Hill run
Our flagship. Four pace groups, three climbs and a very loud finish on top of Kestrel Beacon.
Free hill & trail running clubEvery Saturday 07:00Kestrel Common, north gateEvery pace welcome
Saturday Stampede
Hills on purposeNobody finishes aloneCoffee at the topRain or shine
HillsTrailsNight loopsLong SundaysFirst 5KCoffee afterHillsTrailsNight loops
Saturday Stampede is a free running club for anyone with legs and a sense of humour. We meet at the north gate of Kestrel Common, split into pace groups and run the hills until somebody mentions coffee.
- 07:00Every Saturday, all year round
- FreeNo sign-up and no kit rules
- 5–21Kilometres, in four pace groups with a sweeper at the back
Pick your hill
Five runs a week, from a gentle first 5K to a long Sunday on the ridge. Come to one, come to all of them.
Repeats
One hill, eight times. Short, sharp and oddly addictive. The coach sets the effort, you set the pace.
Night loop
Head torches on, city lights below. A steady lap of the common that ends at the pub on Mill Lane.
Long Sunday
The big one: the ridge trail out to Hollow Lane and back, with flapjack at the halfway gate.
First 5K
Never run before? Perfect. Walk breaks built in, a coach at the back and no pressure to talk.
How we run
Four rules, written on the back of a flapjack wrapper in 2016 and never changed since.
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Uphill
We run the hills on purpose. Flat ground is for recovery days and car parks.
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Nobody last
A sweeper runs at the back of every group, so nobody ever finishes alone.
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Any weather
Rain, wind, fog or snow. The hill never cancels, so neither do we.
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Loud summits
Cheer, shout and sing badly at every summit. The hill can take it.
The week
No booking. Turn up five minutes early, find someone in yellow and tell them which group you fancy.
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Tue
Repeats
Eight climbs of Signal Hill. The coach holds the stopwatch, you hold your nerve.
18:30
Signal Hill car park
8 km
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Thu
Night loop
A steady lap of the common by head torch, finishing at the Mill Lane pub.
19:30
North gate
10 km
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Sat
Hill run
The main event. Four pace groups, three climbs, one very loud summit.
07:00
North gate
5–21 km
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Sat
First 5K
The beginners' group, with walk breaks and a coach who never leaves the back.
07:15
North gate
5 km
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Sun
Long Sunday
The ridge trail to Hollow Lane and back. Bring water and something to eat.
08:00
Hollow Lane gate
18–30 km
The crew
Volunteers who set the routes, carry the first-aid kit and bake the flapjack. Say hi: they're the ones in yellow.
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Tomás Reyes
Head coach · Hill run
Ran up every hill in the county in one summer and still brings it up at parties.
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Priya Anand
Leader · Night loop
Knows every root on the common by feel. Carries spare head torch batteries for everyone.
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Ollie Brandt
Sweeper · First 5K
Has finished last every Saturday for six years, on purpose, with a huge grin.
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Maren Holt
Route setter · Long Sunday
Draws every new route on a paper map first. Has never once been lost, allegedly.
I came along for one Saturday in 2019. Now my whole calendar is shaped like a hill and my best friends all own head torches.
The First 5K group got me from the sofa to the summit in ten weeks. Nobody ever made me feel slow.
A frosty Thursday, city lights below and forty head torches bobbing up the hill. Nothing beats it.
I'm the slowest in my group and the sweeper still high-fives me at the top every single week.
The best free thing in this town. The flapjack alone is worth getting up at six for.
I ran my first ultra with three people I met at the north gate. We still train together every week.
My kids think I'm in a band, because I come home every Tuesday shouting about summits.
Your first Saturday
No forms, no fees, no fitness test. Here is everything that happens, in order.
Turn up
North gate of Kestrel Common at 06:50. Look for the yellow flag.
Say hi
Tell anyone in a yellow top it's your first time. That is the whole sign-up.
Pick a group
Four pace groups from walk-run to quick. Swapping groups halfway is allowed.
Climb and cheer
Three hills, one summit shout, then coffee at the gate café.
Seen on the hill
Photos from our Saturdays, Sundays and one very foggy Thursday.
The season so far
Counted by the volunteers with the clipboard, January to September.
- 38,400 mclimbed together, about four Everests
- 212regular runners, from 16 to 79 years old
- 39 of 39Saturdays run, in every kind of weather
Membership
Saturdays are free for everyone, forever. Membership pays for the coaches, first-aid training and the Sunday minibus, and gets you a few extras.
Drop in
£0forever
For anyone who wants to try us, or just likes Saturdays.
- Saturday Hill run and First 5K
- All four pace groups
- Coffee at cost price after
Club
£6a month
For regulars who want the weeknight sessions and a coach.
- Everything in Drop in
- Tuesday Repeats with a coach
- Thursday Night loop
- A yellow club vest
Crew
£15a month
For the ones training for something big and a bit silly.
- Everything in Club
- Long Sunday with the minibus back
- Monthly strength session
- Two race entries a year, paid
Questions
Anything else, ask the person in the yellow top on Saturday, or email the crew.
No. The First 5K group walks the steep bits and the sweeper stays at the back. Fitness is what you leave with, not what you bring.
Trainers with some grip, layers you can tie round your waist, and a head torch on Thursday nights. Anything yellow is a bonus.
Saturdays are free for everyone, always. Membership is optional and pays for coaches, first-aid training and the minibus.
Yes, on a short lead in the First 5K and at the back of the Hill run. Dogs cheer the loudest at the summit.
We run. We only cancel for thunder, ice on the steep paths or a named storm, and we post it on Instagram by 06:00.
The north gate car park is free before 09:00 on Saturdays, and the number 42 bus stops at the gate at 06:47.
Come run with us
Saturday, 07:00, north gate. Bring trainers, bring a friend, bring your loudest voice for the top.
- Meeting point
- North gate, Kestrel Common, Harrow Road, KS4 2QD
- Phone
- 01632 960 482
- @saturdaystampede
Saturday 07:00North gateKestrel CommonFree for everyoneEvery pace
See you uphill