Be a Single Stage Hero!

Historically the Tour of Tameside was only open to runners taking on the Full tour. In 2016 we made the bold move to open the individual days to participants and in 2017 we expect these to be even more popular than 12 months ago.

With the four individual days available to book on to, now is the perfect time to make the choice of which one you are signing up for!

We have ensured that we have provided something for everyone and below is some more details on each of the single day runs.

X-TRAIL 10K – Thursday evening, 15th June 2017
Runners will take on the newest element of this iconic event which has been designed with Dr Ron Hill MBE to test all runner’s ability levels through two of the regions best country parks. Daisy Nook and Park Bridge will be well known venues to many and being joined together by an underpass, makes it the perfect 10k route that challenges participants over a number of surfaces and gradients.

The start of the race begins on a level tarmac surface where spectators and well-wishers will create a very special atmosphere before leaving at the sound of the starter horn. The route takes runners up a steep incline which is on closed winding roads with a mixture of running surface to navigate, so this challenge has many elements to it. The lead vehicle guides you through the course, taking in an established cycle path which rewards you with the all important water stop at its end before turning back on yourself to run the second 5k towards the finish line.
Passing under Ashton Road, the A627 via the underpass, the course opens up a little before its time to manage the famous step sections. Some daring runners in 2016 took these at full pace, where other ‘wise old heads’ took it steady to conserve energy enabling them to put their foot down on the flatter sections that follow. The finish is to a rapturous round of applause under the finish gantry where you will be rewarded with your race medal, water, snack bar and for those who wish….the pop-up Tweed Brewery Beer Tent!
What better way to celebrate the feeling of finishing with a drink with friends you have made en-route.

HELL ON THE FELL RUN – Friday evening 16th June 2017
It’s Friday evening and runners will be preparing themselves to take on the most famous run in the Tameside area that we are affectionately renaming as ‘Hell on the Fell’ for 2017!

The start of the race is in one of the most picturesque locations in Tameside, up at Walkerwood Reservoir which as a backdrop to an event is simply stunning. This provides a good flat start for all, as the relatively straight drag for around half a mile out onto Brushes Road means that the frontrunners can get off as they wish and the bulk of the field can find some clean air. On managed roads, runners turn left onto Huddersfield Road where you will temptingly pass by the finish point, Copley Leisure Centre, before heading onto Mottram Road the incline is notorious and will test those calf muscles!
Around 2 miles in, you will find directions taking you from the manicured tarmac roads and onto the Fell itself, where you will choose the best route up the well-trodden pathways that Tour runners have used for many years. Take Ron’s advice, “Find a runner with an old TOT vest or t-shirt and follow them, they have the knowledge like a London cab driver, they’ll know it like the back of their hand!”

As you climb closer to the summit, the hardy race marshals and supporters will be cheering you on your way before hitting the top and then returning down safely. Tour legend Dr Ron Hill MBE has some of his fondest memories here, “It’s certainly a test and not for the faint hearted – but if you want a challenge and that’s what running is all about, then ‘Hell on the Fell’ is an absolute must!”.
The legs on the descent will feel as if they want to go faster and faster as gravity works in your favour, however ‘steady’ is the approach the most successful runners take and getting down in a good time and the views of the route still fresh in the mind…and of course the medal at the end means you are in running heaven.

HERO HALF MARATHON – Saturday morning, 17th June 2017
What’s the natural progression for runners that already do 10k’s? It has to be a half marathon and one that is achievable in its nature by being challenging enough and benefit from great scenery and entertainment along the way to keep you motivated.

The Tour of Tameside has managed to tick all these boxes with the ‘Hero Half Marathon’ as the tried and tested route out from Hadfield gives runners no excuses to get your head down and complete the 13.2 course.
The Athlete Village which holds the start and finish of the run includes those all important event elements such as hot and cold drinks and snacks for runners and spectators a like as well as Therapy First Physiotherapy Tents to help get you prepared. When the starter horn sounds, the lead bike takes the field down Padfield Main Road before turning left onto Brosscroft and then Station Road, commonly known as the High Street, where well wishers will be cheering you through the town before being lead down onto the Longdendale Trail – the disused railway line that’s perfect for straight distance running.

The trail runs besides three large bodies of water, Bottoms Reservoir, Valehouse Reservoir and Rhodeswood Reservoir so as scenery goes – it’s superb! You have a mixture of countryside, hills and water as well as the fauna and flora that June brings to enjoy and with the water station, music and charity cheering points on route, the ‘out and back’ route is certainly one to remember.
Often runners to pass by each other when reaching the Woodhead Tunnel, you double back on the same trail and head for the finish and here is where those small words of encouragement mean so much to each other.
The closer you get to the finish area, the more you can hear the hustle and bustle of the Athlete Village – so runners can kick on to a sprint finish…if their legs will allow!

DR. RON HYDE 7 – Sunday morning, 18th June 2017
If you didn’t know already, Dr Ron Hill MBE actually created the original Tour of Tameside back in the early 1980’s with a group of his regular running friends from the area – who wanted an annual event that was a tough challenge and took in some of the best running routes the area had to offer.
The event began back in 1981 and quickly developed in its number of participants and became one of the biggest and best running events on the calendar for runners throughout the UK and beyond.

Historically the Hyde 7 was always a day of the Tour that runners really looked forward to as it was a chance for family and friends to come out onto the streets of Hyde and cheer on hundreds of runners through the town. It’s the same story now in 2017. The Dr Ron Hyde 7 is a fantastic celebration of running where participant’s both young and old, experienced and less-so compete side by side before finishing outside Hyde Town Hall and then move inside to reminisce on a great race and create those long lasting running friendships over a drink.
This years race begins with the crackling festival atmosphere from outside the front of the Town Hall on Market Street where runners are led up and out on a seven mile course that takes in a number of key areas including Hattersley where in 2016 runners were encouraged by the sound of a local Caribbean Steel Band!
The 2017 run , the Dr Ron Hyde 7 Mile race has been renamed in honour of Dr Ron himself, “Mr Running”, the man who created the concept over 35 years ago and the man who up until very recently ran every single day for a staggering 52 years! Ron is a running ambassador for Sports Tours International and is such an inspiration to many across the world having competed and won some of the biggest races in both Great Britain and England running vests. Closer to home, those in the Tameside may well be familiar to Ron as being a Hyde resident himself, he’s often seen out and about in the town.
So, why not come and run the ONLY race in Tameside that gives a well deserved nod to one of its best local characters.

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