Run Reigate Trails 10km

RUN SERIES have two successful half marathons on their books with Run Reigate and Run Gatwick.   Last year saw the introduction of Run Reigate Trails a 10km run between Reigate and Redhill.

The inaugral spring run took place last year at The Royal Alessandra and Albert Private School at Gatton Park, Gatton Point at the northern end
of Redhill.   This was quickly followed with a second event on the same course as the summer 10km trails run.   To add another branch on their portfolio Run Series added a Canicross/dog fit run for runners to bring their dogs along.

Sunday 19th February 2023 was the second Spring 10km run on the same course held just below the North Downs taking in a beautiful run around the lake, through the school grounds and around the horse fields making it a standout run.  This is a run with effort as there are three hills that require effort and because it's a 5km course you have to run it twice.

A welcome change on the route was on the hill as you finish the lake leg of the course.   It's a long steep run to the school farm yard that take a lot of effort.   This year there was a detour on the hill that goes flat, loops round and then goes up again.   It doesn't sound like a lot, but it gives that recovery opportunity that will get you to the top (on both occassions).

Run Reigate 10km Trails Run

I AM A big fan of Run Series based in Reigate, probably being born in Redhill and living there for the first 19 years of my life.   I discovered sometime ago that they had a half marathon in Reigate and ran their 10km, having just started running, coming back the next year for the half marathon.

Reigate was set to be my first half marathon, but they added Run Gatwick to their books and although I wasn't going to run it I got involved with a part of the planning and decided to give it a go.   This was my first half marathon.

This year Run Series decided to look at 5km and 10km trails run in Redhill.   This took place on the 20th February 2022 with a Spring run.   On the back of the success they followed it with a summer evening 5km and 10km run which took place on the 28th July 2022.

Gatton Park is a private school situated in extensive grounds just under the North Downs. The run consists of either a 5km or 10km run (two loops of the 5km). It starts at the back of Gatton House taking path and trails to the large lake and a ford. As you exit the lake you go up hill to a farm area and school grounds. This drops you back into the trails going past the horse stables and back to the finish or second loop.

Both 10km runs were run by myself and follow Haywards Heath Harrier Oliver Farr both of us have multiple attendances at Run Reigate Half Marathon and I have the same with Run Gatwick.

Oli had a great run crossing the finish line 27th at 52:01, followed by myself 106th at 01:04:26 achieving 6th in my category.

Run Reigate Trails is a complex run due to the a long harsh hill as you exit the lake, because it's a 5km route you have to run the hill twice for the 10km.   The 5km is an excellent run for people who have got their Parkrun and looking for something a more adventurous or looking for a challenging 10km.   It's a beauful run on private land just below the North Downs, which makes it exclusive.

 

Inaugral Run Reigate 10km Trails

 

STORM EUNICE caused a lot of issues with trees and power lines coming down right upto the wire with Run Reigate's inaugral 10km Trails Run on Sunday 20th February 2022.   With organisers holding an emergency meeting in the early hours it was deemed safe for the event to be run as athletes began to arrive at Gatton Park.

Run Reigate half marathon started in 2014 and five years later opened their second run with Run Gatwick half marathon.   Adding to their portfolio is the new trails run.   Run Series appears to be going from strength to strength.   Great promotions, great runs and great organising.

The route is situated just below the north downs at Reigate Hill, nestled between Redhill and Merstham in Surrey. It’s a 5km loop of the grounds landscaped by Capability Brown between 1762 and 1766 incorporating the beautiful lake.   There is a Japanese Garden that was featured on Channel 4’s Lost Gardens and this week saw BBC Weather filming there due to their abundance of snowdrops.   In order to complete the course athletes were required to complete two loops of the course.

With a lot of rain overnight and high wind warnings the run went ahead. First off were the CaniCross runners, with their dogs on leads around their waists’, with sweeping runs down to the lake and running across a ford feeding excess water from the large lake to smaller ones, before going uphill on the other side.   Circling the Royal Alexandra and Albert School and going back out onto the trails.   Parts of the course were extremely muddy with 200+ athletes running the 5km course twice.

In the line up was some great efforts from Haywards Heath Harriers Oliver Farr 00:52:29, who is getting close to completing his personal challenge of 100 marathons and Michael Parish 01:02:06, who was born in Redhill.

There is a great vlog from "Here We Are Running" of the race.   If you look at the photo's above you can spot me at the beginning of the race.   Highlights are the lake, water ford and muddy bits (you have to wait until the second 5km loop to see it properly).

Click here for the Here We Are Running vlog.

 

Coverage in The Mid Sussex Times, text by me and Photograph by Oliver Farr.