Stroud Beer Race 2026

I recently ran Stroud Beer Race for the second time. Organised by Stroud AC, Stroud Beer Race is part of the Gloucestershire AAA road race series. I won my age group in the series last year and am attempting to defend my title this year. Last year, Stroud Beer Race was my absolute worst race in the series. I wondered if I could avoid running it this year, but I’d already missed the first two races of the series, so I couldn’t afford to miss it. I was dreading it though.

And then the heatwave hit!

May had been really cold. A week before the race, I’d still been using my electric blanket. Then suddenly it was the hottest May on record. The day before the race, the temperature in Gloucestershire had got up to 33 degrees. On the day of the race, it ‘only’ hit 29. It did feel more comfortable, but it was still way too hot for running. I don’t run in anything above the low 20s because I generally run in the mornings before it gets too hot.

I had no idea how I would cope with running in 29 degrees, but I would just have to do my best.

The race is three laps around Minchinhampton Common on the outskirts of Stroud. The race HQ is The Old Lodge Inn on the common, with parking on the grass on the driveway leading up to the pub. I arrived at about 6:15pm for the 7pm race. My husband drove over separately with Hetty, which was a good job, because I’d forgotten my Garmin! He arrived just in time to hand it over. I was really pleased to see a couple of my friends from the club at the race, who made it a much more positive experience for me.

There were two portaloos outside the pub for runners, but we decided to use the pub toilets!

Runners had been sent warm weather reminders before the race. There was one water station on the course, which we passed three times, but we were also advised to carry our own. I carried a small bottle of electrolytes and I was very glad that I did. I also took a gel just before running and had another one with me in case.

The race starts by running about 200 metres down the driveway from the pub and then we were onto the main course. Initially, I felt quite comfortable running. I knew the hot weather would affect my running, but I wasn’t sure how much it would affect me. Last year, I’d run the race in 54:29 and come second in my age category. I wondered if I could still stick with a sub-8 min/ mile in the heat?

My main rival in the race series was signed up for the race, but I didn’t see her before the start. It was fairly busy, but not so busy that I would have missed her.

As soon as we got onto the main course, we were climbing gradually. Although on the first lap I didn’t actually notice it. Then we turned a corner, which is the only part of the course which is sort of flat. Here we saw the 5 mile sign, ready for the final lap, then the 3 mile sign. Those are not good things to see when you’ve just started running.

There is then a fairly steep downhill and a welcome bit of shade. I reached the 1 mile marker very quickly. I actually ran that first mile in 7:19 and was still feeling comfortable. And then I wasn’t feeling comfortable! Straight after the downhill is the steepest uphill of the course. Then it just keeps climbing gradually. About this point, halfway round the lap, was the water station. I slowed down to a walk for a couple of seconds just to make sure I could drink some, then literally poured the rest down my top. Normally I would splash it on myself very carefully.

I felt refreshed from both drinking the surprisingly cool water and splashing it on myself and had a new lease of life for the hill.

As I started the second lap, I saw my husband, which was nice. Then I realised that the start of the lap was actually uphill. But at least the 3 mile marker was intended for me this time around. The lady with the water pistol on the corner was much appreciated.

I was getting hotter and hotter. The race was getting harder and harder. I was drinking frequently and hoping I had enough to keep me going until the end.

When I came to the first big hill on the second lap, I realised I couldn’t run. So I walked. I ran briefly, then walked again at the water station. In total, I walked four times on the second lap.

I started thinking things like maybe I could just walk the whole third lap? I didn’t care about winning my age category any more, I just wanted to be cooler.

But on the other hand, I definitely hadn’t seen my rival (there are other runners of our age, but the age category is definitely a two horse race). To be honest, I hadn’t seen many women at all. So maybe I was still on track to win the category?

I passed my husband again, passed the lady with the water pistol again. Passed the 5 mile marker. Down the short downhill. Then uphill again… My watch data tells me I walked in exactly the same four places on the third lap as I did on the second lap. It wasn’t intentional. But each time I reached a point where I felt like I couldn’t go on any further. My watch data also shows me my heart rate was through the roof, so it’s not surprising I couldn’t go on. I ran the seventh mile in 9:27.

Finally I was at the turning to the finish line. It felt like a long way down the drive. I crossed the line in just over an hour. Strangely, despite the discomfort, it didn’t feel like I’d been running for an hour.  Six minutes slower than last year! Surely I couldn’t have won the age category with that?

I drank three little cups of water and picked up my nice metal medal, featuring a cow (they graze on the common). It was about 100 times better than last year’s medal. My husband was very happy to drink my little cup of beer for me.

I met up with my friends and we waited to see if I’d won my age category. And I had! When they called out the woman in the 40 category and I realised she’d taken over an hour too, I believed I might have won it. In actual fact, I beat the lady who won the 40 category by one second. I got a £10 voucher for a sports shop in Stroud, which was nice. Although it wouldn’t cover the McDonald’s I bought on the way home as it was Bourton mile deja vu -suddenly being hit by hunger at 8:30pm and realising I hadn’t eaten.

Will I run the Stroud Beer Race again? Who knows? I was buzzing to win my age category, but it was one of the hardest runs I’ve ever done.