SUFFOLK BACKYARD ULTRA
The concept is simple, runners start on the hour every hour and have to run and complete a 4.167 mile trail route in that time. They must run the loop and be back ready to start the next loop or they are out of the race, the race continues until there is only one person who can complete a loop that nobody else completes within the hour. They are the then Winner of the Suffolk Back Yard Ultra, everybody else is a DNF. We had two HRR taking on this immense challenge and they both did the club proud.
It was Neil Addington’s first backyard ultra. Neil sustained a foot injury a couple of weeks before the race. He managed a terrific 5 laps (20.84 miles) before the injury forced him to stop. Matt Biggin achieved something quite incredible. “This is the first time that I’ve raced a backyard event and I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. It’s not a race of speed at all and has more to do with your mind, especially as the distance builds. You have 1 hour to complete a 4.167 mile loop and you start each loop on the hour. If you not ready to start, you’re out. The furthest I’ve run previously in an event was 75 miles and I was determined to go much further than that. Things started getting tough about 19 hours in and I could feel myself slowing. I set off on the 21st loop and realised that I was in last place and slowing, I knew I would get timed out and not complete the lap. I stopped and had stern words with myself and start pushing very hard. I wanted to get to 100 miles and the only way to do it was going to leave nothing in reserve. Over the next 3 laps I raced hard, coming in 2nd on the next lap, and 1st on the one after. I slowed down for the lap that took me to 100 miles, I wanted to enjoy it. Standing at the finish line I knew I had more in me and decided to run one more for my crew-chief and lifelong friend Nathan Roulson, and then a final loop after that for my club, Halstead Road Runners. 108 miles covered and I knew I was done. Nothing left to give and an incredible sense of achievement having overcome adversity.” A huge well done to Matt. What a challenge and what an accomplishment, it was great to see so much support and encouragement from the rest of the club too.
SUDBURY 5 MILE
Steve May took on the Sudbury Friday night 5 mile race and was pleased to finish in 33:01.
