Joy Cann 5
This run is the route used for the very popular ‘Joy Cann 5 Memorial Road Race’ staged each year by Huncote Harriers.
Entry information is available on their dedicated web site.
Stay Healthy. Keep Safe.
The pictures from the route show that is very much a route of “Two Halves”.
The first part is on pavements, including some long, unbroken, sections. The second part is on tight, twisting country roads which can be very busy. The sketch map below shows the approximate location of the disused railway bridge, this is the point where the pavement runs out.
Note that during the race there are official temporary road traffic regulation orders to allow roads to be closed and traffic control to be used.
If you are running this route at any other times, you do not have these safeguards.
There is very heavy traffic in the area during rush hour periods, as a lot of traffic for the Next HQ uses these roads.
Facilities
Loos / water. None
Rubbish bins. Some on estate roads in Narborough
This is a reasonably flat circular run, so you can start and finish to suit. The (accurately measured) race itself starts and finishes approximately 75 yards inside Huncote Leisure Centre car park.
The run is approximately 2.5 miles of pavements through housing areas followed by 2.5 miles of country roads.
The Joy Cann 5
Leave the Leisure centre and cross into Denman Way.
Run along Denman Way, at the end turn left into Narborough Road (avoiding the wheelie bins).
This is a long paved downhill.
What goes down, must go up. In this case it’s up Hardwicke Road, Narborough.
At the top of Hardwicke Road turn left into The Pastures
At the end of The pastures turn left in to Forest Road (Narborough)
Run under the old railway bridge, shown ahead of you.
This disappearing car should help you to appreciate the pavement!
The old railway bridge marks a massive change in this run. You are now in countryside with few pavements and many hazards.
During the race, there is traffic control for the railway bridge and these bad bends. When running this route, it may be worth cutting the curve by running on the grass behind the chevron markers.
The hedges come very close in for the next few hundred yards and there is no footpath for quite some time.
Cross the motorway bridge – notice how close your run takes you to the Next HQ – this explains a lot of the traffic in this area.
At the junction shown ahead, turn left into Thurlaston lane.
Approach this junction very, very carefully. It joins a very tight bend ahead of you.
You really do have to share the sense of humour of some people. ‘No footway’. Compared with?
The next few pictures may give some ideas on how importnat it is to consuder your position on a country road.
The first picture is “On the right, facing oncoming traffic”, the second is the view you have of the same junction, by simply crossing over.
Thurlaston Lane becomes Forest Road (Huncote).
As you approach Leicester Animal Aid centre on the left, there is a reasonable stretch of pavement.
To fully understand the dangers of running on country roads, this sequence sums it up very nicely.
These photographs don’t show that the driver of the white car actually went past the tractor very, very carefully.
twenty two
twenty three
twenty four
twenty four
Finish by turning right in to Sportsfield Lane and Huncote Leisure Centre
