Matlock Athletic Club in conjunction with Peak Rail are pleased to announce the return of the popular Peak Rail 7, a race in which runners are challenged to beat the steam hauled heritage rail service from Peak Rail Rowsley South station to Matlock Riverside station and back, The special Peak Rail 7 service train will again be reserved solely for runners supporters and will follow the 56 minute Peak Rail Rowsley/Matlock/Rowsley schedule which includes stops in both directions at Darley Dale station together with a longer stop at the halfway point in Matlock Riverside station. The scenic 7 mile course will see the runners racing on the White Peak Loop extension of the Monsal Trail, which runs from Rowsley to Matlock The close proximity of the Peak Rail track to the trail will give supporters on the train a number of photograph opportunities and be able to cheer support as they pass. The course is almost exclusively off-road apart from a small section heading in to Matlock. and provides excellent walking and cycling opportunities for supporters who wish to be more active in following the race
The entry fees are £13 UKA affiliated/£15 unattached plus online booking fee. There is a limit of 250 runners so be sure to enter early to secure your place. All runners will receive a unique race memento, and a generous prize list will be on offer for male and female 1,2,3 overall along with male & female V40, 50 & 60+ categories plus 'Team versus Steam prizes. It is online entry only which opens when the following link goes live at 18.00 on 6th December 2019 through Bookitzone:
Supporters train tickets are discounted to £7.50 for adults, £5.50 for senior citizens & £3.50 for U16. The train has a capacity of 230 passengers and demand may exceed supply so train tickets need to be reserved in advance stating your ticket types to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., after securing your place in the event. Requests will initially be limited to 2 per runner. All rail tickets will require to be paid for on the morning of the race when race numbers are collected. The tickets will be valid for all day travel on Peak Rail, and runners can travel free later in the day on production of their race number. Peak Rail scheduled services between Rowsley and Matlock commence at 11.00am on Easter Monday and run throughout the day. For those in need of post-race refuelling Peak Rail offer a buffet service on board their scheduled services, and other food and refreshments can be purchased from the Northwood Buffet at Rowsley South station where there is also ample free car parking.
Please note that securing a race entry does not guarantee seats on the train as we only have 230 tickets to distribute. Requests for tain tickets should only be made after you have received confirmation of your race entry through Bookitzone
Minimum age is 16 on race day, and please note that in order to keep the race adjacent to the rail line for much of the route there will be 3 flights of steps that have to be negotiated (2 up, 1 down) so unfortunately the course is unsuitable for wheelchairs users. We are grateful to Derbyshire County Council and the Pedal Peak project for granting us access on to the trail and we advise all competitors that we will be sharing the trail with the other runners, cyclists and walkers and request you show courtesy and good manners at all times.
Peak Rail 7 - Runner versus Steamrace details:
Date : Easter Monday 13th April 2020, race commences 9.30am
Refunds & transfers: Unfortunately due to the small size of the race no refunds will be available unless in the event of a cancellation of the event Transfers allowed up to 10/04/2020
Supporters Train Tickets: By request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Initial applications limited to 2 per runner and payable on collection of your race number on race day
Just for the avoidance of doubt, Black Rocks Fell Race isn't going ahead this year. We had selected the date carefully to avoid a clash with the Euro 2020 semi-finals on 8 July. Oh the irony! We will hopefully be back bigger and better next year.
Keep running and keep safe.
MAC Bronco Challenge in aid of the Whitworth - 27 June 2020
Are you up for the Bronco Challenge in aid of the Whitworth Centre?
The Bronco Challenge is often used by rugby clubs to gauge the fitness of its players and is basically a test to see how fast you can do a series of shuttle runs (1.2 km in total). The video below gives an overview:
Beauden Barret of the All Blacks recently did it in a time of 4 min 12 seconds
Donations to the Whitworth
Due to insurance, this challenge is only open to club members (both junior and senior members) - we are using the event to raise money for the Whitworth Centre. You can donate to the Whitworth by either:
giving a donation on the day in cash (I will bring a tin to collect); or
Donate online to the Whitworth crowdfunder campaign leaving the comment #macbroncochallenge.
We have secured permission to run the challenge on the bottom field of the Whitworth. All participants will need to book a time slot using the link below - please do not just turn up on the day if you haven't booked as we have to abide by social distancing and limiting groups to 6. If slots get full then I will add another hour on at 1pm.
Time slots are set at 20 minute intervals (limited to 5 participants for each slot).
The challenge itself takes around 5-9 minutes on average so there is time for 1 group to finish and the next group to come in and not cross over.
