After probably one of the wettest starts to July in living memory the weather turned on a sixpence 3 days before the inaugural Boudicca Way ultramarathon. Temperatures soared from a lowly 12 degrees C to the high 20s and a yellow warning was in place in some areas of the UK but thankfully not Norfolk. This didn’t mean it wasn’t a scorcher of a day of course with the temperature when the race started just touching 20 degrees C.
This was not ideal. Running in the heat is never the most pleasant of experiences however the runners were in good spirits and with a club trophy at stake as well as personal glory there was an element of competition in the air.
With a blast of the horn the runners left the sheltered confines of Hope Church in Diss at 0830 to run the 50km journey to Norwich on the Boudicca Way.
The Boudicca Way is an ancient trail and runs through some of the oldest settlements in Norfolk. It was once the stomping ground of Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni and a thorn in the side of the Roman invaders until they eventually defeated her. As such this is hallowed ground and a beautiful rolling trail that boasts some of the prettiest footpaths and villages in South Norfolk.
The beautiful and totally unspoilt villages of Saxlingham, Pulham Market and Shotesham with their history and grand churches pay homage to this sense of history as the trail winds its way to Norwich, itself a very fine city also.
The race is logistically very easy for runners as the start and finish are on the same train line with a station at either end connected by a 15 minute train journey with frequent trains, so this may have added to the popularity.
The race sold out quickly and entries had to be reopened such was the demand for places. As a fledgling company this was a very encouraging sign and it looks like Boudicca Way is set to become the flagship race for Boghopper Races.
The race itself was fast despite the heat and warnings from the Race directors to take it easy and moderate their pace. It was clear that at the front of the race in both men and women’s fields times were going to be very quick indeed.
And so it transpired with a dead heat for 1st place in the men’s race between Lewis Wardale and Tom Newman in a time of 4hrs 10 mins and 56 seconds which was ridiculously fast given the conditions, 3rd place going to Lance Escobar in 4hrs 35 mins and 56 seconds.
In the women’s race Harly Moon romped home in 6th place overall but 1st lady in a time of 4hrs 55 mins and 5 seconds, with Georgina Salmon 2nd in a time of 5hrs 17 mins and 14 seconds, and Emma Ward rounding out the podium in 3rd in a time of 5hrs 34 mins and 12 seconds.
As the temperature ramped up through the afternoon the runners battled on. The checkpoints were kept exceptionally busy as the runners sought solace from the scorching heat of the day. Marshals alternated between helping refill bottles, dishing out food and fruit and spraying down overheated runners with spray guns. It was getting busy out there, some of the checkpoints resembled warzones with runners desperately trying to cool down or find shade.
As the race wore on and more and more runners crossed the finish line it became apparent that this was turning out to be one of the hardest 50km ultras that most runners had taken on, purely down to the heat. This was not what was intended but it made for an epic day.
Eventually with the last runner crossing the line close to 7pm the race was over and the race clock was stopped. It had been one heck of a day.
With 180 starters and with the weather being so freakishly hot to only have 3 DNFs says so much about how fabulous the marshals were on the day. At times like these it is a real privilege to be associated with this sport but we mustn’t rest as it’s now onto the next race, Weavers’ Way in October. Lets hope it’s not so hot!