Eastridge trail half marathon relay

Race Reports

Saturdays race started out from the former lead mining village of Snailbeach with almost 100 runners taking on the full half marathon distance. Scott, Will and myself had opted for the relay and having looked at the results from last year we thought we had a chance of placing. When we registered, it turned out that we were the only team entered!

Scott started the race for us running just over 5 miles mostly through woodland and with a considerable amount of ascent. One hill was so steep a rope had been put out to help the runners get up the hill!

The changeover point for leg 2 and 3 were at the same point so I did have Will for company and we were able to watch the first runners coming through. An ex GB marathon runner was in the field and he flew through the first checkpoint and went on to win the race in a new course record of 1.19. Scott handed over to me and I was straight into the hills heading up to the Stiper Stones, I was feeling really good and with my fresh legs was easily able to overtake all those who were already 5 miles into their run and starting to struggle on the hills. My leg was just under 5 miles and after reaching the Stiper Stones went back on itself to run back down the hills we’d come up. We then took a turn off the original track and continued down into a valley, but as I was running down I knew I had a long way back up to the changeover point. The end of my leg was about one mile up a forestry track to the changeover point.

Will then had about 3 miles back to the finish. We were aiming for under 2 hours and we knew that Will had 30 minutes to finish. He flew back in 21.47 giving us an overall finish time of 1.52.46.
This is definitely a race for Croft runners and with the relay option it is accessible to all abilities. We will definitely be going back next year, hopefully with more competition for us!

 

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