On Saturday I ran the Essex 30. This a 4 lap race, and takes place at the same time as the Essex 100 (12 laps) and Essex 50 (6 laps). The route is mostly off road on the Flitch Way, a disused railway line and very similar our local Forest Way – flat, straight and reasonably well shaded. The shade was particularly welcome, as it was a hot and sunny day.
As the sharper readers will have realised, at one third distance of the 100 mile race the Essex 30 is slightly misnamed, and is in fact just over 34 miles long. All Challenge Running events tend to give runners a couple of bonus free miles!
I finished in 4:49:28 in second place, but was well beaten by the strong running Craig Holgate who smashed his own course record to finish in 4:02:09.
1st Craig Holgate, Centurion Running Team, 4:02:09
2nd David Barker, Tunbridge Wells Harriers, 4:49:28
3rd Mark Prigg, unregistered ,5:13:56
4th & 1st female, Krista Brooks, unregistered, 5:36:12
David Barker