The Exe to Axe race is so named as it sees runners follow the 20 mile stretch of coastal footpath from Exmouth, and the Exe estuary to Seaton, and the mouth of the River Axe. It is a very scenic route but not one for the feint hearted. With 4000ft of climb (well, 3999ft, according to the Power of 10 site), it is classed as a category B, Long fell race. In real terms, for the participants, this means a hell of a lot of ups and downs!
Never ones to back away from a hilly, multi-terrain challenge though, a merry band of nine hard-core Harriers were toeing the start line at Fox Holes car park on Sunday morning. This year there were almost 200 finishers, which shows the growing popularity of tough off-road events, such as this, the Four Trigs and the Grizzly. The fastest finisher, Tim Lenton from Axe Valley, took 2:46:58 to cover the 20 hilly miles; the slowest runner took over 5h40m.
The highest placed Harrier was Nicholas Brown in 44th place overall in a very respectable time of 3:46:12.
Scott Jordan feels his progress has been on a bit of a plateau recently after having several weeks off due to injury, so finishing here in the top third of runners (62nd) in 3:51:47 should be something of a confidence booster and reveals that he is well on his way back to fitness.
The highest placed Harrier was Nicholas Brown in 44th place overall in a very respectable time of 3:46:12.
Scott Jordan feels his progress has been on a bit of a plateau recently after having several weeks off due to injury, so finishing here in the top third of runners (62nd) in 3:51:47 should be something of a confidence booster and reveals that he is well on his way back to fitness.
No stranger to these tough, muddy, hilly events, Jon Croome clocked 4:03:44 for 86th spot. Shortly after and running in together in 90th and 91st places, with times of 4:06:30 and 4:06:33 were brother and sister pairing, Chris and Emma Dupain. In fact Chris was just in front, no patronising chivalrous gestures from him!
While Diane Richards was speeding around on Somerset tarmac in the Taunton Half, husband Martin was on his feet for 4:09:28, to claim 95th spot.
Terry Oldham was 104th in 4:13:19. Ever the philosopher, Terry reflected afterwards on what a tough event this was for him this year, having gone into it with a few hamstring niggles: 'It is 48 hours now since I completed the Exe to Axe run, and I am still asking myself quite why I did that this year. As a Category B long fell race, it is going to be a challenge, and given that I have done it on a few occasions now I should be prepared. But it is one of the strange and attractive aspects of running that you never really know how it is going to turn out, regardless of training and preparation, until you are well underway. This year I discovered that a tight upper hamstring remains a tight upper hamstring regardless of whether you ignore it and or ingest a considerable number of anti inflammatory drugs. This discovery occurred on the way to West Down and hence with some 18 odd miles to go. Although tempted on multiple occasions to pack it in, my simple cussedness kept me going to the end in Seaton. A quick chat, a look at the medal, and off back to Exmouth in the car, as if none of it had actually happened. Why did I do it? Still not sure!'
While Diane Richards was speeding around on Somerset tarmac in the Taunton Half, husband Martin was on his feet for 4:09:28, to claim 95th spot.
Terry Oldham was 104th in 4:13:19. Ever the philosopher, Terry reflected afterwards on what a tough event this was for him this year, having gone into it with a few hamstring niggles: 'It is 48 hours now since I completed the Exe to Axe run, and I am still asking myself quite why I did that this year. As a Category B long fell race, it is going to be a challenge, and given that I have done it on a few occasions now I should be prepared. But it is one of the strange and attractive aspects of running that you never really know how it is going to turn out, regardless of training and preparation, until you are well underway. This year I discovered that a tight upper hamstring remains a tight upper hamstring regardless of whether you ignore it and or ingest a considerable number of anti inflammatory drugs. This discovery occurred on the way to West Down and hence with some 18 odd miles to go. Although tempted on multiple occasions to pack it in, my simple cussedness kept me going to the end in Seaton. A quick chat, a look at the medal, and off back to Exmouth in the car, as if none of it had actually happened. Why did I do it? Still not sure!'
Club Chair Bob Keast was 166th in 4:51:18 and explains that he too, like Terry, had a particularly bad day at the office: 'I had a truly awful run as well. Felt sick at Sidmouth, should have stopped as well, but kept going but I did not eat/drink anything as felt so bad, so got slower and slower, walked last few miles. But will it put us off? NO!!'
I think the above exchange gives you some idea of the sort of mentality needed to do well in these grueling off-road events!
Lorraine Croome rounded off the Harrier proceedings in 175th in 5:08:12. She may well have been slightly disappointed with this run too, like Terry and Bob, as it is well down on her usual high standards at these type of events; standards which saw her place 3rd female and 33rd overall at the equally tough 4 Trigs event in March. But that is indicative of this type of event: if you are not feeling 100%, they will find you out: no one to draft or slipstream up on the top of an exposed Devon cliff top with a biting north-easterly wind howling in your face. So well done to all the Harriers for completing: not one Harrier registered a DNF!
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