The Moors Valley Country Park just outside of Ringwood was the setting for the this White Star Running event The Dark Valley. With 2 distances on offer the event is hugely popular.
10 roadrunners picked up their numbers as the sun started to droop down below the horizon on Saturday. It had rained heavily all day so they were relieved to find only a light drizzle falling as they donned their mandatory illuminations and took their spots on the startline.
The 10k set off first. Pete and Jodie Wilmott returned for the second year in a row alongside Jane Andrew and Claire Howard. The single lap course took them into the depths of the forest, lit only by the runners themselves with their headtorches (or fairy lights in some cases) Gravel track, sandy paths, muddy trails and some huge puddles were interspersed with a few short, sharp inclines.
Half an hour later the half runners set off following the same route as the 10k runners before them (just slightly more churned up by now). Two slightly different laps faced them in the darkness.
The infamous White Star Lovestation was placed 3.5 miles along the course. Serving cider, raspberry vodka and water alongside sweets, crisps and Jaffa cake gherkin sandwiches (yes really!)
“Honestly! They’re Greeeeeeaaaaatttttt!” Dan Williams tells me. Thanks Dan, but I’ll take your word on that one… not sure I need to find out for myself!
Pete crossed the line first in a fantastic 3rd place overall in the 10k and 1st V50
“Last step on the podium! I’m really pleased!”
Jodie was next in, pleased to finish having suffered from a knee injury for the past few weeks. Jane and Claire ran together to return to the finish area to take 4th and 5th V55s.
“There were so many fairy lights!” said Jane “it was so well organised”
In the half, they were approaching their 2nd lap. Underfoot it was very muddy by now as 500 runners had trudged through the wet forest … twice! And to make it worse, the rain really started to hammer down.
“It was torrential” said Ian Williams
Dan Williams was the first of the Roadrunners to finish. He went out hard for the first few miles and found himself in the leading pack.
“I’m still not feeling 100% so I pulled it right back. I just enjoyed the second lap, chatting at the Lovestation and stuff”
Gordon Mucklow, Jenny Dewing and Charlotte Williams made it back next
“It was a brilliant fun” said Charlotte “It was just a bit damp!”
Lisa Upstell and Julie Rasmussen were only footsteps behind as they too crossed the line to pick up their beautiful medals, biscuits and bespoke buff. Lisa 5th in her age category and Julie 6th in hers. Last but by no means least was Ian Williams, soggy but triumphant.
10k
Pete Wilmott- 48.26
Jodie Wilmott- 1.08.48
Claire Howard- 1.12.40
Jane Andrew- 1.12.41
Half
Daniel Williams-1.50.20
Gordon Mucklow- 2.08.03
Jenny Dewing- 2.08.03
Charlotte Williams- 2.08.08
Lisa Upstell-2.08.58 5th v35
Julie Rasmussen- 2.09.45
Ian Williams- 2.17.52
