Running into 2026: Hundreds of New Year's Eve runners hit Shrewsbury's Quarry for a celebration with a difference
While many of us were sinking a drink in the pub or curled up on the sofa seeing in the new year, more than 200 people gathered in Shrewsbury for a very different celebration.
They turned out for a special Shropshire running event, starting exactly as the clock chimed for the new year.
At the event held in Shrewsbury's Quarry and organised by running events team Run The Distance, more than 200 people took part across three distances: 2.5k, 5k and 10k.
Fittingly for the occasion it wasn't all Lycra and running gear, with a number of participants getting dressed up festively for the occasion.
Peter Metcalfe, one of the Run The Distance organisers, said it had been great event, with runners of all abilities taking part.
He said some had completed the course by walking the distance, with some joined by children for the route, while others took it more seriously: some finished the 5k course in around 18 minutes.
Mr Metcalfe said the runners had set off as the bells chimed from nearby St Chad's Church, with fireworks lighting up the sky in Kingsland.
He said: "It is really good fun. You set off bang on midnight and the bells of St Chad's are going off and there are fireworks up by Kingsland."
Mr Metclafe explained that the event offered an alternative to the more traditional alcohol-fuelled New Year's Eve events.
He said: "All the New Year's Eve drinking sessions over the years tend to blend into one, but you will remember the year you ran a 10k!"
Mr Metcalfe said they had been delighted with the number of people signing up to take part, while scores of others turned up just to cheer the runners on.
The weather was fine and no flooding meant the original route through the popular park was retained - although Mr Metcalfe said that an alternative was in place in case of flooding from the River Severn.
Run The Distance organises a number of events throughout the year, including races like the Wem 10k, as well as a charity events such as the Severn Hospice Christmas Jumper Run, which saw nearly 600 people taking part.
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