An epic race and an incredible couple of days
5 August 2011
It was foggy as the Sophie’s Legacy Ridgeway Challenge 2011 teams assembled at Horsenden Tennis Club for the start of their two day race. However, the sun had burnt through by the time that Dennis, Sophie’s Dad, started the teams at 11am. The Adam Henson Cotswold Farm Park team immediately took the initiative and set the pace. At the 3Km mark, as the trail turned up the steep hill 10 runners had established a lead from the main pack. These were the AHCFP team, the FIA team and 2 each from Hardly Athletic and Auld Alliance.
The temperature had soared under the blue sky and runners were already removing t-shirts and making use of water troughs on route to cool down. First into transition point 1 was Dane Bell from Hardly Athletic in 52mins. AHCFP were the first full team in and FIA had a 4min deficit to make up on the leaders. 007 Heaven had run well and were only a further 5mins behind.
The first of the bike legs was a relatively fast flat route that needed some careful navigation. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the teams lost time on the route due to some wrong turns. 007 Heaven lost numerous positions due to unplanned detours but the two lead teams had no such concerns. FIA initially sighted the white shirts of AHCFP 18Kms into the 22Km leg and within a couple of Kms had ridden them down and overtaken them. The lead for FIA arriving at transition point 2 was marginal and both teams left for section 3 virtually together.
The third section proved equally difficult for some teams to navigate as the previous section. The situation was compounded by an irrational desire of four teams to place their trust in Damian, of team Blisterin!, rather than a map. As a result five teams ended up trailing a further 10Kms than necessary and lifting bikes over gates. Not only did they confuse themselves but also some of the marshals.
Suffolk n Slow were the proverbial tortoise near the rear of the field, stopping regularly to check their map and ensure they stayed on route. A plan that was delivering them up the field.
Out in front the lead teams could not be separated. The runners waiting at TP3 sighted white shirts first but only two of them. The bright yellow of the FIA were only a hundred metres behind but critically all three were in line. The battling Carol powering her bike between her those of her team mates to the end of the section. FIA had a 30 second lead into the final 5Km of the day.
1500m into the day’s final run AHCFP ran the FIA down and continued to build their lead. The difference after 58Km of running and cycling was 2 mins. It was some time before the third team arrived at the end of day 1. It was also a major surprise. Suffolk n Slow had navigated well, cycled hard and held onto 3rd place on the final run. Blisterin! had also finished the day well ahead of expectations. Eight teams were home but it was a long wait for Scouting for Girls. They had decided that all 5 team members would complete all sections of the route. They arrived all together and in good shape but almost an hour down on all the other teams.
Hardly Athletic were keen to get started on day 2 as there was a plane to catch so the starters agreed that they could start ahead of the rest of the teams. The remaining 8 teams lined up for the off at 10am. Both FIA and AHCFP clearly had designs on winning and the pace at the start of the 8km running section was a reflection of the desire to win. The first 2Km were clocked at 3.40min / Km pace.
With the 30 min head start the three Hardly Athletic runners were the first to appear at TP4, Gerard leading the way with that characteristic grin. The next to run into view were the phenomenal AHCFP – all three together eating up the ground. However, Rachel from FIA had put in an incredible leg to keep in touch and with Carol & Emmanuel not far behind her the AHCFP lead was limited.
All the teams had learnt from the day before, transitions were slicker and the strengths and weaknesses of the teams were known. (Maps had also been studied with increased diligence). The next cycle stage of 38Km was to be the pivotal section for many of the teams, not least the leaders. Knowing that FIA had taken more than 4min out of them on the 21Km section on day 1 AHCFP were under no illusion that they had to ride hard.
Within the first 5Km of the section Russ from FIA spotted the white shirts ahead. However, the gap was not closing rapidly. On Foxhill AHCFP caught and passed the trail blazing Hardly Athletic and just a minute later the yellow FIA machine screamed past on the downhill section. Finally, on Liddington hill FIA drew level with AHCFP almost 30Km into the section. For the next 4Km the two teams powered along, side by side, discussing the weather and the latest production of La Boheme. (In other words there was plenty of good natured banter). Following the descent into Ogbourne St George AHCFP pulled over and gave the road to FIA. There was obviously a problem. However, 2min later they were back in touch. The FIA pushed on towards Smeathes Ridge and the final transition point. With 2Km to go FIA had finally shaken the followers. They pumped their legs to gain as much of an advantage as possible for the final run.
