Cranleigh Trail Marathon enjoys a record year

Cranleigh Trail Marathon

A record 182 runners and walkers completed the fifth annual Cranleigh Trail Marathon today.

The event, sponsored by Informed Choice, is organised by The Rotary Club of Cranleigh, with support from local running club, Cranleigh Runners.

It incorporates a 26.2-mile trail marathon, 13.1-mile trail half marathon, and 13.1-mile challenge distance walk.

Runners and walkers enjoy a scenic and testing route, including a climb through the Willinghurst Estate to reach the Greensand Way through Winterfold Forest.

The course continues across to Pitch Hill, passing through Cranleigh Golf & Country Club and Cranleigh School, before rejoining the Downs Link behind Norther Farm and finishing at Snoxhall Fields.

The event initially started as the Cranleigh Parish Boundary Challenge, before changes to the course resulted in the current route following most of Cranleigh’s northern parish boundary. It mainly follows public footpaths and bridleways.

Children wave to passing runners on the Greensand Way
Children wave to passing runners on the Greensand Way

With around 1,800 feet of elevation gain for the two-lap marathon course, this running event isn’t for the faint of heart.

One hundred eleven runners completed the one-lap half marathon this year, with Edward Hadley finishing first in 1:30:55, followed by Chris Loffs in 1:35:16, and Matt Brand in 1:39:17.

The marathon was completed by 50 runners, led home by Adam Quinn in 3:13:48, who was followed by Ben Sunckell in 3:28:08, and Edward Harper in 3:28:41.

The sixth edition of the Cranleigh Trail Marathon will take place on Sunday 10th May 2020, with entries due to open later this year.

Photo credit: jtdenyerphoto.com

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