Storm Boelo intensifies the Beachy Head Marathon torments

For the hardiest of souls among Hastings Runners, last weekend was all about torture. Of both route and conditions.

For those of a nervous disposition, the words “Beachy Head Marathon” are heavy with portent, the first three syllables adding extra menace to the promise of 26.2 miles of steep climbs and perilous descents across South Downs trails that only the toughest can tackle. But added to that, the arrival of Storm Boelo on Saturday meant anyone on the start-line in Eastbourne at 8am was clearly made of the right running stuff.

Immense congratulations, firstly, to the club’s George Marshall who – running in the Vet Men 45-49 age category – placed 207th of 937 finishers in a time of 4hr 44min 52sec despite conditions widely described as “brutal”. VM55-59 Matthew Miller crossed the line 394th in 5:21:04 complaining (quite reasonably) about “the horizontal hail over the Seven Sisters”, while Katy Harrison and ultra running specialist Pete Heasman ran mostly side by side to complete the course in identical 5:43:52 times.

The club’s real heroes, though, were those eight women who, because their legs carried them rather slower, had to endure the atrocious conditions for much longer. Liz Bancroft, Stephanie Kemp and Rebecca Richardson were all on their feet for around 6hr 46min. Even more heroic were those who battled for over seven hours: Natasha Slow, Ellie Miller, Susan Mann, Allison Tanner and Jo Edwards all showed character and determination of the very highest calibre.

In the Beachy Head Ultra – a race that extends the marathon challenge to approximately 52.6k and was completed by 266 masochistic types – Hastings Runners’ Senior Male Jake Stewart placed a superb seventh in a swift 4:38:17 followed by VM40-44 Sam Davies, 28th in 5:04:17. Behind them in pace but showing steely resilience were Greg Wheeler (out on the course for 7:55:07) and Dave Curtis (8:39:42).

Meanwhile, in Beachy Head’s 10k event, Peter Ball ran 53:16, Patrick Bermingham 54:41 and Susan Yates 1:16:24 – followed on Sunday in the Half Marathon by Jonathan Jenner (2:06:53) and Kirstie Carlton-Blake (3:07:15).

Finally, in less brutal weather further north at the Battersea Park Marathon on Saturday, many congratulations to Joe Moore who recorded a Personal Best time by finishing 36th in 2:58:53 and Allan Payne came first in his MV70 age category, crossing the line in 4:23:07.

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