The 2018 Loch Ness Marathon

On Sunday 23 September at 6.45am, with the temperature down to 6 degrees, both Martin Truman and wife Kate were queing up with 2,910 other runners ready to board the coaches to take them to the start line of the Loch Ness Marathon for 10am. There were many nervous glances on the coach as they were driven west, along the 23 mile northern shore of Loch Ness, the competitors eyed the route back on the opposite southern shore with the anticipation of what was to come. The start line was quite high up above the Loch and could easily have been in the middle of Dartmoor. The road shut to traffic and a Scottish pipe band lead the way up for a long wait at the start line for all to assemble.

This Loch Ness Marathon quest all started in December 2017 with a message from Kate saying, “Happy Birthday Martin, think you need to lose a bit of weight! Your present is an entry to the Loch Ness Marathon in September. To sweeten the pain I’ve booked us both a long weekend in Inverness in a lovely hotel near the start, flights from Bristol included in your gift” She then announced that she had entered herself too. Training began and the discovery of all the green lanes, bridleways and paths of the Sid Valley and East Devon were made. The dog got double doses of long runs with each of them on consecutive days at the weekends.

East of Inverness by 26 miles is exactly where the novice Nessie first time marathon runner comes unstuck. Martin’s Loch Ness story was written in these first few miles. Traversing downhill for a couple of miles down to the shore of the Loch, then cruising on comfortably along the route is not necessarily a good idea. He knew he had not heeded the take your foot off the pedal from the start. When Martin reached the half way point, he realised he was on a PB time of just under 1 and 3/4 hours. At this point he was still feeling ok and beginning to think he could really do it in 4 hours. Then, two heavy rain showers and a two mile hill climb at the 19 mile mark, the nagging doubts were starting to creep in! With his pace dropping off and a hamstring cramp kicking in, Martin hobbled on, but he could swear someone was pulling him back, like a tug of war but with him on the wrong end of a rope! Martin kept going, despite the pain he sprinted to the finish line, almost beating the 4 hour target. He crossed the line just 14 seconds over four hours. Martins final position was a top third in the field of 893th.

Kate on the other hand, being the more sensible family member, ran a more measure pace in her maiden marathon, running home in 5.05 to great cheers and with much pride. She was in far better shape than her husband at the finish line and raised £730 for Prostate Cancer research.

Dornafield 10k

On the 23rd of September, Emma Grainger took part in The Dornafield 10k ladies race, helping raise funds for Bowel Cancer UK. The event was organised by Teignbridge Trotters and this was it’s 21st year. The race started at the Dornafield Caravan and Camping Site at 11am and followed a scenic course along undulating rural lanes, passing through the local hamlets of Ogwell and Denbury, finishing back at the campsite.

Emma was the only Mighty Green to take part this year, coming in 151st over all, with a much improved time of 1:10:30, Knocking a whopping 10 minutes off her previous attempt last year!

Bovey Beauty

Don Cawthera and Debbie Marriott took part in the Bovey Beauty on Sunday 23rd of September. This grade ‘B’ fell race was held in conjunction with The Woodland Trust and Natural England and was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and The Moor Than Meets The Eye Landscape Partnership. It was organised by The Fell Runners Association.

The Bovey Beauty 10 mile fell race was a very scenic route, involving woodlands, open more-land, riverside paths and many other terrains. It took the runners through some of the most rugged and remote areas of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. Starting in the woods of the Bovey Valley at 11am just as the rain stopped falling, they climbed up to Lustleigh Cleave on the first of the 1800ft of inclines. Then onto Hunters Tor at the head of the valley, returning via the rare Western Oak Woods on the southern side of the valley over Houndtor ridge and onto Trendlebere Down before returning to the start in Pullabrook Wood.

Don and Debbie knew it would be a tough run to complete. The organisers deliberately keep the number of competitors under 100 and as an elite field. So Don and Debbie were happy just to keep one or two people between us and the back marker. Both Debbie and Don enjoyed the race so much, that they are planning to go back again next year.

Solo Mighty Green Terry Takes On The Stockland Scamper.

The Stockland Scamper was organised by the Stockland Primary Academy PTFA in association with Axe Valley Runners. It was a typical Axe Valley route with plenty of up’s and down’s in very scenic East Devon countryside. During the race briefing the competitors were informed that due to the overnight heavy rainfall, that the route was very wet, so with the hilly route, it would be slippery underfoot. This turned out to be an enormous understatement!

