Matlock Athletic Club

Race Postponed from Easter Monday to Saturday 4th September 2021

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 course details can be viewed by clicking here

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:

Peak Rail 7 Entry

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 Steam race details:
Date : Easter Monday 5th April 2021, race commences 9.30am
Race Distance: 7 miles
Minumum Age: 16 on race day
Entry Fee: £13 UKA affiliated/£15 non-affiliated + online booking fee

Race Limit: 250

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 01/04/2021

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

.

Previous results:

2018

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New Training Sessions 20th May 2021

Message from Andy Mellor, Chairman

Thank you to everyone who has voted in our poll for how to run training sessions in the future. It is clear that there are number of members that favour each option – meeting at the Arc as before and the local group runs.

So in the spirit of compromise, the Committee would like to suggest a hybrid approach and we suggest that we trial this initially but keep it under review, so please continue to feedback your thoughts to any committee member.

Thursday 20th May is the first run following the move to step 3 of the Government roadmap, and it would be nice to take the opportunity to congregate at the Arc as we did in the good old days for a MACnificent reunion. Ironically a small number of MACs won’t be present as they are participating in the ‘Chase The Sun’ runs in Leicester.

Our plan is to alternate between an Arc-based group run; a mass away run (over summer, eg around Rowsley, Carsington, Cromford etc); another Arc-based run; and then local group runs. The local group runs will be similar to our current arrangements, but without the limit of six on runners. We traditionally finish off the evening away runs at a local hostelry.

One of the reasons that the current groups have worked so well is probably that runners have found groups that suit their preferred distance and pace. We are committed to ensuring that Thursday runs are accessible and fun, so although we will congregate together, we want to be able to send out 4 groups (including one group that offers a shorter distance) so that no one feels put off or out of their depth. We need a regular stream of volunteers who are happy to know the route, and to lead a group at an appropriate pace. We’ve had plenty of people willing to lead groups of six over recent months, so don’t be shy – please keep volunteering to head up a group.

Some Events for May 2021

Here are some Events for May 2021

EventsMay2021.pdf

Events April/May 2021

Here are a few Events for April/May 2021 currently scheduled to go ahead. Hopefully, more events will take place as time goes on and Covid restrictions ease further

EventsAprMay2021.pdf

Resumption of Club Training

Club training resumes on Monday 29th March with the return of our tried and tested socially distanced groups of 6 meeting in varying locations.We kick off with the usual Monday evening speed sessions followed a few days later with the traditional first 'away' run of BST around Chatsworth Park on Thursday 1st April. All club members are welcome to participate, but you will need to book a place in one of the groups in advance. Further details o how to join a group can be found in the members Facebook page, or contact a committee member if you are uanble to access this platform

Club Subs 2021/22

The club annual subscriptions and optional EA affiliation for 2021/22 are due by 1st April 2021, details on how to renew can be found in the Club Membership Subs page under the 'MAC Members' tab.

Peak Rail 7 Postponement

It is with great regret and frustration that we have to announce that due to the strict lockdown restrictions continuing beyond Easter the 'Runner versus Steam event will be postponed on Easter Monday, and will now take place on Saturday afternoon 4th September 2021. All entrants have been sent a race update from Bookitzone entries, please send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you hold a place for this years race but have not yet received the communique.

Which Way Navigation Challenge Report and Results

Report and Results of the Which Way Navigation Challenge November 2020 by Les Thurston with final men's result added on 21st Nov -

WhichWayChallenge_2020.pdf

On 21st November Les Thurston - Here is the final Which Way Navigation Challenge Scoreboard for the MAC men with 4 late results included. John Green takes the honours for finding the shortest route of the whole event (male and female).

Events, Postponements and Cancellations for October 2020

Here are some Events, Postponements and Cancellations for October 2020

EventsOct2020.pdf

Update on Black Rocks Fell Race 15th July 2020

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 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

Please donate if you can through our gofundme campaign page

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