STRATFORD Athletic Club’s Ivan Sarti began the festive month with a category victory in the Dorset Ultra Marathon – a race covering more than 34 miles of trail with more than 6,500ft of climb.
The Jurassic Coast Path through Dorset is quite simply unique in that it is the only location on the planet where in a few short hours of trail running you will travel through a few million years of earth time – all with the ocean as a glorious backdrop.
The weather forecast for Saturday’s event was heavy rain and winds, which turned out to be more than accurate and contributed to brutal conditions and threats of cancellation.
Despite starting a little late – he was still making kit adjustments in the briefing tent when the unexpected race countdown started – Sarti progressed through the field of about 170 fellow ultra-runners and finished in 6:09:45, which positioned him 15th overall and first home in his age category by 20 minutes.
“Aside from not being able to see where I was going, falling down a hill, sliding into a barbed-wire fence and getting caught in some brambles, it was quite hard going,” said Sarti.
The race was won by Jacek Cielyszecki in a time of 4:54:11.
Marathon No 45 for Lambert
STRATFORD AC’s Tara Lambert contested her 45th race over 26.2 miles when taking part in the Nottingham Christmas Marathon.
This marathon, which is run at the National Water Sports Centre, consists of eight-and-a-half laps of the Holme Pierrepont Lake.
Lambert completed the race in 4:30:18, finishing in 120th place.
“It was cold and windy on one side of the lake, which was testing, because although it was flat, the wind against us made it feel like it was uphill,” said Lambert.
“I didn’t get the time I wanted, which was 4:15, due to nausea in the second half, added to which, I don’t really think I have that time in me at the moment.
“Despite this, it was marathon number 45 for me and was a fun and well-organised event.”
The race was won by Richard Howarth in 2:38:38 and Steph Forrester was the first woman home in 2:56:05.
Reports compiled by David Jones.
