Spring Chicken 5k & 10k Run - River Hamble Country Park

Join the seasonal running excitement at this uniquely charming trail event! Our 5K and 10K courses wind through spring blooms as participants navigate Gravel paths, Fields, and Mud.

Don't worry if you're not the fastest runner - our course marshals will keep you inspired and moving. Put on your pastel running gear and prepare for some fantastic spring excitement. After the race, indulge in excellent refreshments and awards for both the quickest runners and the best-dressed participants!

Egg-citing 5k & 10k Trail Race Instructions

Entry includes

• Bespoke edible medal

• Awards for both the speediest runners and best-dressed hippity-hoppers!

• Live Results

• Water stations

• Fully marked route

• Course marshals at key locations

• On-site First Aid

  
  

Facilities at venue

• Toilets

• Onsite Café

• Pay for 1hr parking (£2.50) and have full access to the grounds for the remainder of the day at no extra charge. Code will be sent out closer to the time for you to enter into the pay machines.

Participants must be:

• 11 years of age or older for a 5k

• 14 years of age or older for a 10k

Timetable of events

6:45am – Registration

7:50am – Both the 5k & 10k Race Briefing

8:00am – 10K Race Start (2 Lap)

8:10am – 5K Race Start (1 Laps)

10:00am – Close down

Getting there and event advice

River Hamble Country Park is located half a mile from Junction 8 of the M27, situated between Portsmouth and Southampton. Head to Pylands Lane and continue along the road through the park until you reach the marked car parks.

If you're using a sat nav to navigate to the park using the postcode, enter SO31 1BH and follow the brown tourist information signs to ensure you're heading the right way.

Consider carpooling for the event. Avoid parking on the nearby roads around River Hamble Country Park, as the park maintains positive relations with local residents, and we wish to honour this request.

Regrettably, free parking is not part of your race registration. However, the Country Park has provided a generous offer, allowing all participants to pay only the 1-hour parking fee (£2.50) for full-day coverage at no additional charge. You will receive a code closer to the event, which you must enter into the machine before departure.

Goodies

Prizes: 

• We give out prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd men and women in both distances for this race; these prizes are awarded on the line.

• Spot Prizes are on offer for best dressed

Refreshments 

On site Café offering Hot Drinks, Cold Drinks and Snacks. 

Race instructions

Please dress up in your best pastel colour running gear or Easter outfits! We love seeing your outfits for these races.

Race numbers can be collected from Race HQ from 7am. Please complete the information on the back of your number.

Results: This event is being timed by us, and results will be available on our website later that day.

In a bid to be more environmentally conscious, we do not supply safety pins for attaching your race number. Please remember to bring your own or wear a belt or use some event clips.

Safety

On the back of your number write an ICE number and any medical details. This will help us and you. Marshals will be positioned on the course to provide help if required, along with some roaming bike marshals. If you need to drop out of the race at any time we will try and get you as quickly as possible. The good. We would also recommend you download a free app called what3words which can help pinpoint your exact location.

We do not have exclusive use of the park, and you might encounter dog walkers. Please remember that this is a Country Park, and they have as much right to use the grounds as we do. Be respectful of others around you and stay aware of faster runners passing by.

Race Rules

• If you would like to withdraw from the race, you must report this to a Marshall who will assist

• Dogs or buggies are not permitted on the course with competitors due to Insurance and Permit limitations

• Minimum age for this race is 11 years for the 5k and 14 years for the 10k on the day

  
  

Spectator Info

Supporters are more than welcome to come along and cheer on the runners. Please note however that there are a limited number of suitable vantage points unless you walk away from the start line. If supporters have a dog with them, then please ensure they remain on a lead at all times.

Baggage

Please leave your belongings in your car.

Toilets

There are two sets of toilet blocks; the first is located in the café, and the second is a short 2-minute walk away in the building to the right of the café.

Routes

You will be running mainly on gravel tracks within the park, which are well maintained and take in some great woodland trails. There will be tree stumps, roots, ditches and puddles on some of the tracks, so please watch your footing. The course will be well marked with signs and arrows and marshals will be at key points to direct you.

The race brief and start of the races will take place next to the Café, where the race starts and finishes. It could be muddy in places, so trail shoes are recommended – something with some grip to get you round.

Cut-offs

The cut-off is 1.5 hours for the 5k race. The 10k race has a cut off of 2 hours. Both races will have sweepers in them to look after the back of the pack and make sure you all finish safely.

Waterstations/Aid stations

These will be evenly placed along the routes and have plenty of water. Our races are CUPLESS on the course to prevent littering and we require you to carry your own cup or water supply, then you will be able to fill them up at aid stations. We will offer water cups and the end of the race away from the finish line.

Litter: We do not tolerate littering. Please, please don’t throw your litter on the ground. If you have something, pop it in a pocket or hang on to it and deposit at an aid station. Anyone caught littering will be disqualified.

Weather: The race is in April, so please take into consideration the previous day’s weather when considering what to wear – wear appropriate clothing for the conditions.

Photos: We will have photographers at this events, but we also love seeing your pictures of the event in our Facebook Group. Make sure you post yours for others to see!