Race Date: Saturday 1st April 2023

The LDWA 3 Shires ultra is a permanent fixture in my calendar. Sadly I had to miss out last year after contracting Covid the day before the event so I was determined to run it this year.

All entrants are initially put on a waiting list then offered to to pay for the place later as the event always sells out. Thankfully we all got places and chose the 30 mile route (there are 21, 23, 28 and 30 mile options). For the princely sum of £7 for LDWA members or £15 for non members, we were treated to a brew before the start, a nicely stocked aid station at the end of the Roaches, a massive buffet of snacks at Wildboarclough (twice for us as we did the Cheshire loop), then an all you can eat buffet of quiche and salads (at least 6 different salads) plus desserts upon completion.

The only down side to this event is having to run past Wincle brewery at 28 miles, with 2 to go, seeing patrons sitting on the picnic benches enjoying a relaxing beer and not being able to join them – pure torture!

The route starts at Swythamley and takes in Gun Hill, the Roaches, Lud’s Church, Gradbach Mill, 3 Shires Head, Cumberland Cottage, Shutlingsloe (optional), the Cheshire loop (optional) then a run back from Wildboarclough to Swythamley. It is a truly stunning route.

It is a timed event but no places are awarded so you are just running against yourself which can make it a nice and relaxed event if that is what’s required. We took it nice and steady, especially after I bullied Ben and Steve into completing the Cheshire loop – note they only did 20 miles last year without me there to bully them.

Weather was kind and a great day out was had by all.

Striders Results: