NEW RECORD SET IN 40 MILE CROSS COUNTRY RUN
an excerpt from Jaguar Topics Issue 98 October 1999.
On August 22nd
1999, Miranda Aston, Project Engineer at Whitley's Rapid
Prototyping & Tooling Department and her partner Ulli
Ull, a Photography Lecturer at Coventry Technical College, set a
new joint Ladies running record in the Coventry Way Challenge. The
event is one of the toughest cross-country events in the West
Midlands. The pair finished in 8 hours 26 minutes knocking 21
minutes off the previous record.
The 40-Mile long
challenge takes a route forming a rough circle of about a 5 miles
radius around Coventry. Starting in Meriden, it takes in Burton
Green, Kenilworth, Stoneleigh, Stareton, Bubbenhall, Ryton. Wolston,
Bretford, Brinklow, The Oxford Canal, Ansty, Bedworth, Corley Ash,
Corely Moor and then back to Meriden.
The route is
virtually all off road and incorporates seven flights of steps, over
a hundred and five stiles and approx. thirty gates of various kinds.
It crosses dozens of fields (some of them ploughed!), meadows, a
golf course, farm tracks, woodland paths, towpaths, footpaths and
bridges, through a tunnel, a castle, a factory and even a private
garden!
"We have
taken part in numerous races and two London Marathons, but I can
honestly say this is the event to beat them all - it is the most
beautiful and scenic course I have ever run - it's hard to believe
that you are only ever about 5 miles from Coventry city centre,"
said Miranda.
The event was
organised by Cyril Bean from Coventry's Octavian Droobers
Orienteering Club, of which Miranda and Ulli are members. The
Coventry Way Association has just been awarded a small grant to help
establish this event. - It is a challenge open to all walkers,
joggers, runners and relay teams.
Miranda and her
partner also ran in the London Marathon and raised just under £1,300
pounds for St Johns Ambulance (£200 of which was donated by Jaguar
Cars). Miranda said "It was an excellent day and thankfully we
did not require the services of St John's ourselves."
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