Race news: Poets Path Potter - Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Poets Path Potter offers a choice of three distances of 8 miles, 16 miles or a marathon of 26 miles for runners and walkers along scenic countryside paths
To be held on Sunday 24th February 2013 and organised by Ed & Phil – distributors and agents for a range of running and outdoor activity products (www.edandphil.co.uk) – the Poets Path Potter is primarily organised as a charity fund raising event for runners or walkers with a choice of three rural, scenic and rolling, but surprisingly tough and mainly off-road races of approximately 8 miles, 16 miles and 26 miles (a marathon).
They are based in Dymock near Newent, Gloucestershire and will start on Wintour’s Green in front of Dymock Church at 9.00am (timed to miss the Church Service due to start at 9.30am). They will be held over the locally famous paths of Poets Path I, Poets Path II and the Daffodil Way. To mark their literary heritage there will be a fun reading of running poetry before the start by the Ed & Phil ‘Resident Poet’ and fellow runner, Kathy Tytler
The Paths celebrate the fame of the area as being the home of a number of poets during the period of the First World War, with the famous author of ‘The Soldier’, Rupert Brooke, spending some months in the area in 1913. The different routes are steeped in the history of Brooke and other poets who visited the area, as well as marking the changes that have occurred during the last and previous centuries, like bridges of old railway lines, old canals and historic buildings such as ancient churches and old farm houses.
The event HQ is at Dymock Cricket Club and although competitors have been asked to register in advance, entries on the day are expected to be possible for any local runner or walker who has a free Sunday and would like to enjoy the lovely rolling countryside over which the events are held whilst also helping to raise money for local charities and sporting causes. Anyone turning up on the day should arrive in time to be ready to leave the HQ at 8.30 am for a race briefing at the start at 8.45pm
All the proceeds after costs have been deducted will be equally split between The Dymock Parochial Church Council (to contribute towards £13,000 needed for a new roof), Gloucester County Council Public Rights of Way (for upkeep of the Poets Paths) and to the Ed & Phil charity, Sport for Good.
Although the competitors will be given maps, the course will be marked with tape and the routes pass through the HQ at the end of each loop where there will be some refreshments and first aid facilities, they are advised they should treat the events as essentially being self-navigation and self-supporting with no marshals or water stations anywhere else on any of the three routes. They should therefore carry enough water and food to last their chosen event, wear tough trail-type shoes or boots to cope with the very wet and muddy conditions to be expected in many places and wear/take spare clothing appropriate for likely February weather.
Competitors will be given a commemorative medal, souvenir copies of the printed maps with the poetic history of each of the three courses they have elected to race and have the chance to receive spot prize prizes of products sold by Ed & Phil, such as Wigwam socks, CherryActive recovery products, elete hydration, ENGO blister prevention patches and Natural Hero muscle rubs.
For more information contact organiser Phillip Howells on phillip@edandphil.co.uk or 07802 260906
Details of the event are available here: www.tra-uk.org/race_directory/eventdetails/905/poets-path-potter
