The Butterfly Effect – Purple Emperor

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From Rasselbock Running

  • Date Sun 9th August 2026
  • Location Heanor, Derbyshire
  • Price £29.00
  • Races 1 race
  • Distances 5km, 10km, 10 Mile, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra

Top rated

This is a five star event

Event summary

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at The Butterfly Effect – Purple Emperor, hosted by Rasselbock Running on Sunday, August 9th, 2026, in the beautiful Shipley Country Park, Heanor, Derbyshire. This vibrant event not only celebrates the enchanting beauty of butterflies but also pays homage to the rich history of the park, which dates back to the Doomsday Book in 1086. Participants can look forward to a series of exciting race distances, where they can earn stunning medals that showcase the striking Purple Emperor butterfly, known for its elusive nature and dazzling colors. Join us for a day filled with nature, camaraderie, and a chance to contribute to the conservation of these marvelous creatures while adding to your Rasselbock collection. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of butterflies and the stunning landscapes of Derbyshire!

The Butterfly Effect – Purple Emperor

Sun 9th August 2026

A serene lake surrounded by lush, green trees under a partly cloudy sky. Swans and ducks swim peacefully on the water's surface, which reflects the greenery and parts of the blue sky. Tall grass lines the front of the image, enhancing the natural, tranquil scene. A picturesque landscape showcasing a well-maintained green lawn leading to a historic brick tower partially hidden by dense trees. The scene is under a dramatic cloudy sky, with autumn leaves on trees adding vibrant colors to the image. A serene forest scene with a dirt path winding through tall trees and dense foliage. The forest floor is covered with vibrant bluebells in full bloom, creating a carpet of purple flowers under the lush green canopy. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled shadows. A green flag with white text reads “RASSELBOCK RUNNING” and “RASSELBOCK.CO.UK.” A simple line drawing of mountains is visible at the bottom of the flag. The background is blurred trees. A person wearing a yellow safety vest, gloves, and a headscarf stands on a grassy path, smiling with arms raised in a "V" shape. A signmarked "22" is visible nearby, and greenery surrounds the scene. A smiling woman with red-dyed hair rings a large bell under a green canopy at an outdoor event. She wears a red shirt and blue jacket, with medals laid out on the table in front of her. A group of runners, led by a man with visible tattoos and a cap, jog across a grassy field with trees in the background. The participants wear athletic gear and race bibs. Rows of medals shaped like green luna moths with brown ribbons are neatly arranged on a flat surface. The ribbons have printed text in white, and the medals display detailed wings and body markings. A butterfly with vibrant purple and orange patterned wings rests on a thin branch against a softly blurred green background. A butterfly with striking iridescent blue and purple wings, marked with white spots and an orange eyespot, rests on rough, sunlit ground.

Organiser's Description

Welcome to Shipley Country Park in Derbyshire, an area steeped in history and was even mentioned in the Doomsday Book back in 1086! The land has been part of a stately home, hunting lodge, and, as always in this area, a coal mine. We’ll be putting on a series of events celebrating the butterflies (and sometimes moths) from around the world! Hopefully, you can join us and add the medals to your Rasselbock collection.

The next in the butterfly series is all about the breathtaking Purple Emperor, usually found in south and centeral England milling around treetops before ocasionally heading down to ground level for sustenance. These vivid colours have been on a decline in recent years and are hard to spot as they’re so rarely down at eye level. We want to show off these purple wings and imortalise them in a spectacular medal!

Races

  • Entry

    £29.00

    Booking for more than 1?

Reviews

  • 5
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  • 1

5.0

7 reviews

LH
Laura

·3 months ago

First timer but won't be my last. Team were very welcoming, very well organised and the route was great. Sweets and drinks at the end, can't wait for my next one!
CM
Carmel

·9 months ago

Very well organised, great, welcoming team and the drinks and treats at the end were needed and appreciated. The terrain was very tricky given the weather recently. I found the course quite difficult given this. Views were beautiful though.
MS
Mike

·9 months ago

Wow, this was my first Rasslebock event and it was amazing 🙌 The team are brilliant and super friendly. The weather was a bit pants but I suppose that just adds to the fun (if you like mud) I will definitely be running more events with Rasslebock Running👌👍👏
JL
Jeni

·a year ago

My second event with Rasselbock Running and they didn't disappoint! Love the endurance loop format and the routes they create are always interesting - technical, sceneic, mix of terrains, hills, shade and open spaces - important when doinf several loops at each event! This one was hillier than others, but a nice equal balnace of 'what goes up must come down' - thanks for another great event guys!
PH
Peter

·a year ago

This was the first time my wife and I had done an event like this. She hadn't run much in the past and I had only run shorter distances. We felt extremely welcome. The event was well organised, the route was interesting and the people was really friendly. The range of sweets and snacks at the aid station was very much appreciated. We both ran further than we'd ever ran before and were both euphoric afterwards.
AT
Andrew

·a year ago

Fantastic people. organizers and marshals we so encouraging, great fun
SR
Simon

·a year ago

Really well organised race, great friendly atmosphere from start to finish. The race marshalls were fantastic, really encouraging. Recommend if you’re attempting a longer distance for the first time.
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Location

Derby Lodge Cafe, Heanor, DE75 7, United Kingdom

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