Pilgrims Way Run - Vigo 24 August 2008


On Sunday 24 August 2008 Vigo Rugby Club held their inaugural Pilgrims Way Run which was advertised as 7-ish miles in distance and was held in support of Kent Air Ambulance, writes Carol Beadle.

This challenging, mostly off road race, started with a lap of the rugby pitch before heading off along the Pilgrims Way, quickly followed by a long descent on an unmade road which was both very wet and muddy and littered with rubble and exceptionally punishing on the legs!

The route then followed the very pretty and undulating track of the Pilgrims Way along which the organisers had kindly painted all the tree roots and other trip hazards, then out onto the road for approximately a mile before turning back on to the North Downs, past a water station before beginning a long slow climb up an unforgiving hill with fallen trees which had to be crawled under.

The route then opened up on to a field with one stile to climb before following another muddy trail through the woods.  Another steady incline followed, on a very uneven track with loose stones and flints, before the route hit the road for the final leg back to Vigo Ruby Club with a half lap of the pitch to run before passing through the finish outside the club house.  This 7-ish miles course turned out to be 8½ miles in distance.

Five SAC club members supported this event and Rob Johnson (winner of the SAC July Handicap race) led the Sevenoaks team home in a time of 77:19, closely followed by Carol Beadle in 77:22, Jim Knight in 80.23, Ron Denny in 88:34 and Marie O'Connor in 104:28. Full results HERE.