Monarchs Way 2019 Day 1

The weather was forecast for good weather and no rain for the first day (Saturday). That is exactly how the weather worked out, it was warm but not as hot as last year.

As the runners ran out of the town the started to shake out into their respective paces with John Stocker and Bob Wild stepping out in front and Ellen Cottom and Peter Bengtsson very close behind for most of the day.

Then a short distance behind leapfrogging each other were Jonathan Rowles, Tony Hewett and Vic Owens. There was not much in it for the start of the day and as the runners slowly stretched out it was clear the lead 2 of Bob and John were inadvertently racing a little at this stage.

The crew of myself and Maxine decided to wait at Chaddersly Corbett to see them through there and top up water if needed. I ran back down the course a few miles from there seeing each runner and having a chat and generally putting a  few course miles on my legs.

This leg is fields and farms for the first half then lots of canal towpath and disused railway line up to Wombourne Scout Hut where CP was at around 47 miles in total.

Mostly very runnable terrain with some really overgrown nettled areas and lots of very thick mature Rape as a crop. Some of that was hard going. Navigation is not too bad along leg 1.
I am sure it was especially fun for Vic in sandals or barefoot.

Yes there is a path here!

The thing with this event is that as its non stop everyone has a very different strategy and target which dictates their speed and kit and even sleep plans. For example John Stocker does not plan to sleep till CP3 whereas Vic Owens plans to sleep at each CP. There is no right or wrong but it’s more about the execution of each plan and how each runner is set up and trained to achieve that target. With 4 of the 7 runners attempting last year they are keen to improve on time and finish this year and have turned up with revised targets and plans. Only time will tell if those plans are right or achievable.

After a bit of place swapping John Stocker came into CP1 first with John only about 8 mins behind him. Both only stopped to eat and sort kit and get ready for the next leg. John was slightly quicker though and left first.

Bob Left not long after.

Then came Ellen, Jonathan Rowles, Peter, Tony Hewlett and Vic evenly spaced out for the next few hours with the last person arriving before midnight.

Most chose to travel on after eating and sorting kit but Tony chose to have a short sleep and got a few hours kip before leaving in the early hours.
Vic chose to get a really good rest and slept for 6 hours and only left at 6:45 am but was very well rested.

All in all the first leg was run by everyone and finished in good condition by all, a few with minor blisters and sore feet which needed a little attention but otherwise all in good shape.

A good start to the event.

Thanks to all those following and supporting on social media and via personal contact with the runners. We had a few people show up on the trail and give support and encouragement which is fantastic and relay motivates the runners who spend quite a bit of time with their own thoughts for company.

You may notice I play around with nicknames on the tracking page, this is a bit of humour based on funny stuff that amuses us on the trail. 

Peter has had “Pudding” added to his name as he had an extra pudding at dinner last night and stopped on the trail and was caught in the farm shop having more pudding. 

Everyone else is safe for now!

Lindley