Participants will be separated by 2 metres at all times.
The challenge will take place on the bottom field at the Whitworth.
Junior members must be accompanied to the park but parents will need to watch from the side of the course
Parking
Please note that the Whitworth charge for parking which is camera controlled. You should be able to park on a nearby road.
If you can't make the Whitworth but would still like to do the challenge ...
You can set out your own course and send your results to Mark Pollak by email (or tag me on Strava) before 6pm on the 27th June. Please also include a photo of the course you ran and ideally a link to GPS proof online (e.g. Strava activity etc.) as well as confirmation you have made a donation to the Whitworth.
MAC 300 Miles in 36 Hours Virtual Relay
We've set ourselves a challenge - the '300 Virtual Charity Relay' in support of Ashgate Hospicecare, which will take place over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd May when over 50 club members will be attempting to run 300 miles in 36 hours of continuous activity. The run will be an out and back course from home to ensure social distancing and Government physical activity rulings are observed.
MAC may have been denied their annual fund-raising event – The Peak Rail Runner-v-Steam on Easter Monday – but have found a way to raise money for the charity chosen by our members - Ashgate Hospicecare who are appealing for funds, as their specialist end of life care has never been more in demand and their funding has been devasted by the Covd i-19 crisis
It is with great disappointment we have to announce that the postponement of the 'Runner versus Steam' event due to be staged on Easter Monday 13th April due to the Covid-19 crisis. This decision has been taken in the best interests of competitors, supporters and volunteers and in line with updated guidance from UKA/EA and Public Health England. All entrants will be contacted shortly with further details.
As an affiliated organisation, it is important that we act on their advice, which is of course consistent with the latest message from the UK Government.
We will therefore be pausing training for senior and junior members with immediate effect.
Please note that the EA statement includes “Where possible, athletes and runners at all levels are encouraged to maintain their own personal fitness and keep active during this time, while following government guidelines about safe distance and safe exercise environments”.
As a committee we are evaluating what that means for us in practice. If we can support members with practical ways to maintain your motivation and training, within the confines of guidance from the government and UKA, we are keen to explore ways to help you keep active.
We will provide further updates over forthcoming days as further information and guidance is provided.
Be sensible and keep safe.
MAC Club XC 2020
Report and results from Karl Webster -
It was by the kind and generous hospitality of Brian and Deborah that this year’s cross country championships found itself at the beautiful local setting of Stancliffe Hall. The daffodils were out, the sun was doing its best to shine and the course was short but brutal.
With one lap for the under 12s, two laps for the under 17s and three for the grown-ups, 43 runners headed off around the parkland of Stancliffe which provided the opportunity for a bit of allsorts: soft grass; long sapping climbs; quick bursts across firm ground; a scramble up a bank, narrow woodland paths; and even a couple of electric fences to duck under.
In a true test of versatility it was Will Croft who led the short race round to take the boys’ title and Marlene Mettam for the girls.
Two laps were then admirably completed in the fastest times by Oli Lloyd for the lads and Poppy Lynn for the lasses.
For the seniors it was Simon Fisher whose lead never looked threatened, although young Sam Thompson ensured he couldn’t take it easy. Shelley Fairey displayed her current good form picking things up in laps 2 and 3 after doing the first one with her offspring.
MAC’s thanks go to Stancliffe Hall for the warm welcome and use of their grounds. Also all the MACs who helped out.
The MAC Club XC for Seniors and Juniors will be held on Saturday 14th March at 10.30. The start is at the new venue of Stancliffe Hall, Whitworth Road, Darley Dale, DE4 2HJ. Under 12s do 1 lap (approx. 1.5k per lap), under 16s 2 laps and everyone else 3 laps. It's a parkland course and should be nice and interesting. This is the first race in the 2020/2021 Junior and Senior GPs.
Following the race the Junior Presentation for the XC and the 2019/2020 Junior GP will take place. Bring a picnic if a nice day!!
There will be signs in place on the day for parking.
Please allow plenty of time to register for 10.30 a.m. start.
BDL Summer League Dates 2020
These are the dates for the Summer BDL League 2020 evening races -
7th April - Teversal
5th May - Cromford
2nd June - Denby
7th July - Carsington
4th August - Shipley Park
Cromford is the race which MAC will host, and we will be requiring volunteers to marshal on the High Peak Trail and Cromford Canal. Please feel free to put your name forward.
MAC Members' Survey
Andy Mellor, Club Chairman reports on the MAC Members' Survey -
