Runners will have the option to run their 10 mile race on a Designated Route (‘DR”) or on a route of their own choice.The runs can be completed any time between Saturday 5 December and Sunday 13 December and the results must be submitted by 8pm on the 13th. Competitors will not be required to upload files from their Garmin/Strava or other tracking services. At the time that your results are submitted, you will be asked to choose between the Designated Route or a Virtual Route of your choice. This gives runners the chance to run a route very similar to the official STK10 route or to run a virtual route anywhere in anywhere in the world.

The DR begins and ends in Woodbank Park, Stockport, and follows a route similar to the official STK10 route. By avoiding some of the neighbourhood sections of the STK10, it is easier to self-navigate. Those who complete the DR will be eligible for prizes for the 1st 3 M&F Finishers as well as Veterans M&F Prizes in 10-year Age Groups. Here is a link to the route map and a written guide to the DR:

Entries are £10 for all runners, plus a £0.75 admin/technology charge.

All the net proceeds from the event will be shared equally between NHS Charities and the Stockport Foodbank

Entrants who complete the race, will be sent a VSTK10 medal approximately 4 weeks after the race by post.

VSTK10 Designated Route Map

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/37055137

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/3256669774

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1197481

VSTK10 Designated Route Instructions

1. Start – Enter Woodbank Park by the Park Lane entrance. The route starts at the very first turn on the 1k tarmac loop. Do not turn L! Follow the 1k loop, counterclockwise 1 ½ times, then follow the tarmac path (with Horse’s Head and then car park on your R) to exit Park on Turncroft Lane.
2. 2. Turn L on Turncroft Lane.
3. 3. At lights, bear L on Hall Street, keeping to the pavement on the L side, which becomes Offerton Lane and then Marple Road (towards Marple) for approx 1 ½ miles. Shortly after the petrol station, take next L onto Bongs Road. Take care on Bongs Road, which drops sharply and can be icy. Bongs Road twists through about a half-mile of farms before ending at Dooley Lane.
4. 4. Turn L on Dooley Lane, which turns L and crosses the river just after mile 4, then turns R and becomes Otterspool Road. Keep on the L side as you run up the hill. Otterspool becomes Hatherlow and then Barrack Hill.
5. 5. At the top of Barrack Hill, turn L onto Perrycroft Lane (A6017), just after the 5mile/Halfway point.
6. 6. Follow Perrycroft/A6017 for approx. ¾ mile on the L side of the road until the junction with Stockport Road West/A560.
7. 7. Turn L on Stockport Road West/A560 and follow for approx. 1 mile to New Zealand Road.
8. 8. Turn L onto New Zealand Road (about mile 7) and follow for about ½ mile to the end, staying on the L side.
9. 9. Turn L onto Turncroft Lane, keeping to the L side. When the Lane turns R at the top of the hill, do NOT enter the Park, but follow the Lane as it turns R.
10. 10. Carry on along the L side of Turncroft for about another 1/3 mile and turn L at the lights onto Hall Street (approx. 8.25 miles).
11. 11. Hall Street becomes Offerton Road and stay on it to Woodland Drive (2^nd road on L after St Alban’s Church), turning L on Woodlands Drive.
12. 12. Take 2^nd L onto Ilfracombe Road, and then 2^nd L onto Beverley Road, which you follow to the end, turning L again onto Ludlow Road, which curves to the R, and follow to the end. Pass through the pedestrian gates, and take an immediate R onto Park Lane and into the Park.
13. 13. Carry on straight ahead to the 1k loop, past the Start Point and complete a counter clockwise circuit of the 1k loop, after passing the Start point for the 2^nd time, take the next R in about 150m onto the path leading to the Stadium, the finish and 10 mile point is immediately before the outer Stadium Gate.

VSTK10 Rules

• Follow the current Government Covid-19 social distancing and/or PPE guidelines when running your race
• Apply social distancing to stay clear/give priority to pedestrians and people using public spaces.
• You may submit your moving time to enable you to wait for traffic clear if you need to cross roads and to stop, if necessary, for walkers and other road/pavement users
• Minimum age to enter 18 years
• If you plan to run your own rather than the designated route, consider using an online route plotter to work out your route. We favour Plot-a-Route https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplanner, which is simple to use.
• If running the designated route, you must start and finish at the official Start & Finish Points in Woodbank Park (see Course Map and Notes).
• Carefully select your route and consider elevations, distances, any access restrictions – you must only use Public Rights of Way, consider the effect of social distancing on your planned route (canal towpaths etc) and the period of time you will be running. Try to avoid popular running/walking routes or busy parks.
• Consider the weather on the day of your run and dress accordingly
• If you are feeling unwell or have any medical conditions that could be affected by taking part in the race, wait until you are better before attempting the race.
• As per your normal run/walks there is no first aid cover for this challenge. If you don’t normally do so, please consider informing someone of where you are going and to check in with them on your return. Also, if possible, carry an ICE (in case of emergency) card with your details.
• The challenge is run under UKA rules, which should be followed by all participants.
• The first 3 M&F finishers on the Designated Route will not be eligible for AG prizes as well.