Shortly after I ran in the well organised Hullavington Secret Santa 10 road race, I discovered that the organisers, Stampede Sports, were going to hang up their hats in the middle of this year (2025). With this in mind I made a late decision last week to enter their Wiltshire 10 event, an annual road race that may now cease to exist.
The 10 mile route starts in the King George V Park, Melksham. This is also the venue for Melksham Parkrun – when I arrived on the morning of the race a Junior Parkrun was in full swing. Race HQ was inside the Adventure Centre by the river and my first task was to collect my numbered bib from here – a pleasing touch was its design that included the Wiltshire flag. Queues were forming but all was, once again, well organised and I didn’t have long to wait. I noted there was a manned bag drop with no queue so opted to return to this after checking out the start and taking some photographs. It was a cold morning, albeit dry, and I wanted to hold on to my fleece for as long as was practical.
As I left the HQ I could see a queue forming by the temporary toilet facilities provided so joined this to ensure I was comfortable and wouldn’t have to queue again – it was, after all, only likely to get busier.
The start point was clearly signed and the timekeepers were setting up their equipment. I was pleased to see runners were to be seeded according to expected finish times as this helps minimise the inevitable starters congestion. Having familiarised myself with the setup I returned to HQ and checked in my bag. There were now long queues for both bibs and toilets.
As 10am approached participants made their way to the start point. I expected to finish in just under 2 hours so positioned myself by this seeding point. Being so far back in a field of around 300 runners, many of whom were merrily chatting, I couldn’t hear the run director’s short briefing. I’d read the rules sent out beforehand and assumed I’d be able to follow the runners in front, and that course marshals would ensure we didn’t take wrong turns.
Strava tells me we started bang on 10am – pleasing on such a cold morning. The route went clockwise around the park on the tarmac perimeter path and then crossed a footbridge to join a gravel path by the river – this was quite badly puddled but firm underfoot. It then veered right onto another tarmac path that led up and out of the park, into a housing estate. At the first main junction marshals directed us left onto a road that joins Melksham to Lacock. This is quite long and winding, and was not closed to traffic, but drivers were mostly mindful of runners who were all staying on the left hand side as directed. Towards the end was the water station that provided beakers of water to runners in both directions. A marshal was active picking up discarded beakers and offering welcome encouragement.
At the end of this road more marshals directed us left and then right, onto a lane that led to Reybridge. More left hand turns – all with marshals – took us around the loop into and through Lacock. Some of these lanes were narrow but the few drivers encountered did their best to let runners keep moving at pace.
The route goes along Lacock High Street, past the Abbey and over a double stone bridge before ascending to rejoin the road to Melksham. It was then simply a matter of retracing steps back to the park. The hills encountered were never too steep, more gentle undulations. Any mud and puddles on roads could mostly be avoided.
Having returned to the park and run along the river path there was a short climb past Race HQ – I was by now pushing through on very tired legs. People here were cheering everyone in, assuring us we were only 200m from the finish. After 10 miles of effort what a relief that was.
Finishers were given a rather lovely medal – the Wiltshire bustard on slate surrounded by wood in one of the Wiltshire colours. Bottles of water were available along with a tasty looking flapjack. For those wanting something more substantial, coffee and filled rolls could be purchased back at Race HQ.
I made my way to collect my bag, retrieved with friendly efficiency after a minimal wait. It was then time to find Husband who had kindly acted as my taxi service that I need not worry about finding a suitable parking space in town.
The Wiltshire 10 was another very enjoyable road race that I was personally happy to complete in 1:46 – a little faster than anticipated and my 3rd fastest 10 mile effort. Given the reasonably flat route and attractive countryside terrain passed, it would be pleasing if some other organiser could take on the race when Stampede closes itself down.