In the pack of teams there were some significant moves. All five of the Scouting For Girls team were going well, 007 Heaven had navigated successfully and despite a nasty fall were up to 3rd and Blisterin! had maintained their impressive showing. On the other hand Suffolk n Slow had struggled towards the latter stages of the bike section after their heroics on day 1. This was compounded by a puncture, the Pink Panthers had started well but the long bike section had taken its toll and Amy was not looking forward to the run. Auld Alliance had faded a little after the initial run on day 1 but had consolidated on day 2 and was in good shape for the final leg.
Somehow FIA had carved out a 7min lead going into the run to the line. This was a net 5min taking into account the deficit from day 1. The transition was sharp and the tactics set as they set off through the mounds of the ancient hill fort of Barbury Castle. AHCFP arrived into TP5, the reason for the loss of time clearly evident. Rob Biddlecombe was carrying a bike. A serious puncture had meant that a rapid repair was not possible and the decision had been made to carry the bike. As he was wearing SPDs for the cycling he ended up running the last 2.5Km of the section not only with the bike over his shoulder but also bare foot.
Russ had done an immense job for the FIA in delivering the lead on the bike section and he was paying the price. Carol & Rachel were doing a great job motivating but we all knew the running ability of the AHCFP. Martin was sent out as a spotter for the chasing team and his first sight of the yellow shirts was depressing as the lead appeared to be too great. With every sighting the gap was closing and Martin’s shouts of encouragement to his team mates increased proportionally.
It was a wonderful moment running down the lane to Prospect Hospice as a team that had achieved so much over the last two days. The friends, family and supporters gathered at the finish cheered us in the last 200m. We had given our all and had come home first on day 2. The reason for our efforts was also very much at the forefront of my mind.
FIA crossed the line and punched the air, the question now was how far behind AHCFP was. It was difficult to judge the time elapsed since we had arrived before there were shouts and cheers as the next team turned down towards the finish line. The AHCFP were all together and crossed the line to the congratulations of the supporters and particularly FIA. Only one person knew who had won. Dennis, Sophie’s Dad, had noted the time FIA had crossed the line as 12.51pm, he checked his watch and wrote 12.52pm. The watch had not reached 12.53pm so AHCFP had won. An epic race over 110Km and two days coming down to a matter of seconds.
FIA’s disappointment was muted as the thrill of the race and the wonderful camaraderie within the teams and between the teams had meant for an incredible experience. AHCFPs delight was evident but also shared with those that made their win so hard fought.
The crowd of supporters that had built up did not have to wait long for the Hardly Athletic team, their smiles indicating the pleasure they had derived from the day.
There was then a gap to the next runners in due to the early starting team. It was the Blisterin! team who had performed beyond expectations, Tom, Sophie’s brother was greeted with a special roar from the crowd. Two minutes later the lurid pink vests of 007 Heaven rounded the corner, Toby Venn was sporting an impressively bloodied knee, and despite yet another map reading blunder on the final run the team finished in good spirits. Their pleasure was a little dampened when they discovered that the additional 2.5Km on the final run cost them an overall 3rd position.
Mike Duddy was next to lead his proud team across the line, the Auld Alliance completing the two days in 9h 10min.
All the teams that had completed were provided with restorative tea and biscuits in the Prospect Hospice garden and the staff at the hospice took photos and congratulated the teams on a fantastic effort. A couple of bottles of fizz were also popped at this stage.
Next to appear were the brave Scouting For Girls all 5 team members completing all 110Km of the challenge. Stuart, Amy and Danny of the Pink Panthers were followed closely by their two remaining team members the strong finishing Philippa and the non-running (but for this 6Km, running) Jonathan. Although the majority of the Suffolk n Slow team had completed Ben was struggling with the run. As the last athlete to appear and clearly suffering from the rigours of the challenge Ben received the biggest roar of the day. Charlotte his wife (and Sophie’s best friend) ran with him the last 100m with to the line in a fitting finale to the challenge.