Ridgeway Challenge
UK National Trail Running Championships

28th/29th August 2010

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Over the Bank Holiday weekend I competed in the Ridgeway Challenge - UK Trail Running Championships (long distance).

We set off at midday on Saturday from Ivinghoe Beacon and ran/walked the full 86 miles to Avebury, Wiltshire. I arrived at 9.04 Sunday morning having taken 21 hours 4 minutes, finishing 2nd in the women's over 40 category to win silver.

Fortunately the weather was dry and warm though the wind was constantly against us! Navigation in the dark was quite tricky at times but it was beautifully peaceful and a very starry night. Sunrise heading up to Barbury Castle was a highlight and the check points/feed stations were amazing with tents, open fires, music and hot food/drink in the middle of nowhere.

In fact it looked so much fun that Craig (my husband/support crew) was stopped by police and asked if he was going to a rave when driving up to a checkpoint at 3am!

The event was exhausting but on seeing another woman catching me up in the final mile I did manage a last minute dash to hold her off!

The event was extremely well organised and I would recommend it to anyone foolish enough to want to run this far!

Cath Holloway