Race date: Sunday 25^th August 2019

This rather amazing race (half and 10k) has been going for 5 years now and it is well worth doing especially in the very favourable weather we had on 25^th August.  You start at the event village (near Chepstow) at the Welsh end of the very large bridge and walk to the start which is approximately a mile away (no kidding) on the (closed) bridge itself.  The views are simply amazing.

You leave the bridge on the definitely English side and run around the very attractive countryside. There is even a hill.  On the way back, you run along the whole bridge using the footway – that is a bit daunting as the thing seems to go on forever.  There is an interesting chicane or two at the end involving a 180 and a couple of 90’s.  Oh and a hill just at the finish.  I recorded 247m of ascent over the course which seems about right; flat it isn’t.  A lot of the climbing is spread over the length of the bridge so it isn’t especially hard.

1321 runners took part with Richard Henderson (Bedford & County AC) hurtling home first in 01:12:51.  Susan Duncan (Weston Athletic Club) was first woman to cross the finish line in 01:27:01.

The full results are here and my rather leisurely PW (personal worst; I’ve lots of excuses if anyone is interested) was: