Beaten but not bettered

The Bath Beat is officially a Long Distance Walking Association walk around Bath and it’s surrounding gorgeous countryside; it is also renowned for amazing food at the food stops!

Unfortunately this reputation precedes it and it sold out, so quickly that only I managed to get a place on the walk, but I have committed to writing a run report after every Bristol GG Race so here it is: - fortunately it is the end of the reporting year at work, and I have to write count less appraisals and personal statements, so I am currently very au fait with talking about myself. but it is mostly self indulgent so i’d stop reading now and go read another run report if I were you.

Now I always knew it would be tough running this marathon only a week after completing in the IAAF World Championships, and actually I got very bad DOMS after this race and could only walk on Thursday pain free from lactic build-up, so I started the Bath Beat apprehensively. I had also been reading several articles recently about reconnecting with why you run, and i hoped that this race would give me a chance to forget about time, pace, HR etc and just enjoy being outside exploring and allowing my thoughts to wander (also I do like cake, a lot!)

As I said this is officially a walk, but some people run some or all of the course, and i decided to adopt an of running the off-road downhill sections. it started off opposite the site of the Bath parkrun and then went around the Bath Skyline route, which it is was nice to see as the last three times I had been this way on Relish Races it was raining or in cloud… and of course was one of the races GG ran late last year - don’t worry it is still just as muddy!! After this it decended down to Bathhampton, which reminded me of the Bath Running Festival route (Good Luck to Gary running that the year) then the route winded up and over a hill to Dundas Aqueduct (which has an amazing history that I can’t recount right now) this was the sight of the first cake stop.

I should probably also explain that this route is unsigned and un-marshalled, you are told to bring a map and given a route sheet which is written in a lexicographically amazing way here is a snippet:

When the RD turns sharp R, climb steps on RHS to ST. X ST into large FLD. X FLD & aim for RH hedge line. Follow hedge to arrive at ST & LMG. X ST & SO through gap in hedge on 285° to ST. X ST & SO to ST. X ST & follow path to ST. X ST & TR & follow RH hedge. The hedge will bear off to the R. SO to ST. X ST & SO to gap with wooden fence in hedge. Thru & SO to LMG. Thru & SO to ST in top L corner of FLD. X ST to emerge on RD & TR. After 15 YDS, TL onto TK which will eventually descend into woods

To be honest the first cake stop was a disappointment, it was in a lovely location but there was no tea, and only one variety of cake - I was worried that I had been misled.

But needn't have worried when I eventually made it to Norton St Philip village Hall there was the cornucopia I had been promised the photos don’t do it justice, or the amazing way if a plat was emptied it would be replaced by another plate of amazing food - there were some truly stunning peanut butter and chocolate shortbread which was divine.

Anyway at about this point I gave up actually running as A) I was stuffed full of cake, tea, pasta, parkin, chocolate shortbread etc B) I had found a group of fellow walkers and we were having a great chat C) I was a little bit tired and we still had 10 miles to go (and three cake stops). D) the weather and views were stunning and i didn’t want to miss them.

We then made our way north past ruined barns, and ever so quaint Bath stone hamlets complete with babbling brooks. eventually we made it back to the start coming in past the discussed canal and up to Combe Down - I’m sure all Bath residents knows what that means, but it was a bit of a testing last Km needless to say.
But I finished and have had achieved my aim of remembering why I enjoy exploring the great outdoors and was able to forget the stress of: work, life and chasing PB’s on flat city courses. We have loads more races on our calendar so if you are still reading this and want to know more look at the races on the site, we also have some we have’t put up on the site yet which will be typed up shortly.

Matt