Fly the nest from St Aidan's to Fairburn Ings!
Just like the St Aidan’s 10K , but more so! This is the trail half marathon that takes you round not one but two nature reserves!
Following the successful re-imagining of the summer St Aidan’s 10K into the Virtually Real 10K, our friends at RSPB have asked that we do the same for the Half Marathon, so that they can continue to safely manage visitor numbers around the sites of St Aidan’s and Fairburn Ings.
So for those of you who didn’t take part in the 10K, what does virtually real mean? Well, it’s real in that you are being invited to run the St Aidan’s Half Marathon course and it’s virtual in that you are asked to run it at a time of your choosing between Saturday 10th and Sunday 18th October. Like a real race, you will have a race number, but like a virtual run you will record your own time. Like a real race there will be a start line, finish line and marked course, but like a virtual run there won't be any marshals. You will get a medal when you finish, but they will be sent out after the event. Maybe it’s really virtual, but we like to think it’s virtually real.
The course starts close to the RSPB visitor centre at St Aidan's Nature Reserve and follows the River Aire for a spin around Fairburn Ings before returning back to St Aidan's.
When?
18th - 31st october 2021
Where?
RSPB ST aidan's, Astley Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS26 8AL
Detailed directions here
Please note that parking is limited at St Aidan's. If you travel by car, please car share if you can. The car park is open, but you will need to pay to stay.
How much?
£12 affiliated - £14 unaffiliated
For which you will receive a marked course through two nature reserves, a race number, a published result and best of all a race medal!
Route?
Starting 200m from the Visitor Centre, after a quick loop of St Aidan's, the route follows the River Aire to Fairburn Ings, does a loop of this second nature reserve and then returns back to the start.
St Aidan's Nature Reserve
Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Leeds, St Aidan’s nature park is a stunning wild place to explore. Whether you’re on foot, on your bike or have your camera at the ready, take advantage of the amazing views and wonderful wildlife spectacles on offer.
St Aidan’s was an opencast mine for many years and has now been restored to a wonderful nature park for everyone to enjoy. Follow four different trails through woodland glades, alongside whispering reedbeds, around lakes and ponds, and onto a hill with stunning panoramic views.
St Aidan’s is a fabulous spot to bring the family. There’s plenty of space to explore, bring your bikes and run around. It’s early days for St Aidan’s. We’re just setting out on our journey. We’d love to share it with you.
Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve
Nestled between Leeds, York and Wakefield, Fairburn Ings is an exciting site for family activities and serious wildlife watching. Over the last 60 years it has transitioned from coal face to wild place; an ex-industrial site rich in heritage and an important site for breeding and wintering wildfowl, especially gadwalls.
30% of net profits from this race shall be donated to the RSPB. This is expected to be at least £700. RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 207076, and in Scotland, number SC037654.