On Saturday 4th April, Newport & District Running Club member Ellen Deighton took part in the “BOWUM” – the Borderlands Of Wales Ultra Marathon. This was the inaugural running of this 32-mile race, which started and ended in Monmouth, and took in parts of the Offa’s Dyke Path, as well as the Three Castles Trail.
Runners set out from Monmouth bright and early, passing through the town before heading into the local countryside, and picking up the Offa’s Dyke Path to the first checkpoint at Whitecastle. The middle section of the route had some sizable hills to contend with, and Storm Dave made an appearance not long after midday with high winds adding to the adventure.
After passing through Grosmont and castle number two, runners pushed on to the second checkpoint and the final castle of the day, Skenfrith, before making their way over some more undulations and through a field of cows (and a rather large bull!) and arriving back into Monmouth and the finish line.
Running this event just 6 days after her last ultramarathon was a challenge, but it all forms part of her training for a longer event later in the year. Ellen was pleased to finish the course in a time of 9 hours and 37 minutes.
Newport & District Running Club 