Voted 4th best 10k in Britain (and one of the top 50 races in Britain) in 2009 (RW)Named one of Britain's top 10ks by the Daily Telegraph (Feb 2010) |
Woodfield Road, Ashtead Railway Station, Ashtead, Surrey
The Ashtead 10k is organised by the Ashtead Running Group. Ashtead Common is maintained by the Corporation of the City of London. The course involves a route through the varied woodland habitats of the Common, including open areas of previously-burnt woodland and regrowth, coppiced areas, and the ancient oaks for which the common is famous. The route is undulating, with total ascent and descent of not more than around 250m. The route follows wide grassy footpaths, bridleways and tracks through the forest, and in its mid-section features views over farmland to Malden Rushett and beyond. |
Preliminary results 2009 (make sure you refresh your browser window!)
Runner comments on 2009 race (Runner's World)
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RW discussion thread on the Ashtead 10k 2009
Once again in bright sunshine- that's four years in a row - the 4th Ashtead 10k took place at 11am on Sunday 20 September. 196 runners set off onto the new out-and-back course for the race, keeping to wide pathways and bridleways around Ashtead Common. The first kilometer is rough underfoot and uphill (many runners commented that they had no idea that Ashtead Common was so hilly), while the rest of the course is properly described as 'undulating.'
First man home was Dorking and Mole Valley AC's Nick Hodges (33), in a startlingly fast time of 34:42, taking two and a half minutes off the record for the previous course. The record for the previous course (37:14) was held by this year's second placer, Steve Winder (38) of Epsom and Ewell Harriers, who finished this year in 36:06. Third man home was Gavin Harkus (40) of Elmbridge Road Runners in 36:22.
First lady home was Samantha Wood (28) in 46:03, running in memory of her son George who sadly passed away during labour less than 4 months ago. Samantha is raising money for SANDS, to provide money for more training of staff in hospitals. Second lady home was Cathy Davis (44) of Stragglers in 46:18, while Melanie Eyre (31) was third lady home in 47:17.
Around 70 children enjoyed the 2km Fun Run, with Conor McCormack (12) first home in 8:01.
The race raised around £1000 for charity, including Rianna's Fund.
UK Athletics Permit No. 20090316 (2009)
In glorious sunshine, 200 runners completed the 3rd Ashtead 10k on Sunday 14 September 2008, on a largely dry course around Ashtead Common. The common is a National Nature Reserve and an SSSI, and is managed by the Corporation of the City of London. First man home in 39:31 was David Moore (43) of Thames Hare and Hounds, followed a mere one second later by local runner Steve Winder (37) of Epsom and Ewell Harriers. Mike Webb (40) from Belgrave Harriers was a close third in 39:53. First lady home was Sarag Dear (25) in 48:14, in 33rd position.
The day also included a 2km Fun Run, which was enjoyed by around 60 children and by many parents (some of whom were running for the first time in several decades).
The race raised over £1000 for local charities, including Rianna's Fund. Sandra Jehoel managed to raise £361 for Greyhound Gap, a charity that rehomes retired greyhounds.
Thanks to everyone who took part, and to all the marshals and helpers, without whom the race could not have taken place.
Early comments: "Could you also please my thanks on to all your helpers - the registration, numbering, start, marshaling, marking, drinks, finish, shirts, medals and snacks were all very professional. Well done and see you next year!" (Neil)
"Just a note to say how much the whole family enjoyed the event today. Nice challenging course for the grown ups, and lots of fun for the little ones. They loved singing the national anthem ("just like at the Olympics"), and felt very proud of their prizes and T-shirts. The weather helped, but it was a great morning out in the fresh air. We'll certainly be back next year. Well done, and many thanks." (Vicki and Mike)
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These are the instructions for the Ashtead 10k. You will not receive anything through the post. The 10k race starts at 11.00 sharp. There is a 2km fun run which starts at 11.10. You need to arrive in enough time to collect your running number from the Scout Hall (2 minutes' walk to the race start). Please remember to bring safety pins. If coming by train, come to Ashtead BR station (50 mintues from Victoria, 30 minutes from Guildford. The Sunday service by South West Trains between Guildford and Waterloo via Epsom and Ashtead does now run on Sundays (hourly). There are no rail works on any of the services to Ashtead on Sunday 14th September. If driving, park in the Ashtead British Rail station car park (free on a Sunday). It takes 2 minutes to walk from the car park to the Scout Hall. Registration will be open from 10.00am. Toilets are available in the Scout Hall - But please go before you come - if you can! There are no toilets at the race start. You can change in the Scout Hall (no changing rooms, just a hall). You can leave gear in the Scout Hall (not secure). The route is an out and back undulating course. The ground is uneven throughout, and you must watch your step at all times. Runners do a triangular lap of Woodfield, before heading out onto the course. On the return, there is no lap of the field - keep straight on to the finish. KEEP LEFT AT ALL TIMES! Returning runners have priority over 'outward' runners at the chicanes - please let them go first if required. Please support all the other runners with a grunt, thumbs-up, imprecation, greeting, 'well done', 'keep going' or whatever - It is a very isolated course, and you will mostly be on your own - you are your own supporters! There will be water/sports drinks/sweets at the half way point, and some refreshments at the end. Tea and cakes will be available in the Scout Hall afterwards for a small charge. There will be a free raffle at the Scout Hall at 12.30, based on your running number. The race prizes will also be given out at this time. Come along - it'll be fun! The course is on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is also a National Nature Reserve. Please be considerate towards other users. Note Roman villa at around 3.5km, alongside Roman (possibly prehistoric?) pottery kilns and clay pits. Please do not litter out on the course. Results and photos will be up on the web the day after the race. We are still looking for marshals - all help gratefully received! |
I enjoyed this race even more than last year. The course was better marked and the Common is always a great place to run.
