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Northants Shires & Spires Event
Northampton, Northamptonshire
Naseby Village Hall, Newlands, Naseby, Northampton NN6 6DESun 15th May 2022
Starting at 08:30
Organiser's Description
Shires and Spires is a 35 mile circular Ultra Marathon with a mixture of trails and roads. It starts and finishes at Naseby Village Hall which is a great central location close to the A14, M1 and M6 motorways. The route takes in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside and country houses, Holdenby, Althorp (home of the Spencer family and final resting place of Princess Diana), and Cottesbrooke. At 35 miles it is ideal for first time Ultra Runners or those looking for a shorter challenge
The 10k, half and full marathon all take in some of the Ultra route, and of course amazing country houses and stunning countryside
We are proud to be a qualifying race for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc with 2 Endurance points awarded by ITRA.
What's Included
The course follows a waymarked route but requires some navigation.
Prizes
Finishers Medal and T-Shirt
Checkpoints & Aid stations
Baggae drop
How to Get There
Arrival by car – If you are planning to drive then there is ample free parking at the village hall complex. Please allow adequate time to park and register.
Location
Naseby Rd, Haselbech, Naseby NN6 6DE
Course Details
TERRAIN MIX
The route is 20.2 miles of cross country trails; and 14.3 miles of roads. Elevation is +2052 ft and -2052 ft.
COURSE MARKING
The course follows a waymarked route but requires some navigation. We provide a map book and various resources to keep you on track. The course is covered by OS Maps 223
FAQs
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Age Limit
Due to the strenuous physical demands of running 35 miles in one day Shires and Spires is restricted to competitors over 18 years of age only.
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Cut off
The cut off time for the race is 9 hours. We have progressive cut off times from Checkpoint 3 onwards, details can be found on the Checkpoint information sheet.
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Where is registration?
Registration from 7am on race day or 2pm until 4pm on Saturday 14th May
checkpoints and aid stations
There are 5 check points, each will have water, and a selection of supplementary energy gels, and snacks, (currently we are not permitted to have loose food due to COVID19). A drink will be available for all athletes at the finish.
Details of the locations can be found herebaggage transfer
As the event is a loop then most competitors will have their kit in their cars. For everyone else we will store your bag at the finish, so you have warm, dry clothes waiting for you . Your bag should be no larger than a UK airport carry-on bag size (56 x 45 x 25 cm).
Tracker
Stay on track during the Shires and Spires Ultra. The Geo Tracks GPS Tracker is lightweight and easily fits in a small pocket in your rucksack. Let family and friends track your progress in real-time and use the Geo Tracks app combined with the tracker as an accurate tool for navigation during the event. The GPS Tracking units upload their position every 10 seconds to the live view tracking map and are accurate to 5 metres. Batteries last for 70 hours . Pre-order your GPS tracker and collect at the event registration and drop off at the finish.
To find out more and book your tracker please visit the Geo Tracks website.Kit
Trail shoes are advised. There are sections of trail which can become very muddy in wet conditions. It is essential to carry the items below. There will be random kit checks prior to the race . Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times.
Fully Charged Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Director and Assistant Race Director (shown on your map book given at registration)
Map Book (provided)
Water Bottles/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum
Waterproof Jacket
Whistle
Long sleeved base layer or fleece top
awards
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Male and Female Competitors. All finishers will receive a medal and T-shirt. There is a special Team Trophy for the fastest team of four (one of which must be female)