Whilst most of us were curled up under our duvets, finishing off the leftover Turkey and Quality Street, one Roadrunner was on the startline of a rather unusual event across the water in Meonstoke. Unusual for its unorthodox cut off time and its course layout, this technically challenging event was the perfect way to burn off those roast spuds for our distance doyen Dan Williams.
The cross shaped course consists of 4 out and back legs of varying distances and varying difficulty all to be completed between sunrise and sunset on one of the shortest days of the year. 2 distances were on offer, 45 miles taking in all 4 branches of the course and a 50k using 3.
7.30 am and Dan set off on his journey. Travelling North on the first leg of the race, it should have been a fast and flat start as it was 9k along the old railway line. However temperatures had plunged overnight freezing everything sight, making the path precariously icy. Eastward next and this 21k leg is the toughest of the race with 2 huge climbs as Dan made his way onto the South Downs Way.
“The views were fantastic” he tells me “It was pleasant running when in the open with the sun on me”
And what views they were. Vistas over the Solent and across our diamond utopia. However the immense climbs were followed by some chalky descents, made even more hazardous by the icy conditions.
The West leg was next which took Dan through the picturesque villages of Exton and Meonstoke.
“The country roads were that icy that it was best to find a muddy frozen verge, it was quicker and safer”
Despite the conditions Dan ran a blinding race, completing all 31 miles in 4.53.10 and finishing 9th overall.
“The race had a handful of real quick runners (2:30 marathon types), so I am really pleased with my result, especially with the awful underfoot conditions”
And so he should be…. what a fantastic result! Well done Dan!
