Club runners complete 15-hour ultra-challenge in heatwave

Club runners complete 15-hour ultra-challenge in heatwave

Report by Don Hale

Twelve hardy athletes from North Wales Road Runners set a blisteringly hot pace during a unique ultra-distance race despite the scorching conditions last Sunday in the Builth and District 15-hour relay challenge.

In this third virtual event organised by the ambitious Builth Wells based running club in Powys, where the previous competition attracted about 100 teams, and nearly 2,000 entrants, the aim was to run as far as possible within the permitted time frame, which began at 5am and continued until 8pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NWRRC team eventually ran a total of 96.12 miles, with Steve Poupart running a one and half hour slot, Ben Hudson a two-hour run, and Helen Hannam completed a remarkable two and a half-hour trot from 2.30pm, at probably the hottest part of the day.

Rachel Morris also made a welcome comeback after a long spell out of action, and she is still recovering from a serious injury. Rachel completed a brilliant 4.4 miles in an hour; and it was good to note some other impressive performances from Sarah Fergie Hudson, Vicky Taylor, Kevin Higgins, Rob Fryer, and Charlie Owen.

Each team member however, played a vital role in this unusual challenge, and thankfully survived the exceptional heat, with most running in one-hour slots, and each athlete recording between 4 and 14 miles during their allocated time zones.

NWRRC team skipper and relay organiser Sarah Fergie Hudson, who was first off in this all-day relay run praised the overall team effort and said: ‘There were some amazing runs, and I was glad to have done my run at 5 am. We ran a total of 96.12 miles in fifteen hours today. It was awesome running by everyone, especially in this crazy North Walean heat wave.’

Sarah’s husband Ben ran the longest distance in his two-hour slot completing an incredible 14.18 miles. Helen Hannam and Steve Poupart each ran 11-miles, and Stuart Culverhouse ran 8.4 miles.

After completing her run over a gruelling two and a half-hour period in soaring temperatures, Helen admitted: ‘I felt quite strong for the first eight-miles, but then heat exhaustion kicked in, so I had a 15-minute pit-stop in a friend’s garden, and then walked the last three. That was so tough, and I was sure glad to get that over with.

Overall times and distances completed by NWRRC athletes: 15-hour Builth and District relay:

Starting times: 5-6 am Sarah Fergie Hudson 7.1 miles; 6-7 am Vicky Taylor 6.1 miles; 7-8 am Gethin Wyn Jones 7.19; 8-9 am Kevin Slattery 7.66; 9-10 am Stuart Culverhouse 8.4 miles; 10-11 am Kevin Higgins 6.58 miles; 11-12 am Charlie Owen 5.43 miles; 12 noon – 1pm Rachel Morris 4.41 miles; 1-2.30 pm Steve Poupart 11.0 miles; 2.30-5pm Helen Hannam 11.0 miles; 5-7 pm Ben Hudson 14.18 miles; 7-8 pm Robert Fryer 7.07 miles.

When the provisional results were confirmed on Monday, NWRRC finished 15th overall with a total distance of 96.12 miles. The winners were shown to be Aberystwyth Power Rangers with 122.53 miles, and in second place was Run4all Neath Black with 119.04 miles, and third were Port Talbot Harriers with 115.71 miles. In the previous competition, NWRRC finished 18th and recorded 112.83 miles, and although they were about 16 miles down on last time, they moved a few places up the final table. Plaudits were also given to Sarah Fergie Hudson for her organising skills.

*Overall provisional results: –

https://builthanddistrictrc.com/893-2/