The Sunrise to Sunset Challenge - FULLHere's how RW members rated this race (10 votes). | 1 to 10 of 10 ratings | Page: 1 |
| The big picture (10 votes) | | Overall score | | 96% | | How many would do it again? | | 95% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 74% | | PB potential | | 50% | | Atmosphere | | 90% | | Organisation | | 86% | | Value | | 90% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 78% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Miserable Bleeder
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Muddy Splashy Fun
In full: A local event for non-local people !
Another excellent event from Denzil and Lucy.
Make no mistake, it's bloody tough doing 31 laps, but no-one said Marathons would be easy.
The recent rain made for some very wet conditions underfoot in places, but added to the fun.
It's a very well organised, fun race, with an excellent medal and beer glass. Combine this with a baked spud and chilli (Beans for the vegetarians), make this one well worth doing.
Date of review: December 28, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Richard Langton 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A 'must-do' event! Brilliant atmosphere and organisation with a challenging course.
In full: This was my second event run by COD RC and if running a marathon based on 31 laps of a country road in mixed terrain sounds a bit off-putting all I can say is that it isn't and I was back to run the course again after having completed the Holly Challenge back in June.
The Sunrise to Sunset challenge is a marathon with the option of an Ultra. With the course passing the start-finish line every 0.84 miles you can decided to call it a day at 26.2 or carry on to see how far you can run in the hours of daylight. It's pretty much traffic-free and is an interesting clockwise circuit with plenty of undulations and, um, water hazards.
The weather has been rubbish for the whole of the UK for the past couple of weeks and Telford certainly hasn't escaped it's fair share. This meant for a very wet course, fully flooded in two parts of the course, and more potholes than you can imagine. Some of these viciously blended in to each other which made for some awkward footfalls. We started the race in heavy rain which persisted for an hour or so before easing off a little. In the second half of the race it stopped completely and the sun even came out but the course got wetter and wetter as the rain came down from the high ground. The track completely disappeared at one point with a torrent of crystal clear cold water racing down towards you and helpfully washing off the accumulated mud and cooling your feet!
With no more than about 40 runners you soon get to meet and chat to everyone, those you are lapping and those who are lapping you. With a drink station on the start-finish line there is ample opportunity to stop and enjoy the great selection of food and drink on offer. And with the race briefing taking place in the Race Director's country kitchen you get a really good impression of the sort of race this is.
For such a tiny field what never ceases to impress me is not the fact that you receive a medal, it's the fact that you received a completely bespoke beautiful enamelled medal which is specific to the race and year. So many larger events need to take note of this - if COD RC can provide something like this then others surely could? Not to mention the fantastic engraved pint glass with the race badge on it, and a free '9-bar'. How on earth they can do this for £22 is beyond me.
No-one breaks any records on this course, but that's not what this event is all about. If you want to try something completely different with a brilliant, friendly atmosphere (did I mention chilli and baked potatoes for all competitors at the end?) then this is the event for you. But get in quick; the reputation for this race is growing fast and with only a few dozen places it will fill up quick for 2013.
Date of review: December 27, 2012
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2010 race reviewed by: Arthur Zammit 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great one to end the year
In full: One oe those rare races that everyone is there to enjoy, times are not the main factor, just enjoy and complete, hope to do it again
Date of review: January 10, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: grecian 2000
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A unique multi-lap event with fantastic organisation
In full: I was attracted by this event as I love multi-laps, and also due to running for a period of time (sunrise to sunset) rather than merely a distance.
The weather was bitterly cold, and the 0.8 mile circuit was covered in snow with some icy patches. The circuit had one sharp (but short hill) and a less severe (but longer grind)hill.
I went out conservatively with 31 elastic bands on my wrist, and you hand one of these over after each lap. One you had no elastic bands left, you either did the final dog-leg to complete the marathon distance, or continued onwards but this time collecting an elastic band after each additional lap. Brilliantly simple, and a more primal way of measuring your progress rather than using a garmin!
After the informal number collection and start, you were greeted by the organisers and hardy supports after each lap, and there were plentiful refreshments to dip into after each lap - isotonic drinks, water, sweets, and soup/tea/coffee!
My only problem was my own lack of fitness and the cold. Once I started to struggle, the thought of stopping after the marathon distance stuck in my head and I couldn't change this. With the hills each lap, this is atough event both physically and mentally. The marathon distance apparently has accummulated ascent of 3,000ft + and I was a wreck at the end! The small numbers continuing on for over 7 hours of available daylight to achieve some impressive ultra distances are made of sterner stuff than myself and have my complete respect.
This event is organised by a lovely bunch of people tailored to a small number of entrants (20 or so), so it is very personable and friendly. Everyone behind the event were friendly and really hospitable, and I was sorry to have to leave to miss the post-event food and drink that was geberously laid on.
I do love this event but you do need to be well trained and mentally prepared. As I have unfinished business here, I do hope to return and try and start collecting the elastic bands again!
Date of review: January 10, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: Foxy Davy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic spirit to the event - tough challenging course
In full: That was tough, the big hill 31 times made it a real challenge & each lap seemed to get longer !! fantastic organisation & support :)
Date of review: December 28, 2010
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2009 race reviewed by: Jogging Jon
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A Great Event
In full: A great friendly event - ideal way to burn off some of the excess Christmas calories. Well organised (couldn't help the ice), with a good medal and technical t-shirt as fitting souvenirs.
Date of review: December 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Gav SG
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: very good. delayed start due to gritting to remove ice Thanks to the hard work of those who spent time gritting. PB potential diminished due to weather conditions
Date of review: December 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Shantikali
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: slippery fun
In full: Really enjoyed all aspects of the race, including the impromptu ice-skating around the bottom. Must remember next year to bring a bag of grit to help get rid of those stubborn ice patches. As always extremely friendly and hugely supportive race. Great fun, fab medal. Thanks Denz x
Date of review: December 27, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Miserable Bleeder
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Icy Fun
In full: Club race so I knew what to expect.
Excellent fun, well done Denzil.
Shame the race meant 4 hours of gritting on Saturday.
Cheers.
Date of review: December 27, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: debbo
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: fantastic introduction to the Wrekin Road Runners
In full: the organisation would have been rated as 5 if the ice hadn't held up the start
pb potential would be greatly improved if it wasn't for the ice
Date of review: December 27, 2009
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