Two striders headed to Market Bosworth to take on the best that Leicestershire and Rutland has to offer in the Bosworth Half Marathon, which incorporates the Leicestershire and Rutland ACA championships. Nearly 600 runners lined up at Market Bosworth Water Trust on a warm and mostly sunny day, with just a touch a breeze to provide some relief.
The course follows the undulating roads that wind through the villages and countryside around Market Bosworth, passing by, as the organisers point out in some detail, many sites of historical interest linked to the recently re-interred King Richard III. With two tough climbs towards the end of the race, this course offers little in the way of PB potential. First there is the 120ft climb along Fenn lane into Sutton Cheney at mile eight, closely followed by the 115ft climb into the town of Market Bosworth at mile ten. However, both Striders rose to the challenge on the day.
First Strider home was Mark Stoneley in a time of 1.33.31 (58th), followed by Iain Howe in 1.48.18 (219th). Iain Howe’s performance was particularly impressive given his recent comeback from injury. [Mark]