The Belvior Challenge

There's the moment when you get out of the car and, as the cold wind whips around your body, you ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?"

You make your way to the village hall and collect your registration slip whilst bantering with your mates about the challenge that lays in wait.  Across the room you notice another club vest and a huge smile from another club mate as you collect your number from a friendly volunteer who wishes you luck.  More banter and conversations follow as you make your way back into the cool breeze and to the start line awaiting the start.

The gun goes (well the starter shouts go...) and the event is away.  Runners, walkers, novices and experienced troops make their way through the village who have come out in support, cheering frantically as the crowd snakes through.  Half a mile later and the tarmac is swapped for an uneven muddy track which then opens out to fields and more mud.  At miles three is the first of many styles to climb, the other side is an electric fence to contend with before a gentle gruelling climb to the top of a hill.  Then more fields, more mud and more styles...  Banter continues between runners and walkers and messages of admiration fly in from casual strollers our for a Saturday morning walk.  Cakes and cuppa stops are on the route and a few hours after starting, the muddied participants finish in the village hall to collect a well earned bowl of soup and cake.  Stories are exchanged, laughter is heard and pats on the back are dished out.

That is why we do it!!!

Martin Andrews is on fire at the moment and, sporting his short sleeved t-shirt, he smashed the two hour barrier in 1:59:42.  Mark Kennedy was next home in 2:18:19 just ahead of Ronnie Ambrose in 2:18:36.  Wendy Parker enjoyed a good run in 2:41:41 and Jim Anderson had plenty of stories to tell after arriving in 2:46:15.  Charlotte Yarker had an eventful run and even with a couple of stops, finished in 2:47:37, her longest run to date.  Old campaigner Mick Clarke opted for the 15 mile version instead of 26 this year(3:00:59) and the star of the day was Sally Garrett.  Sally completed her first half a couple of weeks ago and her never say never attitude got her round her biggest ever run in 3:55:06.  20 miles next Sally??

The other mega-star was Mark Garrett who went for t 4:29:49

25 Martin Andrews 1:59:42
88 Mark Kennedy 2:18:19
90 Ronnie Ambrose 2:18:36
195 Wendy Parker 2:41:41
224 James Anderson 2:46:15
225 Charlotte Yarker 2:47:37
287 Mick Clarke 3:00:59
431 Sally Garrett 3:55:06
519 Mark Garrett 4:29:49