Race date: 13 July 2024

Race distance: 4 mile

Race report by Kathy Liddiard

Buxton Carnival 4 is a 4-mile road race that features on the Saturday of carnival week just before the parade sets off.

It begins at the bottom of Spring Gardens where you run up the high street followed by a short steeper section towards the opera house.

The next section follows the same route as Buxton Half Marathon, along St John’s Road on a gradual uphill until Burbage where you turn back and follow Macclesfield Road back downhill towards the town centre.

Once you reach the edge of the beautiful Pavilion Gardens, you turn left and continue along a flat Burlington Road which runs along the edge of the park. This section is lined with spectators awaiting the parade to come through so there’s lots of support. There’s also a water station here which marks the halfway point of the course.

At the end of Burlington Road, you take a left to join St John’s Road again and follow the previous uphill and downhill sections.

After this lap, instead of heading back along Burlington Road, you see the “400m to go” sign and carry on ahead. Straight into the sting in the tail of Bath Road, which takes you up to the market place where the finish line awaits, along with a medal and a bottle of Buxton water.

It’s a small race with a limit of 200 runners, but there’s so much support on route with all the spectators awaiting the parade, it feels much more of an event, with a great atmosphere. You can sign up online in advance or enter on the day if the limit isn’t met by then. I was planning to attend the parade with my family so decided to enter on the day. Registration was quick with a form to fill out and pay £8 cash (it’s £10 if unaffiliated) to get your bib.

There were prizes (including trophies) for the top 3 males and top 3 females, as well as prizes for 1st placed veteran categories. The latter of which I won for 2 cans of Buxton Brewery pale ale and a coaster! Definitely worth that last minute entry!

The race was won by Lukas Parker (Running Academy) in 20:59 and by Amy Neill (Staffordshire Moorlands AC) in 25:49. 187 runners finished.