Hayle Runners Tackle Beacon Beast Marathon and Beastly Half

What happens when you sign up for a marathon and discover it’s actually 27 miles? Or a half marathon that stretches to nearly 15? For 27 members of Hayle Runners, that was the reality on a sunny Sunday in Bodmin last month, and they ran it anyway.

The club, known as the Green Army, made the trip east on Sunday 19th April for the Beacon Beast marathon and the Beastly Half, the eighth event in the MTRS calendar this season. Some were drawn by the route through Lanhydrock, others by Cardinham Woods, and a few simply wanted to test themselves against the distance.

More Than Just a Marathon

Both races live up to their billing. The Beacon Beast clocks in at 27 miles with just over 3,000ft of elevation, while the Beastly Half is no half at all, stretching to 14.65 miles. Runners made their way across roads, pavements, tracks, footpaths, stiles, woods and fields, with the half marathoners joining the marathoners for the second half of the longer route.

One of the appeals of the day was the generous 6-hour cut off for the Beastly Half, meaning the only pressure came from each runner’s own internal beast rather than the clock.

First Time Distances and Podium Places

Eighteen women and ten men from Hayle Runners entered, with several completing their longest ever runs. Rosie Hill, Deborah Sturges and Suzie Smith all pushed past previous personal bests on distance.

The Green Army also picked up several podium finishes. Flo Davies-Kirsop took 3rd in the under-35 category, and Margaret Clark, more accustomed to the half marathon distance, took 3rd in the 65-69 age group. Liam O’Neill finished 2nd in the 35-39 age group, and Jon Eldon continued his MTRS run of form by taking 1st in the 65-69 category.

In the marathon itself, Kieran Murrant came home 7th overall and Fiona Gamble finished as 3rd lady.

Full Hayle Runners Times

Liam O’Neill — 1:42:32
Jon Eldon — 1:55:13
Andrew James — 1:57:04
Alex Brooks — 2:10:41
Andrew Searle — 2:12:27
Frazer Humbles — 2:16:03
Nathan Cudmore — 2:17:39
Florence Davies-Kirsop — 2:20:24
Darren Uren — 2:26:17
Paul Launder — 2:36:53
Louise Ollivier — 2:42:01
Grace Whetton — 2:49:18
Susan Thomas — 2:53:20
Debbie Gossington — 3:14:16
Margaret Clark — 3:18:20
Simon Mayho — 3:20:55
Olivia Henwood — 3:29:39
Deborah Sturges — 3:52:04
Sam Robinson — 3:52:05
Deborah Hocking — 3:53:06
Wendy Savage — 3:53:23
Suzie Smith — 4:04:17
Samantha Dixon — 4:05:29
Amelia Hill — 4:14:34
Jennie Massey — 4:14:34
Hannah White — 4:14:36
Helen Dunlop — 4:14:36
Fiona Gamble — 4:18:41

📷Photo's of the men's team.