Saab Salomon Hellrunner

---

Surviving the Hellrunner

Paul Magner - Trailplus / 20.10.2004

Sunday 17th October. Longmoor Camp, Hampshire. 11.00hrs ... time for a sharp exit!

In this case, Nick Sharp who, representing Team Saab Salomon, the event sponsors, took off in front for a lead that he never gave up as he stormed to a winning time of 59 minutes and 12 seconds in the inaugural Saab Salomon Hellrunner.

The Hellrunner event, created by TrailPlus, was devised as a 10-mile ‘Adventure Running’ race comprising three distinct zones, each progressively tougher. The opening 5-mile section was over mildly undulating but sandy tracks and trails within beautiful and sunny Hampshire countryside.

The pack of 645 runners contrasted sharply with the deserted and spooky mock village used by the army which they passed through. Up and over Tank Hill the runners soon spread out before ascending a steep hill and reaching some welcome respite at the SIS drinks station … and the start of “The Wetlands�.

With some gentle puddles to start with, competitor Rosie Mackenzie captured the mood of what came next: “ I actually laughed hysterically when I saw the lake in the wetlands section, and the bog certainly added to the challenge ... and the general stink�.

And so to the final “Hills of Hell� section with relentless ‘up-and-downs’ over soft, sandy terrain matched by some steeper ascents and descents as the runners finally headed back to the heaven that was the finish line.

Nick Sharp’s wonderfully impressive sub-hour winning performance saw him clear of Pete James in second place (1:00:55) and Alan Wray in third (1:03:36). In the women’s category it was Jane Lloyd (also of Team Saab Salomon) who crossed the line victorious in 1:12:56 followed home by Tracey Van Schalkwijk (1:14:43) and Fiona Watson (1:15:57).

Event sponsors Salomon were rewarded with an impressively large entry for what was their first foray into an ‘adventure running’ event and it was particularly appropriate that the name of the event charity that supports tribal peoples around the world – Survival - aptly captured the mood and spirit of the day.

Salomon and event organisers, TrailPlus, are already planning the 2005 event (“Hellrunner-The Devil’s Revenge�) and are hoping to establish it as one of the biggest and most challenging events of its’ type in the world of adventure running.See All Event Posts