Cambridge Boundary Run

Catherine and Robert at the half way point

Two of Grantham Running Club’s endurance runners took part in last weekend’s Cambridge University Hare and Hounds Club’s Boundary Run to sharpen up for the April road marathons. This 26.2 mile route traverses roads, footpaths and trails, and incorporates some beautiful and not-often-seen areas of the city. It has about a third of the distance a very muddy off road and there are several reasonably sized hills on the course - significant enough to surprise those who are used to the flat terrain of Cambridge. One of the highlights is always racing against the rowing eights along the banks of the Cam. With a record entry of just under a thousand runners taking part with the option of stopping half way both the GRC athletes opted for the full challenge. The strong wind was a bonus this year in drying some of the muddier fields to just merely sticky but on the flip side there were several fallen trees blocking the normal route as well as branches all over the footpaths.

Despite the race coming at the end of another hard block of training and run as a carbo depleted exercise the GRC pair were able to stick to their planned pace working their way through the field especially in the final two miles as others faded to finish in 78 / 79^th places. Catherine’s time was 3:47:15 with Robert clocking 3:47:50 which was a few minutes inside their 2016 times.