The Great Outdoor Series – Malvern Hills, Saturday April 13th
May 06, 2024
by Martin Lawrence
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Paul CJ took part in the April Great Outdoor Series run and wrote up this excellent report below
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Anyone who has met Alan Hall, our leader and organiser, will be unsurprised to know that he is a man of considerable diligence, and the route across the Malvern Hills was well constructed. The majority of the climb included in the first half of the run for fresher legs, and we twice passed both public toilets and an opportunity to take drinks and snacks. We also got off the beaten tracks to the less travelled areas, often away from other tourists and along rural paths no less scenic. Our route took in three of the highest hills on the ridge, circling back across British Camp twice and Herefordshire Beacon to the South.
There’s no getting away a general sense of up, indeed the clue’s in the title, and we embarked from the station and immediately climbed some 425 metres to the top of Worcestershire Beacon.
The weather behaved itself, mild with a stiff breeze on top, with mostly clear blue skies granting glorious views West into the foothills of Brecon and East across the Severn plane to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.
Those who might have thought the looming hills too soft a challenge would have been in luck too. Our visit coincided with the frankly insane sounding “Beacon Sandbag Race” and you could have attempted the first climb with an additional 40Kg! (https://www.bulletcoaching.org/sandbag-racing-home/)
Our rather more genteel meander felt more a running day-out than a training run. We were a party of 5 and kept an easy pace with plenty of rests; our 14 miles or so took a good few hours and was all the better for it.
Anyone who can handle the distance (these runs are undoubtedly long by RR standards), and has a delight in a little company and scenic miles is advised to take a look at the schedule for this series here (https://www.redwayrunners.com/the-great-outdoor-run-series/) and get involved.
Alan recommends you have the pace required for a 2:30 half M or similar. As wiser men than me have said, the easiest thing is always not to, but these runs are gold. Make the effort and create the memories.
My thanks to Alan and co for a spectacular day out.
