Most people would use their holiday to kick back, out their feet up and take a well earnt siesta. Not the case for team Wilmott as they spent the first Saturday of their vacation running 30k of hills hills hills in a searing 35c heat.
“We saw the race advertised when we were on holiday here last year and thought it looked nice……. how wrong were we!” Jodie tells me
Starting in Chateau Chinon, a small town in the national park region, this event is part of the International Fell Running calendar. With a choice of distances on offer, team Wilmott opted for the 18 and a bit miler starting at 4pm.
“Just over an hour till race starts….18 miles of mountains in just a little heat? What could possibly go wrong?” quips Pete on Facebook just before the race started.
But it turned out that the heat was the last of their worries as the mirage of the “fairly challenging run with lovely views” that they’d hoped for quickly faded into the reality that this course was a bit of a beast.
“We have both never experienced anything like it” says Jodie
3500 feet of elevation was crammed into the 30k route, with some inclines so steep our audacious pair were scrambling on all fours. Punishingly up and down all the way it took all their physical and mental strength to keep going. Pushing on, through forests, jumping over felled trees, squeezing through rocks and even running up a stony stream until they got to the final crescendo of a hill to get them back to the town and across the welcome finish line.
In true Wilmott style, the pair gave it 100% with Peter finishing in 3.14.19 giving him 11th overall and 1st in his age category. Jodie crossed the line in 3.37.36 giving her 31st overall, 4th lady and 3rd in her age category. Cracking performances.
Last word from Jodie….
“Both of us would never do it again. Ever.”