Enjoyable well-oragnised race, but I found the hills pretty tough!
Excellent race, loved the carrots too.
Good 10 k race with a good fun run too: the kids loved it.
Difficult surface - a good cross country. Glad it was dry
A good challenging run. Very friendly atmosphere. A welcome change from road running and a bit more of a challenge running up (and down) woodland paths and grass. Weather and ground conditions were very favourable - might be a bit trickier sliding down a muddy bank. Well marked/marshalled and a good post race atmosphere. Only gripe was the km marking - we were warned the distances were approximate but the marking on the way our seemed to based on a completely different scale from the way back with the result that km 5 to 6 seemed more like 2 - or maybe that was just my legs playing tricks with my mind. Nonetheless a very enjoyable outing.
Excellent local race, well organised, great route, will be back next year. Great local race with friendly organisation. Nice hilly route over Ashtead Common. Equally good if you want to challenge yourself or just jog round. Many thanks to Robert for the organisation and looking forward to 2008.
Really well organised friendly 10k! Big thanks to the organisers and marshalls for a great day. Good to see much needed km markers added this year. Will be back again next sept for more of the same.
Well organised and good atmosphere well done all
An enjoyable race but my first 'cross country' 10k which made a PB out of
the question. Having to pass through gates and meeting faster runners coming
the other way slows you down a bit, and I am glad it was dry as the slopes
would have been hard.
Lovely offroad 10k. kids 2k race makes it a nice family event. ideal conditions,
challenging scenic course, well organised and great atmosphere. hard to ask
for more really. My four year old did the kids race and wouldnt stop talking
about it all day long or take her medal off! Will certainly be back again next
year. Thanks to the organiser and all the marshalls and helpers
Definitely one to add the yearly race diary
Very enjoyable day, fun to get out of London, run off road and take on a few very small, manageable hills. Thanks to all the organisers.
Tough, friendly, well-organised. Was hard work but nice to be traffic-free. Excellent access via public transport - Ashtead station very close. Got lucozade half way round - and lots at the end (although the carrots didn't go down as well as the jelly babies!). Perfect weather conditions - would have been very hard if wet! The prizegiving session was amusing and there were lots of cakes. Marshalls and the few supporters were really encouraging. Would recommend this.
Enjoyable, but I found it tough. I admit I probably wasn't as fit as I was earlier in the year but even so I reckon this was the toughest 10K I have ever done. However I enjoyed not running on roads and I found that there was comraderie amongst the runners which you don't always experience with road races, this is despite the fact that for periods I was on my own! Will do again next year.
Great atmosphere - great laugh. Found this rather challenging, 3rd 10 k but previous 2 on flat tarmac. However great fun, brilliant amosphere, everyone really encouraging on out and back course. Organisation straightforward and spot on. Marshalls were all lovely,Don't even mind about the purple ankle from rabbit hole encounter at 4km - still finished in a good time for me(1:03 ish )
Loved it - so much nicer than running on roads. And the jelly babies at the half-way drinks were a lovely touch!
A great event. I had such fun at this event! Very well organised, incredibly friendly and an enjoyable course (less hilly that I expected it to be).
Lovely course, great organisation! I thought the course was not that difficult and yet I found it tough. Possibly due to a lack of recent/regular training (no running at all over my 5-weeks holidays!!! Except playing tennis and chasing the children). Dr Rob's organisation was faultless, course well marked and encouraging marshalls all the way. I like Dr Rob's races, and appreciate his efforts and goodies (nice flashy T-shirt, good mug and medal, plus sweets and sports drink....). The only let down was myself, it simply does not get easier! I guess I'm out of practice. Pleasant course, highly recommended!
