Marathon training is tough at the best of times. Long miles in the dark and cold winter months in preparation for a Spring marathon, and often completed in the worst of the British weather. The Naseby 1645 race is well known for being set along a challenging route, with plenty of testing hills (including the very aptly named ‘Dick’s Hill’). This year, with the -7° wind chill, conditions were even more testing than most!
16.45 miles may seem like a random distance for a road race, but the race starts and finishes at Naseby, passing seven of the viewpoints and memorials representing the Battle of Naseby, which took place in the year 1645. This year, along with trophies at the finish, our podium runners each also received a copy of the book Naseby 1645 – The Morning That Changed The World.
This was our second year having returned to Naseby Village Hall, and using buses to shuttle the runners in for the race from Market Harborough.
Whilst we received numerous reviews and emails from runners raving about how well-organised the event was, what people didn’t see was the panic of the day before when, whilst out marking the course, we came across a set of traffic lights along the Clipston Road into East Farndon. Situated along one of the ‘faster’ roads on route (although with an enforced speed restriction of 40mph on race day), it absolutely would not be safe to race alongside an unmanned set of traffic lights at this section of the course.
Northants Highways were unaware of emergency works that had been undertaken by Anglian Water due to a burst mains water pipe on the Friday evening and, not only was the site now unmanned, but the area had been dug up, with earth pile up onto the road. Even if the area that had been dug up had been filled in subsequent to the completion of the works, it would have required a full cleaning team to ensure the dirt that was piled up on the road didn’t then become a slip hazard for runners on route.
Luckily the traffic management team employed for the Naseby 1645 race leapt into action upon receiving my call on Saturday lunchtime. Although initially having been told that the burst mains had been fixed and the road would be clear before race day, they had the foresight to make a backup plan should this not be the case when we arrived the following morning for a final course check.
Race day arrived and the road hadn’t been cleared, so the backup plan was activated and the team enforced an emergency one-way restriction along this section of road. This was manned by two extra members of staff from the traffic management team, the cost of which I had to bear! Despite the extra stress and cost involved, I’m told that this section ran smoothly, and the few runners/volunteers I had spoken to before the race all assured me that this was absolutely a non-issue.
The cold wind and sleet that had begun as runners were arriving at the Village Hall on Sunday morning did nothing to encourage runners to head out to the start on time, and with a minute to go before the official start, I found myself still corralling runners into position. A number of who stopped in front of the line, facing the wrong direction and needed to be told that they were in the way of the start. I can certainly tell who didn’t read the race pack!
I recognised several of the runners standing at the front, and in fact, all the way back through the crowd. It’s always lovely to recognise faces, and to see runners return to a Race Harborough event once again.
We had a few changes to the event setup this year; a slight change of location for two of the water stations on course, baggage stored in the back section of the village hall to allow for more room in the main hall for runners to stay dry and warm until the last possible moment, and improved bus times for the journey to the start.
Local runner Jack Chennell, from Higham Harriers AC, took the lead very early on, and held it until the end, finishing in a very impressive 1:35:32, nearly four minutes ahead of Best Athletics runner Matthew Naisbit (1:39:26). Less than a minute later, and our male podium was completed with Isaac Walter (Northampton Road Runners) crossing the line 1:39:45 after the start of the race.
Once our Lead Cyclist, Rich, had safely seen Jack through to the finish, he headed back out on course in search of the leading lady. Jo Harris (Rugby & Northampton AC) had put herself into that position for the second year running, having also been the first lady to finish in 2025. This year she crossed the finish line as first female, having beaten her 2025 time by 38 seconds, and as the 15th overall finisher in the time of 1:57:10. There was a short wait before Sophia Perkins (Best Athletics) crossed the line to finish as second female in 2:07:12. Completing our podium was Katie Howard, running for Huncote Harriers, completing the race in 2:07:59.
Rob and Jules, two of our core team of volunteers at Race Harborough, have taken to manning the final water station on route in recent years, which they then stock with cider, alongside the regular water on offer. This year was no exception and Rob and Jules had set up their water/cider station once again. Always popular with the runners. Hopefully it warmed a few of you before the finish in what were absolutely brutal conditions this year!
The 2027 Naseby 1645 race has been scheduled for Sunday, 14th February, and entries are already open. You can find out more and sign up for the 2027 event here.