A MAGNIFICENT seven Wyedean runners ran more than 50 miles across the entire Lake District in an annual ultra-distance run.

If the mountainous terrain wasn’t testing enough, runners in the fourth Lakes in a Day 50-mile Ultra Run also faced torrential rain, strong wind and slippy ridges.

Racing from Caldbeck in the north of the Lakes to Cartmel at the southernmost tip, weeks of heavy rain had also turned normally dry paths into muddy bogs, and a temporary bridge was required to cross one raging stream.

Glen Meek of Chepstow Harriers and Scott Berry of Forest of Dean AC were the first of the team to finish in 16 hours 28 minutes. 

FoDAC’s Kate Burke, Jo Edwards and Mark Channer came home in 20 hours 26 minutes and still under the 24 hour cut off were clubmates Daren Smith and Melinda Ruck with a time of 22.39. “After being on our feet for so long we were overjoyed to see the finish line and overwhelmed to see all the team waiting for us to come in.”

Due to the terrible weather conditions, 69 competitors did not start with nearly a quarter of the 345-strong field retiring en-route.

Kate Burke said: “I’m so proud of all seven of us completing such an extreme event. It will be hard to beat in the future.”