St Albans Striders
Heartwood Forest, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Heartwood Forest, St Albans, Hertfordshire
The St Albans Stampede is an ultra marathon running event, held in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, covering parts of Heartwood Forest and Nomansland Common.
The challenge is to cover the most amount of distance (four-mile loops) over a designated time period of 12 hours – this can be undertaken solo, as a pair or as a team relay (up to 4, and up to 8 person options). New for 2024, prizes will additionally be awarded for the winning mixed and female pairs and teams.
It’s worth noting that the category winners will be awarded on distance covered only. In other words, you don’t have to run the full 12 hours to have successfully completed the challenge. The 12 hour duration is simply the maximum allowable time. All entrants, even those that complete just one loop, will have successfully participated in the event and be awarded a medal for their efforts.
If participants from the 100 Marathon Club want to stop at marathon distance to record a successful completion, this is very much acceptable - however they will need to record a full 7th lap so will cover at least 28 miles.
The event is held under UK Athletics rules. Please note that under UKA rules, entrants aged 17 may only run a maximum of 25km and entrants aged 18 and 19 may only run a maximum of 45km.
By Car: The car park is situated off the B651, the main road that runs from Sandridge to Wheathampstead, at the North end of Sandridge Village. The nearest postcode to the entrance driveway is AL4 9DQ. There is a brown tourist sign pointing into Heartwood Forest car park from the main road. If you are travelling towards Wheathampstead, it is a left turn off the B651
By Bus: There is now only one bus for Heartwood Forest that stop in Sandridge Village: The Centre Bus 304 from Welham Green to Hitchin via St Albans, On Saturdays these can be accessed at St Albans City Station or St Peter’s Street. Check the timetable: 304 - Hitchin - St Albans via Kimpton & Wheathampstead – Centrebus (South) – bustimes.org The bus stop by St Leonard’s Church is right by the bridleway “Pound Lane” leading to Heartwood Forest and the race HQ. There will be no signage at this point so please just make your way up the bridleway and the HQ is approximately ½ mile up on the left.
By Rail: Take the train to St Albans City Station. From London it departs from St Pancras International or other Thameslink stations but can be reached from any station along the Brighton to Bedford Line. You will then need to take one of the other options above to reach the event site.