Round Rotherham 50 Mile Trail Race

Well done to Sue Walker who completed Saturday’s Round Rotherham 50 Mile Trail Race in 12 hours 42 minutes and this result gives Sue the qualifier for the Long Distance Walker’s 100 mile challenge in May next year.  Please find Sue’s race report below;

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The race itself was mostly enjoyable and much more scenic than I expected.  It has usually been held in December and last year’s conditions were foul with about 1/3 of the field dropping out.  This year was lovely.  We ran for miles and miles across firm and fairly even fields.  I can well imagine what it would have been like last year.  Think of the cross country at Queen Anne last year and then imagine 5 – 8 miles like that!  We ran under the M1 twice and the M18.  We ran alongside smelly canals and attractive rivers and ran alongside Roche Abbey which was beautiful.  I ( had the company of some local runners for a while who told me all about the local features.  I told them I was a nosey runner and that I wanted to know what I was running past!) I took a run / walk/ eat /drink strategy from the start and it seemed to work.  I drank much more than normal and had no signs of cramp.  I had company for lots of the route which was pleasant.  The only difficulty (apart from the 50 miles) is navigation as the course is scarcely marked and you had to follow 16 Wainwright type strip maps and pay close attention to them.  At least it took your mind away from the pain in your legs!  I can’t claim to have been fit enough for this race or to have done anywhere near enough miles, but all I wanted to do was to finish and to qualify.  With a bit of grit and determination I succeeded.  And my knee caused me no trouble at all. I might not be training on Tuesday!