Clock Change Challenge (2017)

This course is fast and flat, perfect for a PB with an out and back route along quiet country lanes.

About the race
When: – Sunday 29 October 2017 @ 11.00am

Where: – Calne Leisure Centre, White Horse Way, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0SP

Cost: – £15.00 unattached

Organisers website: – www.riderhq.com

Race Facts
The Calne story begins AD 978 and is known for its canal (which was completed in 1810 and abandoned in 1914) and rail travel (the railway station opened in 1863 and closed in 1965 from insufficient demand), woollen broadcloth and meat production.

Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen at the nearby Bowood House.

Race Aces
Impressive medal for a less expensive race and with chip timing.

Free parking at the race site.

Pre and Post race sports massage.

Race Unlaces
Even though parking was free, I got there later than I usually arrive at races, the sports centre car park was manic. There was an overflow car park on the tennis courts but they were also gridlocked.

Headphones are not permitted and the road is open to traffic.

As it was a smaller race there were very few spectators at the finish line, and by the time I’d finished there were only a couple of people left it seemed!

My Race Stats:
Time: 1:04:46 | Pace: 10:22 | Mile splits: 10:02, 10:14, 10:26, 10:33, 10:13, 10:34, 2:36
Position: 287/331 | Gender position: 115th

Total runners: 331 | Fastest Male: 30:55 | Fastest Female: 41:13 | Slowest Finisher: 1:23:16

Distances from Major Cities
London: 2hr 11, 90 miles | Birmingham: 2hr 07, 103 miles | Bristol: 1hr, 36 miles| Cardiff: 1hr 36, 69 miles | Exeter: 2hr 12, 114 miles

Next event: 25 March 2018

Overall star rating:

Conclusion
This was a splendid little race with a great medal! The only things I didn’t really enjoy were that it was quite a lonely race around the course and not many spectators at the end (which is great for anyone who has come to support you as they have full view of your spectacular finishing sprint!) but it was quite strange and a contrast to the drumming and festival atmosphere at the start.

I also wasn’t a fan of the car parking arrangements, while I’m sure there were plenty of spaces for the amount of runners, it was just chaos and I didn’t leave race HQ until enough cars had gone home as there was only one road in and out. At the end of the day though parking was free and you could see the start / finish line from the car park so at least any spectators didn’t have to hang around outside at the leisure centre if they didn’t want to.

Would I run it again? Yes and in fact I am going to race the spring Clock Change Challenge (although this time I’m going to be losing an hour instead of gaining an hour).

Please note that the above opinions on the race are my own and based upon my own running skill level (I would consider myself to be an average runner) and while I’ve made every effort to ensure anything contained within this post is accurate, please check the race organiser’s website for full information.

If there’s any more information about the race that you’d like to add or ask, please leave a comment below