Cotswold Way 100
Russell Hirst

It’s Saturday 16th September, 2023, a rather special day in the calendar for many, myself included.

Many runners have been training hard for weeks to try their luck at completing the Cotswold way national trail non stop, yes the full 102 miles.

I’m setting up registration at Chipping Campden school with a few helpful volunteers and it doesn’t take long until the main hall starts filling up with lots of nervous faces. After a busy couple of hours everyone has passed the kit check and are walking through the town towards the start.

I love this, seeing faces old and new and I’m sensing the anticipation in the air, secretly hoping they all make it to the finish line in Bath. The next 32 hours will be an emotional rollercoaster, I’m very familiar with what’s about to unfold and it’s moments like this that spark nostalgia.

Race directors Ian and Emma are checking the time and the countdown begins, 3,2,1 go go go. I’m envious and also happy that I’m not going to suffer like they all will but the adventure is so worth it.

It’s not long until they reach checkpoint one, 13 miles in their legs and they all appear fresh, the weather is perfect, pretty cool and overcast around 21 degrees. Onwards towards Winchcombe and Bellas Knap an old Neolithic burial chamber that dates back to 3000 BC.

The route has many stand out features from golden thatched chocolate box cottages to rolling countryside viewpoints. I drive to the main checkpoint at Painswick, this is an indoor sanctuary for these runners where they can get some hot food and drinks and maybe a 5 minute nap. One runner came in and it was apparent he was no longer going to carry on, he was suffering with a wrong shoe choice. I gave him my shoes and lifted his spirits enough for him to continue his journey, sometimes all we need is that gentle push and some encouragement.

Messages are being received from checkpoint staff about a runner that is heading for a sub 20 hour finish time, we need to get ahead and ensure we can provide him with the appropriate supplies he needs. At mile 87 a bacon roll and water refill is all he needs and it’s not long until he’s heading to Bath.

The weather is now not showing any mercy and I’m happy to be in the warmth of the van on route to set up a finish line at Bath Abbey, it’s a stunning location for a finish. We don’t need to wait too long until our first place runner, Richard Elsworth in 19Hr 55m, an incredible time. Throughout the day we see more and more relieved runners coming into Bath, emotional and exhausted from what they have just been through, it’s clear for the world to see they have given their all to get here. Zosia Young is our first female in 27Hr 13M 11S. A lovely athlete that is part of our community and a friend to us all, it was an emotional finish.

So to sum up what has been another successful weekend, all the efforts from the Race Directors and volunteers have clearly paid off, the sleepless nights have been worth it. Another year of memories made.

Special Thanks to Challenge First Aid, Open Tracking, Rivers Sportswear, Eurofresh, The Adventure Patch Company, Chipmumf.

Links
Website: Cotswold Trail Events
Facebook: Cotswold Trail Events