Spires and Steeples 26 mile Challenge Race Report

Post date: Oct 15, 2014 9:28:39 PM

By Sarah McFadzean

I took part in The Spires and Steeples 26 mile Challenge on Sunday 12th October. The route starts in Lincoln castle grounds and follows a mix of off road terrain, comprising mainly of open fields, bridleway and grass canal path. It was a very foggy dark drive through the Lincolnshire countryside to the finish where I left the car and was bused to the start in Lincoln. Everyone else on the bus appeared to be very serious looking trail runners, I felt slightly nervous that I was perhaps under prepared. A beautiful blue sky day followed the foggy start and I relaxed in the knowledge that this was not a chipped event and I was only doing it 'for fun' and the experience of the trail marathon being something different to try. My training had been hampered all summer with an achilles injury. The constantly changing ground underfoot is a challenge and the mud in the fields was very sticky, gluing your feet to the ground almost! I completed the challenge in 3:45:29 according to Strava. My relaxed approached must have worked as I came in first lady!

I've done a few other races over the summer, the Humber Bridge 10K and Caistor Sting in the tail 10K. I also ran in the Islay Half Marathon, where along with Mum aka Margaret, Jocelyn and Iona we took second ladies team prize. No P.Bs for me but now my injury has gone I'm looking forward to training properly for the Silverstone Half Marathon and London Marathon next year and as many other events as I can squeeze in inbetween and of course the Slog in the Sand!