Saturday 15th July saw 4 members of Grantham Running Club join members of the Spider Runners online running community to participate in the Odyssey 12 hour trail race in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Staged as part of a larger triathlon weekend, the looped trail race saw competitors complete as many laps of the course as possible within a 12 hour period.
Taking place at Regatta Meadow within St Neots Riverside Park, the course comprised of a 7k loop through park and meadow, with several crossings of the River Great Ouse. Despite a forecast of heavy rain for much of the day, after a damp first lap the clouds soon parted and the runners spent much of the day enjoying the summer sunshine, with only the occasion shower that didn’t dampen spirits.
In her second consecutive weekend of lapped racing, Tracy Webb was pleased to complete 5 laps of the course, clocking 35k.
After setting a record distance the previous weekend in Sherwood Pines, Marj Spendlow smashed through it with 8 laps, setting a new record for her longest run of 56k.
Robin Atter, completing his first solo looped race, completed 9 laps of the course in just under 11 hours, clocking up 63k, placing 9th in the male solo category.
In training for a 100k race later in the summer and using the event as a long run opportunity, Kate Marshall also completed 9 laps of the course in just under 11 hours, for 63k, placing 6th in the female solo category.
The event was well organised, with great support from volunteers and spectators, particularly within the ‘Tent of Enlightenment’, through which runners passed on each lap. Camping and refreshments made for a great social atmosphere. Runners received a striking medal as a momento of the event.
The solo race was won by Gary Barnes with a commendable 14 laps completed.