MORE than 200 runners were pushed to their limits in the face of high temperatures at this year’s Blackmore Vale Half Marathon.

This year’s event was originally planned to take place on February 2 but was postponed due to the course being waterlogged from floods.

The rescheduled half marathon took place on July 13, meaning the 268 runners had to deal with vastly different conditions than first planned as temperatures threatened to reach close to 30° at the Bishops Caundle Recreation Ground.

Organisers, the Blackmore Vale Lions, said that if temperatures reached a degree or two higher they would have been forced to postpone.

“Fortunately, with a zephyr of breeze the ‘feels like’ temperature was a degree or two cooler than the regulatory maximum,” a spokesperson said.

Fears that the temperature would reach dangerous heights saw the Lions take extra precautions, such as recruiting extra medics, staff, additional water carriers and finding more cups.

Shattered runners were misted then wrapped in wet towels and given a drink – more than three times the usual water consumption for one third of the runners Picture: Blackmore Vale Lions

They also created more shaded areas and plant sprayers to mist the runners, as well as paddling pools to soak scrap towels in to drape over the runners as they finished.

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An air-conditioned safety bus followed the runners, complete with a hosepipe with a spray attachment to rapidly cool serious casualties.

The Lions praised volunteers, some of whom stood in the blazing sun for five hours.

Roger Weeks of Diabetes UK presents some of the ladies age group prizes Picture: Blackmore Vale Lions

There were four heat casualties – two were treated at the finish, and two spotted by the marshals were retired by the mobile medics and evacuated to the hose in the minibus.

The Lions said: “Even with the additional measures that were notified to all participants, there were many last-minute withdrawals and replacements.

“Better to run away and run another day than end up as an unnecessary casualty. That put strain on the results team who needed a herculean effort to manage a very complex results process complicated by the number of withdrawals.”

Winners

Jonathon Churchill of Egdon Heath Harriers was the winner in the men’s category and he also picked up an age group prize.

Jon Churchill the Men’s winner is sprayed at the finish and receives his prize from Roger Weeks. Question which was more welcome? Picture: Blackmore Vale Lions

His two colleagues Charlie Williams (3rd) and Matthew Underhill (5th) won the Men’s Team Prize.

Egdon Heath were just as successful in the ladies events with winner Hannah Martyn (54th) and team members Theresa Green (57th), Julie Wargent (79th) all of whom won age group prizes.

The prizes were presented by Roger Weeks from Diabetes UK, this year’s major charity.

A runner being gratefully cooled off Picture: Blackmore Vale Lions

A Lions spokesperson said: “We would like to publicly thank the following for their generosity, without which the event could not have proceeded: Johnson’s Stalbridge Linen Sturminster Newton Depot for the towels, Vale Coaches for their minibus, 2nd Templecombe Scouts for “being prepared” to do all sorts of things, Bishops Caundle Parish Council and Village Hall and Stalbridge Building Supplies for the kit to make it happen and Dike and Son Supermarket for sponsorship and the race numbers.”