An alternative to the Ashby 20 is the Oakley 20 near Bedford which took place on 23rd March. Setting off from a brightening Grantham it remained cloudy throughout the run but was pleasantly warm.
The start line was on a field which was nearly 2 laps before heading out on the road to Pavenham. A right turn at Pavenham takes you out on the larger loop out into the Bedfordshire countryside. A couple of wicked hills to test the stamina and through the villages of Felmersham and Chellington before reaching the loop that you complete twice.
Some rousing music greets you after the corner at a drink station then a testing hill before Stevington. It is D of E season, and a group of girls were out on their walk cheering the runners on. There was then another testing incline before heading to the two bridges that signal you’re close to Oakley.
Running past the finish on my next loop I knew my time was well down as the lead bike overtook me and the first man home swept into the finishing straight. However, I needed to dig in for the remaining 7.5 miles, this time going through Pavenham and meeting the point where the run routes join taking you back to Oakley.
I felt better than the previous week at the 16 mile point but one hill felt as though I was going backwards as I got overtaken. However, I made up some time and a few overtakes to reach the finish line in a disappointing 3 hours 9 minutes and 2 minutes but I was so glad there weren’t any more miles to run. I can’t find the results but clocked the winner around 1 hour 59 minutes.
This year the hoodie was pink with a lovely scene on the back of a kingfisher and a bridge. Onwards to the next marathon.