The 34th Belvoir Challenge took place on 2nd March with a high turn out ready to take on either a 15-mile or 26-mile route. Every year the course changes, but there were familiar parts to the course for the regulars amongst runners and walkers.
This year could definitely be called a challenge. Starting out at Harby Village Hall, as soon as the route set out across fields it set the scene for the rest of the race – lots of mud and water, unsurprising given the unrelenting rain. The longer route wound through the Belvoir estate, but to get there was the steep climb up through Plungar Woods to then head towards Wood Lane. This is where the route split and lots more mud to contend with via Woolsthorpe by Belvoir and Croxton Kerrial before joining up with the 15-milers on route to Stathern. It is usually a pleasure to reach Stathern knowing there is only about 3 miles to go. This year however, the heavy clay soil sucked you in and there was no momentum left in the legs to keep running at any pace.
2 GRC members tackled the event. Chris Limmer took part in the 15 mile race and cross the line in 2:40:26, placing him an impressive 64th out of 531 participants.
Caroline Davis was even more of a sucker for punishment and took on the challenge of the 26 miler. She finished in 5:44:49.
The end of the race marks a welcome soup and pudding, if you haven’t already sampled the various treats available at checkpoints along the way. The lead runner of the 26 mile race was Chris Cope with a time of 3 hours 15 minutes and 44 seconds. In second place was Jonathan Palmer in 3 hours 19 minutes and 9 seconds. A phenomenal run through all the mud. First lady home was Jenny Laing in 4 hours 2 minutes and 39 seconds.