Longmynd Hike
16/11/2009
There is a growing popularity for long distance events that test endurance and stamina, especially among some of the members of Newport and District Running Club, who have taken part in several races of this type over the past year.
Last weekend, around 560 people started from Church Stretton on the Longmynd Hike, a mammoth fifty mile fell race which took in a dozen or so peaks around the Longmynd area.
Starting at 1.00pm the first climb of Caer Caradoc was quickly followed by the Lawley and the wind was threatening to blow everyone off the high peaks.
Noel Hogan was already pushing on and was near the front of the field with John Taylor, Lisa Garside, Glenn MacDonald-Jones and Sandy Mackenzie keeping up a steady pace not too far behind him.
Simeon Hadebe, Ceri Christie and Lisa Masters also took on the challenge, but took it at a steadier pace, although anyone finishing this event could be proud of their achievement.
By the time the front runners had reached the Stiperstones the weather had closed in with strong winds, thick cloud and rain, making it wet and cold and very uncomfortable.
By the next peak at Earls Hill, however, the conditions were better and it continued to improve through the night with a good moon and little cloud, and the runners kept up a good pace to keep moving on.
Sadly, at around the halfway stage, Lisa Garside's knee was giving her problems and she had to pull out, leaving the others to continue through the night. John taylor seemed strong and kept pulling the team along, trying to match Noel's pace ahead of them.
At the forty two mile mark at Pole Cottage, Sandy was suffering a little with blisters, but did not let this problem affect him, still maintaining momentum for the final climb up Ragleth before descending into the finish at Church Stretton.
Noel Hogan completed the course in 10hr 09min with John Taylor, Glenn MacDonald-Jones and Sandy Mackenzie finishing together in 11hr 06min. Simeon Hadebe kept going to record 17hrs 30min with Ceri Christie and Lisa Masters arriving in 19hrs 30min.
All of them deserve a great deal of respect not only for their achievement, but for their perseverance and determination in what was a very tough event.
