Thunder Run 2016 Report
We had an amazing time at Thunder Run this year. The race starts at 12 noon Saturday and runs through for 24 hours to 12 noon Sunday. Several options exist, you can run it solo, or as a relay in a team of 2, in a team of 5 or in a team of 8. Thousands of runners camping for the weekend, great on site facilities, brilliant organisation, I can not recommend this event highly enough. Each lap is approximately 6 miles, 100% off road, quite challenging and if it rains very muddy.
This year we had 2 solo runners, Martin Hookway and Susan Hookway. A male team of two, James Osborne and Martin James. A team of 8 with Janet Hampson, Rose James, Wayne Martison, Marie-Louise Taylor, Phil Whitehead, Allan Carson, Tony O’Connor and Sharon Carson.
The Hookway’s are quite experienced at Ultra Running (Martin having done lots before and Susan previously being Martin’s support crew and knocking out a few laps herself to keep him going) and they had a plan. The rest of us winged it.
The weekend starts on Friday, 8am (the entry fee includes 3 nights camping). The Hookway’s set up camp at 8am, solo runners get to camp in a separate area from the masses located at the start.Martin and Rose arrived at 11am and we taped off an area to accommodate 10 tents and a gazebo. We had amazing weather all weekend, hot and dry.
By about 8pm most of the tents were up (thousands across the site) and some minor drinking commenced to help us relax for the test that was to come.
Our kids Sophie and Caroline helped set up our camp making sure all the tents were in line.
On Saturday the last of our team arrived and most importantly the club flag. After team photos were taken with the flag and our 12 runners looking great in our club colours we got ready for the start.
Martin Hookway, Susan Hookway, Wayne Martison and Martin James got in to the start area ready for the off. It was very warm and sunny. Everyone ran through the day and night (wearing head lamps). I don’t remember any issues at the relay handover which is half of the fun so well done all!
On Sunday afternoon / evening we celebrated with a marvellous BBQ (thanks to the Carsons) with lovely fresh salad fetched by Jenny Osbourne and Hugo the dog. Sharon also took hundreds of great photos for us. Party games and drinking in to the evening.
Special thanks to our supporters Martyn Walters and Peter Andrews and everyone who encouraged the runners to carry on!
We are thinking about 2017 Thunder Run now, please let Martin James / Martin Hookway know if your interested.
Results:
Martin Hookway – Aimed for 16 Laps and smashed 16 Laps
| 1 | 01:09:47 |
| 2 | 01:02:36 |
| 3 | 01:06:54 |
| 4 | 01:12:57 |
| 5 | 01:16:21 |
| 6 | 02:01:04 |
| 7 | 01:10:23 |
| 8 | 01:15:30 |
| 9 | 01:22:23 |
| 10 | 02:27:33 |
| 11 | 01:17:01 |
| 12 | 01:46:34 |
| 13 | 02:01:07 |
| 14 | 01:28:54 |
| 15 | 01:17:48 |
| 16 | 01:35:54 |
Susan Hookway – Aimed for 7 laps and smashed 7 laps
| 1 | 01:21:59 |
| 2 | 01:52:56 |
| 3 | 02:24:10 |
| 4 | 02:10:34 |
| 5 | 02:41:28 |
| 6 | 03:57:34 |
| 7 | 09:04:06 |
Martin and James – Aimed for no idea, smashed 19 laps and died
| Martin James | 1 | 00:45:46 |
| James Osborne | 2 | 00:47:02 |
| Martin James | 3 | 00:47:18 |
| James Osborne | 4 | 00:49:15 |
| Martin James | 5 | 00:47:51 |
| James Osborne | 6 | 00:51:35 |
| Martin James | 7 | 00:47:10 |
| James Osborne | 8 | 00:58:01 |
| Martin James | 9 | 00:46:35 |
| James Osborne | 10 | 00:59:06 |
| Martin James | 11 | 00:51:01 |
| James Osborne | 12 | 01:05:32 |
| Martin James | 13 | 00:58:01 |
| Martin James | 14 | 01:04:33 |
| James Osborne | 15 | 01:12:30 |
| James Osborne | 16 | 01:16:54 |
| Martin James | 17 | 01:09:38 |
| James Osborne | 18 | 01:14:42 |
| Martin James | 19 | 01:40:56 |
Wayne, Phil, Tony, Janet, Rose, Marie-Louise, Allan and Sharon – Aimed for a laugh and a run, kept going all the way to complete 27 laps!
| Wayne Martison | 1 | 00:43:19 |
| Phil Whitehead | 2 | 00:49:29 |
| Anthony Oconnor | 3 | 01:01:14 |
| Janet Kerry | 4 | 00:57:15 |
| Rose James | 5 | 00:53:45 |
| Marie-Louise Taylor | 6 | 00:49:22 |
| Allan Carson | 7 | 00:50:31 |
| Sharon Carson | 8 | 00:57:12 |
| Wayne Martison | 9 | 00:43:50 |
| Phil Whitehead | 10 | 00:47:17 |
| Anthony Oconnor | 11 | 01:05:37 |
| Janet Kerry | 12 | 00:57:30 |
| Rose James | 13 | 00:56:48 |
| Marie-Louise Taylor | 14 | 00:49:04 |
| Allan Carson | 15 | 00:53:08 |
| Sharon Carson | 16 | 01:02:31 |
| Wayne Martison | 17 | 00:46:03 |
| Phil Whitehead | 18 | 00:50:57 |
| Anthony Oconnor | 19 | 01:13:33 |
| Rose James | 20 | 00:57:31 |
| Marie-Louise Taylor | 21 | 00:50:08 |
| Allan Carson | 22 | 00:54:17 |
| Sharon Carson | 23 | 01:01:20 |
| Wayne Martison | 24 | 00:53:52 |
| Phil Whitehead | 25 | 00:55:35 |
| Marie-Louise Taylor | 26 | 00:53:58 |
| Allan Carson | 27 | 00:53:24 |