The Uttoxeter HM race this year was changed, like so many races recently, to a virtual format. Unfortunately, that meant no one got the chance to tackle the steep climb around 8 miles into the course or the 2-mile winding steady climb from Marchington village at the business end of the race. However, it did mean people were free to pick their own personal choice of route, regardless of where they were that weekend, and challenge themselves over a distance that isn’t for the faint hearted. One runner elected to record their run over 200 miles away in the north of Cumbria.
There were 21 runners who lined up at the virtual start line, consisting of 11 men and 10 women. In the age-grading stakes, 4 runners made it over the 70% mark with Esther Hunt leading the women on 76.91% and a new name for the men, Darren Leaver with 76.87%.
In first place for the men was Dave Sanders, showing a return to the kind of form he displayed last year when running the virtual London Marathon. Second place went to Jimmy Pickering who paced Dave round to his fast time, a week after blasting a 78-minute half marathon at Tatton Park. In third was Joe Goodwin who ran his race a day before the other two only to see them post a slightly faster time – races can be won on the tightest of margins!
In another switch of places for the women, Esther Hunt came first and bagged a new personal best time of 1:30:18, knocking nearly 7 minutes off her previous best. Hermione Green followed up her amazing run recently at the Leicestershire HM, with a time of 1:37:48 to finish in second. Extra kudos to Denise Softley, who broke the 2-hour barrier for the first time and came third with a time of 1:54:59.
Well done to everyone who took part.
Results may be viewed here: