Shires and Spires Northants Ultra 35, Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, Naseby 2021

This year we are back to anti-clockwise with our amazing running festival in the beautiful Northamptonshire village of Naseby (home of the famous battle) with something for everyone. We have a road 10K, a multi-terrain half marathon, a multi-terrain marathon and the legendary Shires and Spires 35 mile Ultra Marathon. All races start at the same time at Naseby Village Hall and finish in the same place too making for easy race logistics. This year is the first ever anti-clockwise edition of the 10K and half marathon leaving the course records to be claimed!

The 10K takes you on quiet country roads from Naseby down a steep hill towards Cottesbrooke along the quiet country estate rods before turning back up to Haselbech up a hill which you won't forget for a while then onwards Naseby with a challenging undulating road to the finish.

The Multi-Terrain Half Marathon follows the marathon and ultra  route before turning off at White House Farm to the picturesque village of Guilsborough and down hill  past the Hollowell Reservoir. Its then on to the quiet estate roads towards Cottesbrooke and then a challenging hill up to Haselbech. A challenging undulating road will take you back to the finish in Naseby.

The multi terrain marathon gives you a welcome break from the standard road marathon with the course following much of the Ultra route without the extra 9 miles! It follows a 26.6 mile loop taking in the pretty villages and towns of Thornby, West Haddon, Long Buckby, Great Brington, Harlestone, Holdenby, Teeton, Creaton and Cottesbrooke and of course amazing country houses and stunning countryside. The finish is a challenging climb up to Haselbech and then on to an undulating road to the finish in Naseby

We also have Shires and Spires Ultra which is a  35 mile circular Ultra Marathon with a mixture of trails and roads. It starts and finishes at Naseby Village Hall and 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! We are proud to be a qualifying race for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc with 2 Endurance points awarded by ITRA.

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Time: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm