Sheffield Way Relays

Sunday 21st September 2025 | Author Liz Richardson

What better way to spend a beautiful sunny Sunday than running nearly 50 miles around Sheffield in five chunks, up and down those famous 7 hills. That’s exactly what Team DRC did at the Sheffield Way Relays, brilliantly organised by the Steel City Striders. Five legs, about 10 miles each, and a glorious mix of road, trail, fields, and even a scramble up Stanage Edge. Proper Sheffield running. A big thank you to Lucy for organising our team and cheering us all on via WhatsApp throughout the day. Great work team captain.

Leg 1 – Stu & Tom kicked us off at 8:15am sharp, thundering out of Attercliffe and making their way up to Grenoside Woods. They had 9.84 miles and 1,304 feet of climbing to contend with – including a savage uphill finish – but they made it look easy, clocking 1:24 and setting the tone for the day. High five, job done, and onto…

Leg 2 – Paul & Liz (me!). Things started so well with a lovely downhill through Greno Woods to Oughtibridge. But this was a fell-style relay so naturally the climbing soon began. Up the road. Then up a trail. Then up some fields. And when we thought we’d finished, guess what? More fields. Huge thanks to Paul for dragging me onwards when my legs were already sending polite complaints to management.

The descents were worth it though – quad-busting drops through woods, views that stretched for miles, and the glittering water of Wyming Brook Dam, which honestly looked like something out of the Rocky Mountains. Somewhere on the way through the ups and downs we took a wrong turn but with the help of some friendly (and better navigated) runners, we were back on course in no time. We finished our leg (9.7 miles, 1,591ft) in 1:40 and tagged in…

Leg 3 – Mel & Julia. If we’d had any breath left, we’d have been jealous. Their leg took in the stunning Stanage Edge and Totley Moor – some of the best scenery the Peak District has to offer. They smashed their 9.16 miles with 1,194ft of climbing in 1:45, finishing at the Cricketers Inn where they also got the most rewarding transition of the day: handing over to Hannah and Joe then strolling straight into the pub for a well-earned drink. Time for the next leg…

Leg 4 – Hannah & Joe. These two flew from Totley to Ford, tearing through Dronfield and Coal Aston. They covered 9.9 miles and 1,076ft in a jaw-dropping 1:16 – and that included losing 5 minutes in a golf course. We never expected anything less. Superb running. Time for the last leg…

Leg 5 – Simon & Mark. The anchors. The closers. The ones who had to start their leg at Ford bang on 2pm, all Leg 5 runners together. Their 9.29 miles with 1,107ft included a couple of navigation hiccups (let’s call them “extended sightseeing”), but thanks to two kind runners from Hillsborough and Rivelin, they made it to Attercliffe in 1:28 – crossing the line hand-in-hand with their rescuers. Trail running solidarity at its finest.

And just like that, Team DRC had conquered the Sheffield Way. 8th place out of 27 teams and more importantly, a day full of teamwork, adventure and a reminder of why relays are so special. This was the first time in three years we’d managed to get a team together and it couldn’t have been better.

Running is rarely easy – there are always hills to grind up, descents to test the quads and moments you wonder why you didn’t just stay in bed. But the rewards? Stunning views, laughs with teammates, a cold pint at the finish and memories that last long after the mud washes off.

Next year, let’s get more DRC teams on that start line. Because honestly – this event is too good to miss.