Bude 6 miles - worth the drive

Race 8 in the MTRS series, the Bude Lifeboat Run takes runners out along cycle paths, canal paths and off into the fields around Bude on the Cornwall/Devon border. With a lot of tarmac, this is one of the fastest races in the MTRS series. After one of the hottest days of the summer so far, warm and muggy air greeted runners as they assembled on the start line at 7.15pm, signalling that it was going to be a hot and sweaty race. Starting and finishing at Bude Rugby Club, runners initially do a short loop on the grass before heading out for a fast flat section on tarmacked cycle paths. Eventually runners are directed down a track and into the fields to start a long but fairly gradual ascent over hummocky well trodden earth and in places rough rocky ground, to get a great view of Bude and the dramatic north Cornish coastline, looking stunning in the sunshine. Following a long but gentle descent, runners are then directed right to start the steepest climb of the race, although still not really steep by typical Cornish standards. Once at the top of this hill though, it's pretty much all downhill and then flat, with a very fast last 1.5 miles return section along the tarmacked canal path, before finishing on the grass outside the rugby club. A long drive from Falmouth but a really nice fast run! Despite the distance, Falmouth Road Runners dominated the race results, taking the team prize and with 3 runners in the top 5! Great results all round!