It was trail running meets the Great British Bake Off at Saturday’s (16 July) Piece of Cake Half and Full Marathon. A small, determined group of participants sampled the delights of the Long Mynd and the sweet offerings in the cake competition. 

The cake competition is an integral part of this event with the best one winning a prize. A smoothly organised affair from Denzil Martin and team at How Hard Can It Be Events & CODRC where runners have the choice of a half or full marathon in Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd – owned by the National Trust and a popular visitor attraction. 

Final race instructions advised participants to take the heat into account as forecasted by the Met Office and ensure they were hydrated and their skin protected against sunburn. Also to remember the event was cupless and bring their own or wear a race vest with soft flasks/bottles/bladder as part of the recommended kit for off-road races. 

Nearly 100 runners set off at 9am with a morning of climbing ahead of them in the Shropshire Hills, completing 13.1 (one lap) or 26.2 miles (two laps) of the mighty Mynd in glorious weather. They followed a course marked with arrows and tape to keep them on the right path and topped up fluid levels at the aid stations as they tackled the elevation. This was over 4000ft for those doing the marathon. 

Then back into Carding Mill Valley and the finish (and cake!). 

In the half marathon, James Coleman was first home in 1:42:58; Nicola Watson the first female in 2:11:01. 

Kevin Kenward won the marathon in 3:58:22; Louise Turvey was the female winner in 4:38:26. 

All the results from the marathon and half marathon can be found via the runABC Midlands Race Listings page. 

The event was summed up perfectly by Race Director Denzil Martin: “An awesome day in the hills and the weather was rather spectacular as well.”  

Image courtesy of How Hard Can It Be Events & CODRC.