Tolkien Trail Race

Posted on: Sunday 12th July 2026

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Tolkien Trail Race

Race report by Emma:

The Tolkien Trail Race – 11.1km 🌳🏃‍♀️

The second wave set off at 11:20am, which is when myself, Lee and Ian started… and apparently when the sun decided to audition for the Sahara! 🥵

Honestly, it felt like I was running through Middle-earth wearing a winter coat. Racing? Absolutely not. Today’s strategy was more run a bit, question my life choices, walk a bit, repeat. 😂

Despite the heat, what an absolutely stunning trail race! It starts on the beautiful avenue at Stonyhurst College, where Tolkien spent time, wrote parts of The Lord of the Rings, and even gave a few lectures. I can confirm there were plenty of opportunities to practise my own version of “one does not simply run uphill…” 😅

Lee, Ian and I kept leapfrogging each other around the course, all taking very sensible (and definitely not desperate!) walking breaks before shuffling off for another run.

If you’re thinking of entering this race, do it! Just maybe ask the organisers to turn the thermostat down next year. I’ll definitely be back… preferably if it’s about 10 degrees cooler! ☺️🌿

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