Running around in the dark, with nothing but a map to guide you? Sound appealing?
Well it was just that for 5 of our Roadrunners on Saturday night.
Starting at Cheverton Farm, this fundraiser for The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust was well supported. With a good choice of distances on offer there was something for everyone, (well unless you’re scared of the dark!) and a party afterwards…. what’s not to like about this event?
From the 5k, 10k, 20k and 35k on offer , Isle of Wight Road Runners had entries in the 10k (Julie Rasmussen, Sharon Merry, Nick Stilwell and Misha Hetherington) and our chairman Pat Harris in the 35k.
Setting off at sunset into the misty hillside, this non timed event relies on the runners self navigating to a number of checkpoints along the way.
The courses cover chalky trails, farm tracks, bridleways and grassland. The 35k route in particular takes in parts of the Tennyson Trail, Mottistone Down, Brook Down, Yarmouth Cycle path, Thorley, Wellow, Shalcombe and Brighstone Forest covering some 462m (that’s 1515 feet in old money) elevation along the way.
“It was a tough route” said Pat “There were lots of hills and it was very rutty underfoot… especially in the dark!”
“But the support from the marshalls on the way round was great! They gave out fruitcake and chocolate! And I came 3rd!”
Our 10k runners had a blast too! Misha was 3rd lady back in her race.
“It was good fun” said Nick “we camped overnight and partied until the wee hours!”
“Brighstone Forest hill was relentless, but it was great”
A very well organised evening with a party atmosphere and all for a very worthy cause, hope to see this event back on the race calendar next year.
