Belvoir Challenge 2016

Paul gets his money’s worth
There was the highest ever number of SDRR runners competing in the Belvoir Challenge this year, with some impressive performances in both the 15 mile and 26 mile events (writes our man on the spot, Steve Leafe).
Underfoot conditions were better than usual thanks to the recent dry weather, but the choice of routes provided plenty of hills for all runners, with this year’s shorter route being measured at over 15.8 miles by most runners.
In the longer event, Mark Harriott led SDRR home with a great time of 3:58.35, which was good enough for Mark to come 44^th out of 220 finishers. Adrian Middleton also showed the benefit of a lot of recent off road training, with a time of 4:04.07 gaining him 48^th position. This was Adrian’s debut at the marathon distance and was a great effort on such a tough off road course. Steve Fowler’s training has been affected by injury, so he was pleased to come in 137^th position in a time of 5:03.48.
In the shorter race, Chris Pearson continued the excellent form which has seen him win the Derby Runner XC league vet 40 prize this season, by finishing 5^th out of 467 finishers in a time of 1:51.34. Shane Chapman, using the run as part of his training for the London marathon, also had a great run, finishing 9^th in a time of 1:54.49. Steve Leafe was next home for the Club, in 30^th in a time of 2:08.40; followed by Dave Eyre in 44^th place in 2:12.38, just ahead of the fast finishing Christian Glover in 46^th  in 2:12.58. The ever consistent Tracey Glover had another excellent run, taking several minutes off her time in last year’s event, finishing in 88^th place overall, and 12^th lady, in a time of 2.24.35. Two of the club’s ironmen triathletes were next home, with Mark Nixon finishing 163^rd in a time of 2.46.04, just 4 seconds ahead of Lisa Wright in 165^th place.
Despite carrying injuries, Nikki Reeves was delighted to get a course PB, in 184^th position in a time of 2.49.37, followed by Sam Skidmore in 207^th in a time of 2.57.27. Heidi Elliott was the final SDRR finisher over the 15 mile event, with her time of 4.11.30 earning her 434^th position.
A special mention has to be made for Paul Glover, who having started intending to run the 15 mile race, took a wrong turning after around 5 miles when the course split into the 2 event routes, and inadvertently ran the full 26 mile distance. Whilst his change of event confused the timing system, his time of 4:32 minutes would have been fast enough to earn him 91^st position in the longer event.