Shires & Spires - The Naseby running event that has something for everyone
These days, the event has grown into a mini-festival, boasting five different distances and several hundred runners.
It was back in 2009 when 37 runners toed the start line of a new ultra marathon, writes Go Beyond Challenge's Simon Hollis.
Shires & Spires, a 35-mile circular ultra marathon that was to take in some of the most picturesque countryside in Northamptonshire, was the very definition of niche – a beautiful but targeted piece of endurance sport.
These days, the event has grown into a mini-festival, boasting five different distances and several hundred runners.
Put simply, this is one of my favourite events, and I love to look back on how it has grown over the years.
That original ultra-only format actually remained in place until as recently as 2020, when the marathon distance was added to the event.
This year, when we return to Naseby on the fast-approaching May 10, we will be holding not only the ultra and marathon, but also 10k, half-marathon, and three-quarter marathon events.
That final offering started in 2024, when 13 runners took part. Just like the overall event, I’m confident it will grow. The distance is the perfect, but rarely-found, gap between half- and full marathon races, and I can only see it becoming more and more popular.
Having so many different races and distances on offer means people can increase the challenge they take on each year. It’s been fantastic to see some runners who first arrived to do the 10k or half-marathon return to run the marathon or ultra distances.
Equally, there have been plenty of runners who have moved down the distance ladder, whether due to age or injury. I do sometimes wonder whether anyone will one day complete the pyramid, going all the way up from 10k to the ultra, and all the way back down again!
One thing I’m really proud of is that we have managed to put on Shires & Spires every year since that 2009 race, even throughout the Covid pandemic.
In fact, helped by the timing of the various lockdowns that now seem so long ago, we attracted record numbers in 2022 and 2021 as people couldn’t wait to get back out running competitively.
Another really attractive part of running Shires & Spires is the different experiences it offers, year-on-year. Not only can participants choose to tackle alternative distances, the event is run in different directions each year: clockwise on even years and anti-clockwise on the odd ones, providing a new prospective on the scenic route.
In many ways, we are a million miles from that first race in 2009. But in so many others, everything remains the same – stunning countryside, rolling hills, and the challenge of running this incredible event.
I can’t wait to see you there.
Sign-up to Shires & Spires: https://www.gobeyondchallenge.com/ultra-marathons/shires-and-spires-ultra/