Combe Gibbet
THE Combe Gibbet to Overton 16-mile cross country run is an event to be endured and enjoyed! Paul Hammond and Jon Leigh did just that, and boy were they glad to finish.
The adventure began at Overton primary school where coaches picked up runners to take them to the start at Combe Gibbet near Inkpen in Berkshire - this is near to the start of the Test Way Relay.
Paul recalls from the warmth of his armchair and fire, and with his feet up: "The journey was through some beautiful Hampshire countryside and lovely villages; there was only just enough room to squeeze through in places. It was very windy and chilly at the start and the wind stayed with us for most of the race.
"The first part of the course was dominated by rutted and muddy pathways, the wind always threatened to blow me off my feet which resulted in a lot of lateral movement across the ruts. "The scenery, when I dared take a look, was fantastic. At one stage the course took us through the Highclere Castle estate to way above the castle.
"The first drinks station was after about eight miles and was in the lee of the A34. Once under the road and up the other side we came to a hill which was like the stairway in the film 'A Matter of Life and Death'! The hill went up and up and into the wind all the way. It seemed never ending."
It wasn't all hills, explained Paul, who pointed out that there were wooded areas, fields tracks and tarmac roads. "It was a truly multi-terrain course," he added.
"At the second drinks station, one of the marshals cheerfully announced that apart from the slope in front of us it was downhill all the way - and he was right! Ironically at this stage my left knee was playing up again and I was finding it easier to run uphill rather than down!
"The finish was in the same playing field as the Overton 5 and a welcome sight it was."
The race was organised by Overton Harriers and attracted a field of 161 runners who were led home by Andy Macaskill from Maidenhead AC in a winning time of 1hr 37min 23sec.
The leading lady was Fiona Ross Russell from City of Salisbury AC who recorded a time of 2:01.25 and 25th overall.
Jon Leigh was not far off the top female runner in his final long run before the London Marathon. He clocked 2:03.38 for 28th place. "I had a good run, but I pushed a bit harder than I had intended to, and so I was a bit sore the week after," he said. Paul Hammond was 62nd in 2:14.43