Vale Royal AC - Senior Section

Ascension Island Mountain Race

It was sunday morning, due to start at 8am. Ascension timing meant it was actually about 8.15am. The race was open to the whole Island, there were competitors from the RAF, the US Air Force, locals and any other visitors on the Island at the time. There is a long standing tradition that the races is started by everyone dipping their hands in the turtle ponds on the beach in Georgetown. The turtle ponds are brick built enclosures on the beach, where turtles that had been caught were kept. The race is just over 7 miles, from sea level up to the top of Green Mountain, the highest point on the Island (870 m). I expected a few of the USAF and RAF to be tough competitors, but had no idea how the race would turn out. I had my eye on one chap, the favourite to win. He is from St Helena, and apparently competed in the marathon at the Commonwealth games (not sure what year). He was asked at the start what time he was expecting to win the race in, so the timers could get up to the finish before him. No one asked me! There are some pretty tough hills up to the mountain road, and some flatter sections. I was in second place all the way up to the mountain road, then gradually overtook the St Helenian guy. The mountain road is the toughest section, some places really steep, so the running turned into a very quick walk for parts of it. There was a guy on a quad bike following the race, taking photos and giving support. The race finished at the Dew Pond, on the summit of the mountain. Every finisher has to dip their hand in the water. The favourite to win came second, by 45 seconds. He congratulated me on my win, and said he was pleased not to have been beaten by another man. Apparently no female has ever won the race in all its history. Afterwards everyone gathered at one of the cottages on the mountain, we had drinks and food and waited for everyone to finish before the prizes were announced. There was a couple of hours to wait, so plenty of food and drink consumed during this time!

LIv.