In glorious sunshine, 140 runners took part in the first-ever Ashtead 10k race on Sunday 24 September, discovering the hidden corners and unexpected hills of Ashtead Common - with the kind permission of the Corporation of the City of London and English Nature. The race was organised by Ashtead Running Group, and was aided by a squad of excellent volunteer marshals. Ashtead resident Steve Winder led the field home in 37:14 (a good time for a fast course, and even more spectacular given the rough ground and complicated course), while Marcus Sherwood was second in 41:23 and Tim Tapper was third in 41:32. Phyllis Flynn was the first lady home, in a very impressive fourth place overall. The last runner home made an excellent effort to dip past the line before 100 minutes was up, finishing in 99:47 (1 hour 39 minutes 47 seconds). The children's fun run attracted around 30 youngsters (and some parents who may not have done any cross-country for 20 years or more). 11-year old Jessica Filby was first home, and shows much promise for the future. Thanks to everyone for their help in making it such a fun day. In all, the race raised around £1485, split between the British Heart Foundation, Downs Syndrome Association and Rianna's Fund, a local charity which supports an orpahange in Kenya (as well as charities such as the St John Ambulance, Ashtead Common, and Ashtead Scouts). So THANKS!
Three young chaps at Rianna's Furaha Children's Orphanage in Kenya, wearing their Ashtead 10k t-shirts with pride! (Photo by Steve Davenport) Results (Download as Excel file) Please post your comments on/vote for the race here If you enjoyed this race, please try the Knacker Cracker! |
A superb woodland course - more challenging than I expected. Despite making one wrong turn and probably running an extra half K this was a great race. Well planned, scenic and really quite challenging.
Definitely worth making a note in your diary. I felt it suited all abilities.
Only complaint - they'd run our of jelly babies by the time I'd huffed and puffed
my way to the 5K mark! Very well done to Rob & the rest of the team!
Good organisation, great route, no tarmac to pound & friendly atmosphere.
Although Ashtead common is criss-crossed with paths the red & white marker
tape and marshalling made it idiot proof to get it right. Great to have a race
on the same sort of trails as I train on. Kept my eyes open, brain engaged and
body balanced to enjoy a great race. I look forward to 2007.
Great course and good fun.
Very very hard for a first 10k: If I can do this one, then I can do any 10k!
My first race, great introduction, definitely spurred me on to improve my time.
Well organised run in nice scenary on undulating paths
Thanks for all your hard work and excellent organisation. What great marshalls!
Many thanks for the T-shirt nighties too!
Very well organised and great atmosphere. Would run it again for sure! Well
done.
Great race - well done!! Should be a regular fixture!
Very friendly well-organised race. Hillier than I expected although my time
was slower than my first race which was Cousldon Near as Dammit 10K I enjoyed
it greatly and overtook people - bonus!
Great race - very well organised and very friendly. Kids loved the fun run too!
Great day and very well organised. Good work with the tea and cakes afterwards.
Unexpected hilliness!
Was expecting more hills!! As usual very sorted organisation. Thought it was
going to hillier, was hoping to get about 1 hr, managed 1.05, will be back next
year, well done to everybody who helped to make the day a success.
Lovely green place to do first 10k if a bit slippy at times. Very nice encouraging
atmosphere!
The organisers were friendly, it was easy to find, but it was a much harder
run than I expected.
Nice race which I really enjoyed. A little wobbly underfoot in places with various
obstacles that could hinder (logs to leap and gates to slow down for!) but really
good fun!
Brilliantly organised and marshalled race with a lovely scenic route. Brilliantly
organised race with a very friendly atmosphere. The lovely scenic route with
its long gentle undulations and an out and back course meant passing all the
other runners which added to the atmosphere. A special mention for the marshals,
they were all brilliant - friendly and encouraging, a big thank you to all of
them.
Thoroughly enjoyable . Well Done! Not a fast course, but none of the hills are
very long and the woods are lovely. Hope this will be the first of many for
this race.
Really enjoyed it, big thanks to all involved and looking forward to next year.
Being my firdst ever race, the support was very encouraging a big thank you
to all.
Wish I had been sensible on Saturday night!!! Despite stupid self inflicted
hangover and the heat I really enjoyed it and am only marginally aching....
Excellent race and organisation.
Well organised, very enjoyable run in the woods with lots of little hills and
humps.
Great organisation, location and easy to get to. Friendly. It's a there and
back course, so can be good for the ego to pass the people behind you!
Great, hilly but fun local race. This was a great run very well organised by
Rob and the marshalls. A few wrong turnings (!) but navigation is part of the
challenge!
I didn't know Ashtead common had that many hills! Lovely, local, friendly, sunny,
splendid race. Please run it next year :-) A particular 'thank you' to the Marshalls
for their support and cheering.
Race organised by Ashtead Running Group (ARG)
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