The clocks springing forwards and losing an hour of sleep didn’t stop Ellen Deighton from taking part in Ultra in the Black Country on Sunday 30th March.

Starting and ending in Baggeridge Park, near Dudley, the 33-mile route heads out through woodland, towards Pensnett and Brockmoor via Fen’s Pool, then onto the canal past Merry Hill. From here it’s a mandatory head torch section as the leg includes the 2.7km long Netherton Tunnel, one of the longest in the UK. The route continues on the canal network through Tipton and towards Wolverhampton. The last leg towards Himley Hall, via Lower Penn and Wombourne takes in the old railway line and Smestow Nature Reserve, before heading back through the Baggeridge Woods to the finish.

Ellen at the finish with her medal!

The sun shone throughout the day, and provided the driest conditions ever seen on this course. Ellen completed the run in 7 hours, 9 minutes, 24 seconds, and was pleased to finish in 42nd place overall and as 16th female.