By Stef Brassington
After a hectic Easter weekend of egg hunts and chocolate gorging, what better way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday than racing a Steam Train.
Organised by Matlock Athletic Club, the race started at Rowsley train station and while runners warmed up, our supporters boarded the carriages for a first hand view of nearly the entire race. As the train pulled up to the start line, the heavens opened and it absolutely poured with rain but that didn’t dampen the spirits of runners or spectators.
Throughout the race, I managed to pass the train at various points (I say points, I mean times when the train was stationary) only for it to zoom back past and with around a mile to go, I got one last wave off of my cheer squad and they steamed through the finish line ahead of me.
222 runners took on the train and my 100th place wasn’t enough to beat the train but well done to Thomas Shaw and Collette Gains who definitely did in their winning times of 38:41 and 46:15 respectively.
A great, well organised and exciting race and one I’ll definitely be attending again. 🚂