Shires and Spires Ultra Marathon, Marathon, Three Quarter Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k

SHIRES AND SPIRES EVENT
Shires and Spires Ultra Marathon | Multiterrain Marathon, Three Quarter Marathon, Multiterrain Half Marathon & 10k

THE RACE IS BASED IN THE VILLAGE OF NASEBY,  FAMOUS FOR THE BATTLE OF NASEBY IN 1645!
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 event is run in a clockwise direction on even years and anti-clockwise on odd years, both give you a different perspective on this scenic route.  Which is harder?  That’s for you to decide!  FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2024 THE RACE WILL BE FULLY TRACKED (Trackers are provided for Ultra and Marathon only) AND INTERACTIVE ALLOWING YOU TO USE THE DEVICE TO NAVIGATE AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN FOLLOW YOU FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR ARMCHAIRS!
We are proud to be an Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc index race.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Shires and Spires is a 35 mile circular Ultra Marathon starting and finishing at Naseby Village Hall just outside of Northampton in a wonderful central location.  The route is a mix of  footpaths, country trails, and roads.  The event is run in a clockwise direction on even years and anti-clockwise on odd years.

Anti Clockwise Electronic route plot and downloadable GPX  file
Clockwise Electronic route plot and downloadable GPX  file

UTMB INDEX RACE
The event is a registered UTMB index race (part of the new UTMB Index system)  in the 50K distance category.

TERRAIN MIX
The route is 20.2 miles of cross country trails (59%); and 14.3 miles of roads (41%).  Elevation is +2052ft  (+625m) and -2052 ft (-625m)

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

CHECKPOINTS AND AID STATIONS
There are 5 check points, each will have water, and a selection of supplementary  snacks.  A drink will be available for all athletes at the finish.  Details of the locations for the Anti Clockwise route can be found here. and Clockwise can be found here.

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)

REGISTRATION AND START TIME
Registration in the village hall is open from 2pm until 4pm on Saturday 11th May to avoid the queues and then from  7 am on race day where you will collect your race number and map book. You will need to confirm your mobile phone number and be subjected to random kit checks.  The race will start at 8.30am

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.

BAGGAGE 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).

TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION
For anyone wanting to stay overnight locally either before or after the event there is Airbnb or Northampton offers a wealth of hotels to suit all budgets

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.

TRACKER
The Geo Tracks GPS Tracker is lightweight and easily fits in a small pocket in your rucksack. Your family and friends can track your progress in real-time and you can use the Geo Tracks app combined with the tracker as an accurate tool for navigation during the event. The Event can be followed using the web link  https://events.geotracks.co.uk/live/xxxx or via the app which can be purchased prior to the event for Apple  or for Android.  When opening the web link please click on start times and this will display a list of bib numbers (they are sorted alphabetically by surname). The GPS Tracking units upload your position every 10 seconds to the live view tracking map and are accurate to 5 metres. Batteries last for 70 hours .  Don’t forget to drop it off at the finish! To find out more  please visit the Geo Tracks website. 

COURSE RECORDS
The male anti-clockwise course record was set in 2021 – Andrew Siggers  4:08:41 and the clockwise course record was set in 2022 – David Green  4:06:41 and the female anti-clockwise record was set in 2021 – Amy Sarkies  4:54:18 and the clockwise record in 2022 – Rachel Piper  5:15:49

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.

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  (given at registration)
Power bank to charge your phone if required
Tracker – 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