On Saturday 15th June, the inaugural Railway Children Ultra took place in Essex. With two distance options on offer, Newport & District Running Club member Ellen Deighton took on the longer 50-mile run along the ‘Essex Riviera’.

Starting at Upminster station, the route went through Hornchurch Country Park and Rainham before runners headed east, broadly following the Thames. Running underneath the Dartford Crossing, the route diverted into Tilbury (where the 30-mile runners began their race) and back along the Thames again, then across Fobbing marshes before heading through Basildon, on to Leigh-on-Sea and finally along the seafront before the finish at Southend station.

The weather could best be described as variable, cycling through bright sunshine, rain, high winds, and even hail throughout the day to add to the challenge of the distance. Despite this, Ellen finished in 12 hours and 23 minutes, taking over an hour off her previous 50 mile PB and earning first in her age group.