Butleigh Multiterrain 2008

By James Wright, Hydro Harriers

The Butleigh Race is the 2^nd event of the Somerset Series, but as it clashes with the Grizzly it is a pretty low key event.

Butleigh is a small well-to-do village about 3 miles south of Street. The race starts and finishes from the village playing field which has a brand new pavilion which housed the race HQ. A kids race took place around the sports field just after the start of the main race. My nipper duly entered and finished last out of nine entrants – a real chip off the old block! The old “It’s the taking part that counts” line got an airing!

The race starts with a mile of flat road, then diverts on to a track and starts to climb, at first gradually, then more severely before joining a main road at the top of the ridgeway (about 3 miles). All the height gained is then lost on footpaths, before being regained (back up to the ridgeway road) at about 5 miles. The race then finishes with a gradual descent of about 2 miles, on track and road, to the finish.

I put in a fast first mile on the flat, and pretty much held my place (did a bit of overtaking on the climbs, but lost ground on the descents which were pretty skiddy after a lot of rain and I had to go gingerly as I had road shoes on). Finished 22^nd out of 67 in 57min 55 secs.

In summary – a pleasant little low-key race, pretty scenic, well marshalled, good showers, good home-made cake in the pavilion. And a good opportunity to get a decent placing with most top local runners doing The Grizzly.

And at just £5.50 for affiliated runners it is almost cheap enough for Woosh to consider!