On Sunday 29th March, Newport & District Running Club member Ellen Deighton took part in the “Ultra in the Black Country” for the fifth time. Starting in Baggeridge Park near Dudley, runners get a lovely downhill start through the local residential streets before joining the canal and heading past Merry Hill. After getting their torches out for the Netherton Tunnel, which is over 1.5 miles long, the participants continue along the canal through Tipton, then Wolverhampton City Centre and out to Aldersley. 

Ellen after the race!

The final stretch takes them away from the canal and through Smestow Valley Nature Reserve along an old railway line, before heading through the grounds of Himley Hall to climb back up through Baggeridge Woods to the finish. The day started chilly but dry, and the worst of the rain thankfully came down when Ellen was in the tunnel, so although it rained on and off for the remainder of the event it wasn’t too heavy, and the mud underfoot was manageable.

This run is part of Ellen’s training for a longer event later in the year, and she was pleased to finish in a time of 7 hours 34 minutes 28 seconds.