As if the race organisers had planned it, the rain stopped falling just as the race was to start. All 90 Scampers set off from the Stockland Village Hall at 10am, on the 23rd of September to a break in the weather. The turnout of 31 seniors (including Terry Bewes), competed in the 10k along with 59 Juniors in the 3k were all sent on their way, into the muddy and wet Stockland countryside. The first lane had turned into a river overnight, the stoney tracks were like a slippery ice rinks, as were the narrow wooden bridges and styles. Even in the fields, the torrential rain had dispersed the cow pats so the whole field was covered in a slippery smelly mess, but it was great fun. The last half mile was an especially tough climb! Before this point the Scamps had been lulled into a false sense of ‘being nearly back’. This hill came just when Terry thought it should be all downhill to the finish. During this last hill climb, Terry saw one runner ahead and decided to go all out, full steam ahead! He succeeded, passed her by and lost the wooden spoon position, but restored honour to the Mighty Green. Terry’s word of the race…”Brutal”!

Terry Bewes was the only Mighty Green Scamp sliding his way to the finish line, making it round in 1:09:47 and giving him a slippery 30th place and 1st M70. No sooner had Terry and the last runner crossed the line, the rain fell again. So, with the Stockland weather report done, a special thank you goes to Emma Parris and her team and to the great number of marshals who stuck it out in the soggy conditions.

The ‘Killer’ Killerton Half, 10k and 5k.

On Sunday 16th September in the morning, four Sidmouth runners competed in The Killerton 10k race, Antony and Kat Hall having only just done the Nightjar the evening before were joined by David Skinner and Jane Hemsworth for this event.

This stunning off road, multi terrain 5k,10k, canicross and half marathon event takes place in the beautiful grounds of the National Trust estate at Killerton, also home to one of Exeter’s Park Runs. There was a good mixture of terrain on the 10k including fields, woodlands, some flat levels and a variety of hills… nearly 1000ft of inclines, keeping the route exciting and giving it the name of The Killer! With the ground still dry underfoot and a cooling but not cold breeze, conditions were perfect for the race.

Antony did remarkably well considering the previous evening’s race and the severity of this hilly route. He was very happy with taking 2nd in age group and 5th over all, with a time of 48m:59s. I think you should take the day off tomorrow Antony, have a rest.

Jane Hemsworth completed the route in an impressive 1h:04m. Kat did really well with a 1h:14m:16s especially having also run the evening before! She finished in 103rd out of 200 women. David Skinner took 1h:22m:09s and came in at the 275th position whilst wearing the competitor number 275…Spooky!

The Bacchus Wine Marathon in Surrey

The Bacchus Wine half and full marathons are combined into a sociable fancy dress and wine tasting event. Three Mighty Green/Pink Sidmouth ladies took part, Helen Palmer doing the half, whilst Jane Hemsworth and Jo Earlam took on the full marathon. Jane is celebrating a landmark Birthday soon and this is Jo’s 60th marathon, so a fifties/sixties style kit was made.

The first third of the route was tough going, so with the tight cut off time of 2 and a half hours on the full marathon Jo and Jane steered clear of the wine, or so they say! Jane suffered a fall, got stung by a feisty wasp and there were chafing issues with the modified pink kit, and all before the halfway point! With their spirits revived sting and cuts treated, Jo and Jane got on with the task of the second lap.

Meanwhile, Helen was taking full advantage of the on course entertainment with music, wine and nibbles at every water (I mean wine) stop. She also enjoyed being with the other 2000 sociable half marathoners, including Chris Evans and Vassos Alexander who were both in her wave at the start line. Jo and Jane missed out on the main party, making do with under 200 other full distance runners.

Helen completed the half in 2h:37m and enjoyed more wine and the hog roast, leaving Jo and Jane to cross the finish line in 5h:06m, coming in 95th and 96th respectively, both ladies added on the extra distance to finish the 26.2 Miles in 5h:27m.

Sidbury Fun Run

Five Mighty Green Sidmouth runners took part in The Sidbury Fun Run on Sunday. Rachel Burrows, Sarah and Michael Ginsberg, Paula and Amelie Farrand spent part of a warm, sunny Sunday morning running in and around the grounds of The Manor House. Paula and Amelie won the First Local and Open girl and lady.