The Monster Racing Run Fest

The Monster Racing Run Fest took place on Sunday, 24th September. Runners had the choice of entering the 68km Ultra race, the 42.2km Marathon or 21.1km Half Marathon.
A total of 400 athletes entered the event making it the biggest Run Fest to date! All events started outside Ely Cathedral and all athletes followed the same route on cycle path 11 along the river bank of the River Great Ouse. Where the runners turned around and headed back depended on the race. The Half Marathon athletes turned just before the village of Wicken. The Marathon and Ultra athletes continued along the path through Wicken Fen, the first ever National Trust site, and onto White Fen. They continued through desolate Fens. The Marathon athletes turned around at the village of Lode. The Ultra athletes carried on to take up the path along the River Cam, following the river to the outskirts of Cambridge where after a quick check in with our marshals they turned around and started the long journey back!
The Ultra race was won by Craig Holgate (Centurion Running) in a superb time of 4h, 52 minutes and 54seconds, a superb run! Second male was Andrew Plume (Fenland Running Club), 5:29:52, and third male was Lee Rogers (100 Marathon Club), 5:44:23. First across the line in the women’s Ultra race was Lesley Robins (Ryston Runners) in a time of 6h, 39minutes and 2seconds. Second female was Ruth Calder-Murphy (Vegan Runners UK), 6:41:06, and third female was Tamsin Simmonds (Serpentine), 7:00:53.
First across the line in the men’s Marathon was Josh Holman (Ely Tri Club) in a time of 2h, 43mins 34secs. Second male was Geoff Weller, 3:03:54, and third male was Will Honeybone (Ryston Runners), 3:13:31. The women’s Marathon race was won by Lindsay Hamilton in a time of 3h and 32mins and 56secs. Second female was Diana Vulpe, 3:36:42, and third female Julie Pond, 3:55:12.
The mens’s Half Marathon race was won by Alex Metcalfe (Ely Runners) in a time of 1h, 23mins 22secs. Second male was Tim Davies, 1:27:28 and third male was Ben Fox, 1:31:15 . The women’s Half Marathon race was won by Ruth Jones (Nene Valley Harriers) in a time of 1h, 33mins 50secs. Second female was Sadie Moore, 1:43:09, and third female Emma Philips (Chariots on Fire / Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club), 1:43:57.
Local Sandie Jardine, Ely Tri Club, needs a special mention once again! She is the first person to take on the Monster Challenge, complete all Monster events in one season, and succeed! Others have tried in the past but for one reason or another haven’t made it. Well done Sandie!
Six lucky winners won spot prizes donated by local retailed Fenland Runner. Tasty race nutrition was provided by Hammer Nutrition.
Ian-Green Photography were out on the course capturing the action as well as capturing the athletes finish photos to the spectacular back drop of Ely Cathedral. All pictures are available from www.ian-greenphotography.com
A Monster Racing spokesman said: “The Monster Run Fest has quadrupled in size since its first year. That growth is fantastic and speaks volumes about the event’s reputation! As the Run Fest is a fun and friendly event it appeals to the experienced and newcomers, a great time was had by all. We would like to thank everyone who helped make the event a success; the competitors, all the marshals, all safety and ‘behind the scenes’ crew as well all our sponsors. Thank you also to Ely Cathedral, Kings School, East Cambs Council and The National Trust for their support and access to facilities.”
Monster Racing are already busy planning the 2018 events and entries will go live on 1st October. Check out their events at www.monsterracing.net