Conquering Overton's Rolling Hills
On Sunday 7th September, Alton Runners put in a fantastic performance at the Overton 5, a challenging five-mile race that's a key part of the Hampshire Road Race League (HRRL). Hosted by Overton Harriers, the event saw a total of 27 Alton Runners club members among the 522 runners who tackled the scenic course, which meandered along beautiful, closed country roads and featured its fair share of rolling hills.
The 10:30am start time was a welcome change, helping runners beat the usual afternoon heat for this event. Although the morning began muggy, a sudden, heavy downpour about 30 minutes in provided a refreshing and much-needed cool-down for the field.
The Alton Runners team had some fantastic results. Thomas Skentos led the charge for the men, finishing in a brilliant 8th place overall. For the women, Abbie Hook was the first Alton Runner to cross the line, achieving a new personal best (PB) and placing 27th among all female runners.
"I really enjoyed this morning’s run," Abbie said. "It’s usually very hot, so the early morning start definitely took the edge off! I also enjoyed the burst of rain towards the end of my run to cool me down."
More PBs were celebrated on the day, with Lydia Andrews and Lola Powell both earning 5-mile PBs. Alex Hall and Christian Coles also secured course PBs. Jonathan Roles, running his first race as an Alton Runner, was pleased with his debut, stating it was a "tough course" but that the rain "definitely helped cool me down!"
It was a busy weekend for the club. While some were racing in Overton, others were tackling the iconic Great North Run in Newcastle, including Richard Bravery, Katie Bonham, and Danny Taylor.
The club's dedication also shone through off the course. A group of 14 members volunteered their Sunday at The Big Half in London, helping with baggage for thousands of runners.
Looking ahead, the next HRRL fixture is the New Forest 10 on 26th October. This scenic and fast 10-mile mixed-terrain race is already attracting a strong Alton Runners contingent, with 15 members already signed up to represent the club.