Swindon Striders

Friday 12th June Club Run
This is a route we have done in the past so some of you may remember it...
This route heads from the Link through Lydiard Park towards Lydiard MIllicent then back through Chestnut Springs and across the fields to Peatmoor and back https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46572025 Head out to Lydiard Park. Follow the normal "parkrun" route out and down the long back straight. Go straight on through the gate at the corner and follow the path across the fields and along the edge of Lydiard Millicent take the gate to lead into Forge Fields then head straight down to The Street. Straight over into Chestnut Springs, left, right then follow to the end and round to the path. Halfway down the path there is a split through the hedge into the field (which avoids most of the nettles. Follow to the right round the edge of the field until you get to the gap to cross the stream. Once across the field bear up hill slightly and to the left to come out onto the drive to Westhills Lodge. Straight on across the drive then follow the path into the next field then take the path to the right and follow it across two small paddocks onto Washpool lane almost opposite the end of Old Shaw Lane, along it to the cut through to bring you back onto Shaw Ridge and home.
This is a group run, you will not be left behind.
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Link - LM return via Chestnut Springs - Old Shaw Lane (revised) 8.5 km, +70 m. Bike ride in Swindon, England

Friday 5th June Club Run - "Blind Mile Challenge"
For the first time this "summer" we'll try out how good our estimates at pacing over a mile are!
"The aim is for each person to estimate how fast they will do a mile in. Then we all set off at staggered times so according to your estimate we will all finish as a dead heat!
It would be good to push it a little but if you are injured/don't want to push as hard estimate a slower time and stick with that!
Ideally bring a buff/sweat band/don't wear a watch/promise not to look and let's see how good our estimates are.
The mile is down the old railway line from just past the River Ray bridge to where it joins the Barnfield/West Swindon cycle way. (Full route at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51421747 )
Once we have run there and done the challenge, there are several routes back - straight back is a total of less than 4 miles otherwise a loop via Mannington Rec closer to 5 miles."
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Mile challenge from Link 8.0 km, +41 m. Bike ride in Swindon, England

Our Striders Community 🥰: always a welcoming and inclusive club, where running and friendship go hand in hand. (Did you know, we’re also EA registered, so we take your wellbeing seriously, as well as getting you reduced entry into races!) Many of us have made forever friends at Striders (and a few have found love 💚 - move over Tinder 😜) Talking of love, as well as running, we also love cakes 🍰 (ours are truly legendary 😋), the odd beer 🍺 & the Great British countryside!

This is how we do it….. Striders are SMASHING IT so far in 2026!! 💥 We’re so proud of all our members’ achievements: from a first small race to first marathon; from returns from injury to ultra marathons; or just turning up as you are at club come rain or shine (yes, last week’s heat wave included 🥵 !) 🤩👏🥳

Friday 29th May Club Run
This week's route is out via Barnfield, round Cheney Manor cut down past Moredon Hub and through to Nova Hreod. Just past the entrance go left through the hedge(!) across the bridge and follow the path across to the old railway line. Follow down the path until you can turn up over Shaw Forest then back through and across Shaw Ridge. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38392585
This is a group run, you will not be left behind.
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Link - Cheney Manor - Akers Way - Nova Hreod - Shaw Forest 9.2 km, +46 m. Bike ride in West Swindon, England

Friday 22nd May Club Run
It wasn't long ago that you did this route but once more a variation on the Lydiard Park loop... Out to Shaw Ridge and along to Lydiard Park pass the lakes on your right over the Troll bridge ;-) up to the cafe, out along the drive then follow the edge of the park around the outside of the walled garden and follow the drive to Hay Lane. Then turn left down the hill, under the underpass past the Hickory's Smokehouse, to the Village Inn before crossing by the shops at the pelican crossing and following the cycle trails/paths to Shaw Ridge and back to the Link. The last third is all on footpath but knowing the standard of Swindon footpaths may still be uneven! https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41005935
This is a group run, you will not be left behind.
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Link - Edge of LP Loop and Middleleaze 9.2 km, +75 m. Bike ride in West Swindon, England

Friday 15th May Club Run
Back to another familiar route (and some of it you may recognise from bank holiday runs as well).
This route loops round some of the green areas of West Swindon. Up to Shaw Ridge School, across to the top of Cartwright Drive and into Shaw Forest. An anti clockwise loop of the area until you are at the northern end where we drop down to the cycle path. Follow back down to Peatmoor lagoon, keeping the lagoon on your right carry on along the path to Swinley Drive. Follow left and round Sandacre Road and back to follow the cycle path all the way round past Shaw Village Centre, Brookhouse Farm to the entrance of Lydiard Park. From there back along the ridge. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44517890
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Link-Shaw Forest, Peatmoor Lagoon 8.3 km, +55 m. Bike ride in West Swindon, England

Monday 11th May - Swindon Striders' Distance Challenge
It's the 2nd Monday of the month and time for another Distance Challenge. You may have raced at the weekend so want to take it easy or tapering for a race to come or even wanting to work out how the legs feel ready for the coming week's races so
you are only challenging yourself and rating your run against how you did last time and how you do next time! As ever 40 minutes and you see how far you run in that time.
As a group we will all run up to the top of Marlborough road then set out at the same time running the same course for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes turn round and return to the start.
Follow down Marlborough Road, left into Windsor Road, left onto Queens Drive, left onto Upham Road, right onto Drove Road, right onto Cumberland Avenue, left onto Burford Avenue, follow round to right onto Drove Road then back onto Queens Drive. At some point on this route you will reach 20 minutes! At that point turn round and retrace your steps. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45377591 The theory is we all start and finish at the same time but may all run slightly different distances.
Remember the first half has more descent in it so if you go out too fast you may have a challenge getting back in 20 minutes...
Meet at outside Croft Sports Centre from 6.30 to run at 6.45

Striders Distance Trial 11.8 km, +58 m. Bike ride in Swindon, England

Friday 1st May Club Run
Now we're well into our summer runs we finally get to the regular loop of Lydiard Park.
Out to Shaw Ridge and along to Lydiard Park pass the lakes on your right over the Troll bridge ;-) up to the cafe, out along the drive then follow the edge of the park around the outside of the walled garden and follow the drive to Hay Lane. Then turn left down the hill, under the underpass past the Hickory's Smokehouse, to the Village Inn before crossing by the shops at the pelican crossing and following the cycle trails/paths to Shaw Ridge and back to the Link. The last third is all on footpath but knowing the standard of Swindon footpaths may still be uneven! https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41005935
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Link - Edge of LP Loop and Middleleaze 9.2 km, +75 m. Bike ride in West Swindon, England

Friday 24th April Club Run
"After the damp success of the bluebells last week, we'll do them again in the sunshine. This time we will visit the bluebells before Lydiard Park!
From the Link, up to Shaw Ridge then follow the usual route out to Blagrove. When there instead of turning left turn right and go and visit the bluebells. Then reverse the route as far as Hook Street. Turn left up Hook Street then right into Oatlands. Cut through at the end to the end of Mulcaster Avenue and into Lydiard Park. Follow an appropriate route round Lydiard Park then back onto Shaw Ridge and back to the Link https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50462436 "
Meet outside the 'Harvey'; beside the Link (West Swindon District Centre) from 6:30 for 6:45pm run.

Link - Hagbourne Copse (Bluebells) (Back via Lydiard Park) 9.3 km, +59 m. Bike ride in Swindon, England