In the heart of lockdown, when parkrun and group runs were cancelled, a small community found a way to keep the spirit of competition and camaraderie alive. Enter the “4 Gates Challenge” — a 3.2K run born out of creativity, necessity, and a shared love of running.
Created by Bill Stenning, this challenge is wholly contained within the Hockering Estate. Originally, runners could start anywhere on the estate, with only three rules: they had to touch the four Hockering gates, remain within the estate boundaries, and return to their starting point. This added an element of strategy, as participants could choose their preferred start position based on whether they wanted to begin with an uphill or downhill section. Bill holds the fastest time for this “freestyle” version – 12:57. However, creating a Strava segment meant the course had to be standardised. Now, all attempts must follow a prescribed route with a fixed start/end rather than a custom start point.
The route features two downhill sections, two uphill climbs, and a long straight stretch — demanding smart pacing and strong endurance for a competitive time. It also requires a degree of “bottle” – how fast would you be prepared to run downhill towards a closed gate, ready to touch it and turn round? As of March 2025, the record-holder is Anton Goransson with a time of 16:20 (ready for the taking I think!).
What makes the 4 Gates Challenge special isn’t just the route — it’s the story behind it. At a time when the world felt disconnected, this challenge brought neighbours together in a socially distanced yet meaningful way. It gave people a reason to get outside, push themselves, and connect through friendly competition.
Today, the 4 Gates Challenge continues to thrive, with more runners from across Woking discovering it and keeping the tradition alive. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or simply enjoying the history behind the route, this segment is a reminder that the best races aren’t always the ones with medals — they’re the ones that bring a community together.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Come on over and see if you can claim a spot on the leaderboard!
NB – it is not entirely clear on Strava, but the segment must be run anti-clockwise i.e. down Danes Hill first.
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