Why not scan through our race reports to see what we’ve been up to? Having read them, you’re sure to see why Sandbach Striders has developed the motto of being

"No Ordinary Running Club!"

Wednesday 29 October 2014

Race Report: Halloween Hellraiser 26/10/2014

The Halloween Hellraiser is organised by South Cheshire Harriers.  It is always good to support local races, and this year’s event was as enjoyable as ever.  
Frankentom emerges from the graveyard

The main event was preceded by a 1 mile fun run.  Adam had bought a skeleton costume, hoping to wear it for a school disco that never happened.  So he volunteered for the fun run, having to be accompanied by Amy.  As it turned out, Adam was so quick, Amy couldn’t keep up and had to cut her run short (cheat!) to stay anywhere near him.

The main event is an undulating 9 mile course, predominantly off road.  The race starts close to South Cheshire Harriers HQ at the Crewe Vagrants Sports & Social club near Willaston.  Although the start is on a quiet country lane, the course leads you quickly into open countryside.  We ran across fields (with occasional muddy patches in field entrances) and across stiles to eventually arrive at Wybunbury Church.  At this point there is a sharp climb, followed by descent on slippery stone steps.  
Heather was second lady home
This year I had decided to run in fancy dress, with a Frankenstein mask and remnants of my Medoc morris dancing costume (minus ribbons and straw hat!).  I had to remove the mast at this point because I couldn’t see where my feet were going.  Leaving the church grounds there was a lengthy run along the road (uphill), turning right to loop around fields and retracing our steps along the road back to the church.  The last 3 miles were across fields and horse paddocks, crossing back over the A500 to finish opposite the sports club.  It’s a very pretty course, very well marshalled with lots of encouragement (and sweets!) to keep you going.  I would thoroughly recommend this to anybody wanting to undertake an off-road event but reticent to attempt a fell run.
Tom on the approach to the finish
Heather Carter was 2nd lady home. I had a steady run (feeling rather off colour, and hoping my costume would cover up my lack of pace). Christiane Bunte was next home, followed by her daughter Sophie, who had come home for a restful weekend away from University, only to be suckered into a completing a Parkrun and cross country run!

 For further details, consult the website http://www.southcheshireharriers.org.uk/clubraces/hellraiser

 Tom

Posted by Sandbach Striders at 13:24