The first race of this year’s Devon V Cornwall challenge took place over 10 tough country kilometres.
Ieuan, Lucy, Maggie, Craig, Thommy and Jenny tackled the challenging course and survived. Craig was first Muskie home followed by Jenny.
The race began in the beautiful pastoral landscape of the elegant Mt Edgecumbe House and down a very steep emerald green slope with the tranquil River Tamar in the background. This restful backdrop gives no clue as to the running battle ground that follows.
The shell-shocked Musketeers reported back from the frontline and spoke in hushed tones of steep slopes, steps, mud, gates and all sorts of obstacles.
However, they all ran very well and represented Devon and the Musketeers valiantly.
Thommy found new energy running up the same slope they started – clearly motivated by Ieuan snapping at his heels. Jenny looked cool as she typically galloped up the hill, miles in front of the others and not too far behind Craig in his amazing technicolour go-fast shorts that Kerry kindly bought him. Maggie was obviously relishing her future Sunday lunch at the end as she finished strongly. Lucy even managed a painful grimace on the finishing slope in her newish £15 super shoes.
The only slightly disappointing note was the rather sparse goodie bag. Race HQ is in a cosy café in the old sdivs and makes a good refuge and there is a luggage tent and a very vociferous commentator who is keen to make runners feel they aren’t doing their best.
The next round of the two-race Devon v Cornwall challenge is at the end of January, but it will be a ten-mile race round a similar course, anyone up for it?
By Guy