This weekend saw over 60 runners from Okehampton Running Club (ORC) undertake the fourth challenge of this lockdown – Spring In Your Step. As per lockdown rules runners had to complete the challenge on their own, with members of their family, or with just 1 other running buddy.
What a change in the weather from the previous challenge in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore two weeks ago when we had icy, windy conditions. With the glorious weather this weekend it really did feel like spring had sprung.
Getting up bright and early was the motivation for some runners, with frost on the ground, but the sun shining and birds singing, it was the perfect start to the day. All the runners enjoyed the plethora of beautiful flowers and animals they saw on their routes and they took the time to take them all in and enjoy the scenery we are so lucky to have around us.
Lots of challenges were undertaken, Lucy Marrison and Ali Holliday ran from their homes in town to the top of the ring road, and they certainly had a spring in their step as they managed to obtain a coveted Strava Crown for their efforts – a great reward for their hard work!
A spring in their step, or a leap in their stride was captured in other ways, Ian Ripper had a spring in his step by jumping on his pogo stick for the challenge – I’m not sure he pogoed the whole way round his route though! Other members had fun jumping and leaping on Dartmoor. We were reminded though that it is very wet underfoot, with one runner losing her shoe in a bog.
Kathryn Volkelt-Igoe and Janet White had a great adventure, with their trusty four-legged companions on a circular route via Meldon Dam and Yes Tor with skylarks serenading them along the way. They had a super time as you can see from this action shot.
Some people had their own mini challenges to encourage them, marathon training, beating demons, running further than ever before, and improving on a route attempted in a previous lockdown challenge. Another significant achievement was from Jo Teixeira who also had 2 other challenges to complete in February, an inter-school 5k and the last mile for ‘Run 50 in February’ for Blood cancer, well done Joanne for completing all 3!
The weather was certainly on our side this weekend and it encouraged members to get out and enjoy the glorious countryside in our local area, I wonder what the next challenge will be….
