Possibly one of the biggest Striders turn outs you'll see all year, the Pie and Peas never fails to disappoint.
Organised by the Vale Royal Athletic Club, the course is a mixture of village road, off-road tracks, and a whopping great big hill as you head back into Moulton. Unsurprisingly, as the name suggests, you get a pie and a tin of peas for finishing.
While it won't be joining the other medals proudly hanging up on my wall, it was possibly more delicious than most race offerings. And it doesn't leave you having to think about tea after the run.
On Wednesday (August 7), 27 Striders crossed the finish line. Mick Hutchins was the first from Sandbach to cross the line bang on the half-hour mark.
June Wray came first in her age category, while Andy Thomas, and Elaine Wood both came second in theirs. Mick took third in his age group, as the 11th placed finisher, while Abbie Jennings also came third in her age category.
Hopefully a few of the Striders found the warm-ups around Moulton - led by Martin Gunther and Tom Mayell - a nice warm-up as well as a chance to sample the local pubs.
And, luckily for everyone taking part, the weather conditions this year were a slight bit better than the year before. Personally, 2023 was my first as a Strider so I took part in my first Pie and Peas to see what the fuss was about.
Sadly, the heavens opened on the start line, leading to some interesting conditions. A dry run this year however meant a chance to take in the rolling river paths, lucious countryside, and enthusiastic crowds.
The five-mile route leaves from the rugby field onto the chocolate box village streets before meandering through the countryside fields. While the course would be considered “undulating” it's not until the second half you meet the most challenging of hills.
However, once tackled, it's a loop back around to the start, through the village streets, and a well-supported lap of the field and across the line. It was the finish where it truly showed the sense of community from the Striders supporting each other across that last push.
And with everyone across the line, we had another reason to celebrate, as club chair Karen Lovatt celebrated her birthday - and still turned out for a race! It meant the lucky Striders were treated to pie, peas, and chocolate cake!
Full results for the club members can be found here: VRAC - Pie & Peas 2024