The stormy conditions didn’t stop Neil Smith getting stuck in at the Endurance Life Dorset event where he competed in the Half Marathon
On the weekend that Storm Darragh ravaged certain parts of the country, the Endurance Life Dorset event had been scheduled to take place. Located in Swanage, the course was a tough trail route along the Jurassic Coast Path.
Bournemouth AC man Neil Smith had signed up for the Half Marathon and that started at Kimmeridge, heading over to Kingston first, the onto Worth Matravers. After that it was over to Durlston and up to Swanage where the race reached its conclusion.
It was a race that featured some very tough terrain including the sandy beach at Swanage
Neil was running it with his mate Matt Hodson and they weren’t perturbed by the weather, even though the wind out there was pretty ferocious. It was a very hilly route they had to tackle, with 2,900ft of elevation to get through.
It was a very hilly route with 2,900ft of elevation
The pair set off on their way, determined to get to that finish line, no matter what it took. They battled well to get up the massive climbs, even though some of them were super steep. Making it to the finish in 2 hours 31 minutes and 22 seconds, Neil came 101st in the overall standings out of 181.
It was an impressive performance from Neil given the huge elevation and the forceful headwinds he had to face on route. It can’t have been one of the easiest runs he’s ever done that’s for sure but he completed the course and that was quite some achievement in itself.
Neil completed the course in 2 hours 31 minutes and 22 seconds
Another man with Bournemouth AC ties, Mark Hillier, was running it as well. Mark is, probably best described as an ‘adventurous’ runner. He’s done some insanely tough races in the past such as the Oner, which is 80 miles with 10,000ft of climbing. He’s also done the Marathon des Sables, which is 254km in six days over the deserts of Morocco. He’s also done the 230km Al Andalus Ultimate Trail which is 230km over a five stage format.
Mark Hillier was also competing in the Half Marathon race
He even did a 100 mile race in the Pyrenees after bring pulled out of it by the medics with five miles to go the previous year. That is a man who will not compromise on his goals, no matter how demanding and difficult they are.
Completing the Endurance Life Dorset Half Marathon in 1:56:50, Mark finished in 19th position and was 4th Vet 50 over the line.
Charles Ford won the Half Marathon race in 1:30:05, with Kelvin Weafer taking 2nd in 1:31:10 and George Parry taking 3rd in 1:34:35. Jenny Marshall was 1st female in 1:54:14 which put her 16th overall. Mary Marshall finished just behind her in 1:55:17 which made her 2nd female and 17th overall.
Mark finished 19th in 1:56:50
There was also meant to be a Marathon and a 37.2 mile Ultra in the Endurance Life Dorset event but they both got downgraded to 13 miles distance in the end due to the stormy conditions.
There were some women who ran faster times than Jenny in other two 13 mile races. Georgie Baker managed it in 1:47:50, finishing 11th in her race and Victoria Ratcliffe, a V45, was 2nd female in 1:48:37, which put her in 12th place. In the other race, Amelie Karlsson completed the course in 1:46:47 and she finished 8th overall.
There was also a 10k race which was won by Matthew Dewey in 43:50. He was quite a way ahead, with V55 Mark Stileman taking 2nd place in 47:44. Under 20 man Mateusz Kowalski was 3rd in 49:24. Emily Ellis was 1st female, crossing the line in 51:42 which put her 5th overall.
It had certainly been an experience for Neil running in such stormy conditions and over such a testing route as well. That can only mean good strength gains for him going forwards, as well as some good memories to take with him too no doubt.