So 27th of October was the date for the second running of the Stort30 Ultra. A 30 mile out and back race which I first set up last year as it’s one of my regular trail running routes. The route itself is a scenic canal towpath and relatively flat with a bit of mud thrown in for good measure.
Last year we had 46 runners and a relatively small ladies field. This year we have 150 entrants and the event filled up a week before the race with people still trying to get places last minute. We also had a very good ladies field with almost 40% of the field being ladies. We had some very quick boys and girls entered and there was going to be a real race on.
Last years winners and current record holders had been invited back to defend their titles and it was great to see so many familiar faces from last year and other events I have either run in of helped at.
I was up at 5:30am with my daughter Laura to get down to the clubhouse with all the gear and start setting up, it was already getting windy with the expected storm building and ran starting and it was looking like a miserable morning although the forecasts said it should be mostly ok.
We set up and it was not long before runners started turning up along with marshals and volunteers.
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| Archie and Paul Ali (Paul Ali Picture) |
I had a great team helping to make this race happen including Jerry Smallwood and Archie Stewart from the British Trail Running Podcast who had both volunteered to Sweep the route for me. Archie had stayed at mine the night before along with UltraTales editor Paul Ali a good friend of mine who was running the event as a last ultra of the season. As runners arrived they were registered and Marshals were briefed and sent off to set up Checkpoints, the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared and it had the potential to be a good day.
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| Just before the start (Paul Ali Picture) |
The race briefing started at 08:45 and after a few minutes getting the basic safety info across and describing the terrain and route plus a couple of hazards on the route everyone gathered outside and I got set to start the race. With a quick short blast of the air horn they were off, with two laps of the field to cover to spread the group out before hitting the only two main road crossings which were marshalled by Jerry and Archie.
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| Jerry as modest as ever! (Karren Webber Picture) |
When everyone was off the club was locked up and as we prepared to leave to visit the checkpoints I got a call from CP1 to say that the gazebo had had an argument with the wind!
I loaded a spare gazebo onto the roof of the car and headed of to CP1. Luckily when we got to the checkpoint the team there had rescued the gazebo and it was up and anchored down if a bit bent! I chatted with mid pack runners and then left Natasha there and headed of to the next Checkpoint getting there before the first runners. I saw the first runners Richard Ashton come through with Craig Holgate both cracking out a fast pace and looking good. Next at the turnaround I chatted with the Checkpoint staff and my daughters who were helping out at the CP. Once the first 15 or so runners had been through I headed back down the route seeing the leaders through the CPs on the way back. Craig had built up a lead of a few minutes on Richard and still looked very strong. Richard looked as though he was feeling it and could not hang on to Craig. Back at the clubhouse after picking up Natasha we set up the finish area and waited for the first runners to hit the field and start their final lap on the way to the finish. We did not have long to wait before Craig Holgate came flying round the field for a cracking finish and a new mens record of 3:23:21 almost 7 minutes off the previous record. Then in came last year’s winner Richard Ashton. After that it was a regular steady stream of runners all putting in great performances and finishing strong. The third place runner came in and informed me that we had a runner down and he was being looked after by members of a canoe club on the riverside.
A member of the public came up from the boathouse and we directed them to his family who went to take care of him. I am glad to say after a short stay in hospital suffering from dehydration he is fine. The first lady came in in a new ladies record of 4:23:50 taking 34 minutes of the previous record. It was great to see so many familiar faces finish and get to hand over their medals and t shirts. Nichola Griffin who was also doing this race as her first ultra after really getting the running bug this year and helping me complete my third GUCR this year crossed the line just after the official 7 hour time to complete her first ultra and it was great to see how much it meant to her. Laura my daughter presented here with her medal as agreed by them at NDW50 this year. I also presented her with a wooden spoon for finishing her first ultra.
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| Nici loving her first Ultra (Paul Ali Photo) |
It was great to see so many finish their first Ultras and all the runners seemed to really enjoy the event and had good feedback for myself and all the marshals and checkpoint staff. This year there were no navigation issues with me and my daughter Laura putting down temporary paint arrows along the route on Saturday morning. All in all the event seemed to go very well with great feedback from all involved. I must say a big thank you to my team of dedicated marshals and helpers throughout the day.
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| Medal and stone its modelled on |
I must also mention a great run by my fiance Sue in her 3rd ultra and training towards her first 100miler next year.
A final huge thank you to the http://www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com who provided two Lenser SEO 5 headtorches for both the male and female finishers plus a pair of dirty girl gaiters as a spot prize which went to Nici Griffin for completing her first ultra and finishing just in front of the sweepers.
All in all we had 153 entries and 120 finishers and only 3 DNFs with the rest being non starters.
Time to start work on preparing the next race St Peters Way in March and the other races
planned for 2014. Saffron Way Ultra and the Chiltern Way 200K.
Lindley