Race Date: Sunday 17th November 2024
Race Report by: Caroline Brash
The 37th edition of the “Heanor Pudding Run”, hosted by Heanor RC took place on 17th November 2024. The event has been sponsored by Matthew Walker, the world’s oldest Christmas Pudding maker, founded in 1899 and based in Heanor itself, with a claim to supply 40% of all Christmas Puddings worldwide and two-thirds of those consumed in Britain, since the race’s inception.
The race was based in the very picturesque Shipley Country Park, and offered plenty of car parking close to race HQ, plus toilets and refreshments. After collecting our numbers we were set off at 10am, after the 1.5km fun run which started at 9am.
The route started pretty inauspiciously, with a loop of an industrial estate on closed roads (during which we actually passed the Matthew Walker pudding factory!) but just after that first mile we ran back into the park and followed a beautiful, if undulating, route utilising the well made paths and metalled roads contained therein. Road shoes were fine! The route was well marshalled, which was lucky as I think we did some sort of rather complicated figure of eight!
I thoroughly enjoyed this race, which I only decided to sign-up for on the cut-off date a week before the event. It was described as being ideal for seasoned runners and first timers alike, and I’d agree that it felt very inclusive for participants at all levels.
At the end we were all given a Matthew Walker Luxury Christmas Pudding, Christmas Pudding themed medal, mince pie and there was even mulled wine! As someone who usually refuses to acknowledge Christmas until after our more local Christmas Pudding 10 has taken place, I must admit to feeling a little festive in mid-November! All the spare Christmas Puddings were donated to Derby County Community Trust for their food bank appeal, and money was also donated to local charities.
There were 719 finishers. William Brailey of Notts AC was the winner in 36:24, and first female was Rachel Nealon of Huncote Harriers in 38:38.
Two Striders took part:
| Position | Name | Category | Time |
| 104 | Matt Hawker | MSEN | 00:48:08 |
| 449 | Caroline Brash | F45 | 01:03:00 |
The full results can be viewed here.
