Our ridiculous guide to the 2024 Chariots of Fire relay race in Cambridge
The popular annual fixture that is the Chariots of Fire relay race returns to Cambridge this Sunday (22 September), and with it hundreds of runners - some super fast, some dressed in wacky costumes and some, frankly, just grateful to get around - will once again take to the streets.
HCR Hewitsons Charity has teamed up with race specialists RunThrough to deliver the race, which this year is in aid of the Magpas Air Ambulance charity - so there’s a very good reason to drag yourself out of bed on Sunday morning.
The organisers are aiming to help Magpas raise a massive £100,000 to support its vital services. To date, Chariots of Fire has raised more than £1.5m for local charities.
Adrian Peel and Paul Brackley have put together a guide to all the stuff you need to know and plenty of things you really don’t but might find interesting. Or not.
What time do I have to get up for this?
Being a Sunday morning, Chariots of Fire sometimes features runners who wish they were still in bed. You’ll spot them beforehand, looking bleary-eyed and wishing they didn’t indulge the night before. Others will be unwaveringly cheerful.
Whichever camp you fall into, you’ll need to collect your race pack from the event village on Queens’ Green between 8 and 9am, and the race itself is due to start at 9.30am. There will be a warm-up at 9.15am and don’t think just because it’s only 1.7 miles you don’t need to bother with all that. Many a hamstring has been undone with that attitude, you know.
Should I wear fancy dress?
Everyone must wear a penguin costume this year. Actually, that isn’t true, but it would make a funny picture for us. Some people do indeed wear outlandish costumes - inflatable dinosaurs, waiter outfits, that sort of thing. But many favour team T-shirts branded with their company or organisations name. Others just wear their usual running gear. This year, in addition to penguins, we’d like to see some gorillas on the course please. Here’s hoping.
What about parking?
The organisers highly recommend using public transport where possible as parking on site is limited. Parking on Queens’ Green is reserved for the race organisers, so visitors should use public car parks. Bike racks are provided. But look, you’re a runner aren’t you? Why not warm up by taking a gentle jog there? Unless you’re coming from Peterborough or something.
Road closures
There will be road closures in the city centre and closures at some University of Cambridge colleges while runners are on the course. Drivers: don’t you dare complain about this. It’s for Magpas Air Ambulance for goodness sake,.
The course - and the relay
Chariots of Fire is a closed road relay around Cambridge city centre and through some of the University of Cambridge colleges.
The route will start and finish on Queens’ Green, and follow approximately a 1.7-mile route through the city centre and colleges. Each person will complete one loop before handing over the baton to their next runner. Drop the baton, and you’ll have to do it all again. Well, probably not, but try not to anyway.
Let’s talk relay tactics then
Being a relay, there are various ways to approach this. You could put your fastest runner out first, to get you off to a good start. And the advantage could be that they get ahead of some of the well, slower traffic, paving a way for the rest of your team and helping set the pace to match.
The downside with this approach is that your slower runners may face the indignity of being overtaken time and again and end their lap feeling thoroughly demoralised.
You may also want a stronger runner on the final lap to give you a boost and push you up the rankings in the final stretch.
If you can’t decide, we recommend putting all the names in a hat, pulling them out one by one, then just sending whoever looks most awake out first while the rest of you down a coffee.
Is there a time restriction to complete the race?
No, everyone is welcome, however, the organisers ask you to contact the organisers at info@runthrough.co.uk if you plan to take more than 2.5 hours for your team to complete your race.
This is because the organisers may need to make special arrangements around the course and event village.
OK, but what about a target to beat?
Oh, getting serious are we? It is, of course, taking part and the raising money that really matters. And trouncing the opposition.
There are some seriously fast teams who will be going all out to win. That honour went to Team Guilio last year - always a team to watch. They finished in a lightning-quick 52:53, with another team-to-watch, Glassworks Health Club, in second, in 53:08. So this is an average of well under nine minutes for each of the 1.7-mile laps, which is pretty rapid.
Crikey. I need a drink. Will there be a water station on the course?
Come on. It’s 1.7 miles - not a half marathon. No, there won’t be any water on the course, but there will be bottled water at the finish for every runner. And, you know, if you’re not in a hurry, you could stop off at a city centre cafe if you get really desperate.
What happens after I’ve handed over my baton?
As well as the water provided at the finish line, every runner will also receive goodies and a medal. And you may be immortalised in the Cambridge Independent’s post-event picture supplement, in the paper from Wednesday, September 2.
Can I listen to Taylor Swift while running?
No, headphones are not permitted, unless bone conducting. Should you choose to wear these, you are requested to keep the volume low in order to remain aware of your surroundings at all times, and to be able to hear any instructions from marshals during the race.
Will I get lost?
There will be marshals all around the course, as well as km signs and arrows. The course is on the roads and paths. So you really shouldn’t get lost, but if you find yourself traversing the streets of Grantchester, you missed a turn somewhere. Be aware that there will be spectators and members of the public using the paths too and it is considered bad form to knock them out the way in pursuit of shaving a few seconds off your time.
What if I need to, you know, go?
There will be portable toilets available within the event village. If you live locally, you’ll want to use your toilets at home.
Motivate me
Magpas Air Ambulance provides the best pre-hospital emergency care, in the air or on land 24/7, including treatments normally only available in hospital.
By providing this advanced care to critically ill and injured patients across the East of England and beyond, the charity not only saves lives but limits disability.
So you should feel proud that your’re running, even if you’re hopeless at this. Motivational speech ends here.
Where did the name of the race ‘Chariots of Fire’ come from?
The charity race follows in the heroic footsteps of the famous film Chariots of Fire. The 1981 film tells the story of Harold Abrahams, a Cambridge runner, and his bid to win a gold medal in the 1924 Olympics.
It includes the iconic scene of the race around Trinity College Great Court. It’s worth a watch actually.
When did the Chariots of Fire charity relay race start?
The first Chariots of Fire charity race took place in 1992 and was the initial idea of Bill Matthews, race director for many years, who joined the committee of a local charity and was looking for fundraising ideas.
Watching the famous film rekindled memories of an earlier trip to Olympia in the Peloponnese and he came up with the idea of a local charity fundraising race in the vein of the Chariots of Fire film.
Bill took the idea to a longstanding friend, Lewis Isaacs. Between them they easily persuaded their respective firms Robson Rhodes, chartered accountants (now Grant Thornton UK LLP) and solicitors Hewitsons (now HCR Hewitsons), to provide the initial funding and organisation.
HCR Hewitsons continues as the main sponsor to this day, through the HCR Hewitsons Charity. Good for them.
Social media
Visit @runthroughuk on X and use the hashtag #Runthroughuk in the build-up to the race.
If you want to talk all things running before and after the event, join the RunThrough South Facebook Page and follow Chariots of Fire.
And if you want to share your Chariots pictures with us, we’re @CambridgeIndy on X.
Where can I see how well / badly we’ve done?
The race results will be available on the RunThrough website (runthrough.co.uk).
Photography - and coverage in the Cambridge Independent
Our photographer, Keith Heppell, will be there to capture you at your best for our big picture special.
We will be posting galleries online and will also print a whole load of pictures in next week’s Cambridge Independent, out from Wednesday, September 25.
I can’t believe I read all the way to the end
Visit chariots-of-fire.co.uk if our guide has spectacularly failed to answer your question.
See you out there. And good luck.
