The Pilgrim "Arctic" Challenge, Ultra 2012
4th-5th February 2012

Event Report by Extreme Energy
 

On the weekend of the 4^th & 5^th Feb of this year a staggering 238 people took part in the toughest ultra Extreme Energy has ever put on. A staggering 66 mile race along the North Downs Way National Path over 2 days of competition. The North Downs Way is by no means an easy run in normal conditions, so when the thermometers started to drop below minus, the winds picked up and the sky began to fill with snow the event had taken on a whole new dimension.

7am on a bitter and cold winters morning, competitors started to gather at Farnham, the starters line. Braving the sub zero temperatures and getting their heads around the idea of completing a full 33 miles of running in these conditions, the turn out was staggering and atmosphere was fantastic. The race director deemed it fitting to still go ahead with the original plan of 3 start times, 8am, 9am & 10am. Soon all competitors were on their way, making some very quick times in deed, probably to try and keep their body warm in the chilling surroundings. As the day went by so did the competitors with the North Downs Way claiming a few of its first victims of the weekend. The majority however made it to the finish line after conquering some of highest & steepest gradient climbs around. They were greeted with boiling hot tea & coffee and nice warm showers to put the feeling back in their bodies after being out in the cold for so long. 

Those who needed it visited the medics and therapy tables, whilst the others enjoyed a morale lifting talk from James Adams 'The Man Who Conquered America' by running across it! Soon silence had engulfed the camp as everyone had gone to sleep in preparation for the final day!

As the competitors awoke on day 2, they were greeted with a thick blanket of snow as far as the eyes could see, most people love to see snow however everyone who was at the Pilgrim Challenge on that morning was cursing it. With the conditions putting the final day of the event in jeopardy a meeting was called to discuss the plan for the day, to the relief of most competitors the Pilgrim Challenge was to go a head with extra safety advice tips being a focal point of the mornings briefing! The plan was now in place to have one start time where the whole field should set off together for safety reasons. 8 am came and went as all competitors set out on what would be the toughest ultra endurance race Extreme Energy has ever put on. The snow had stopped but in its wake, it had covered the whole route, making navigation difficult and footing unstable, with the horrible realisation that everyone had to complete the full 33 miles back to Farnham some people were overwhelmed and had to pull out due to safety reasons. Those mentally tough people carried on, taking on what ever the elements and terrain through at them.

Those who made it to the finish line were exhausted having just trudged 33 miles through thick snow and icy paths, the joy and relief was clear to see on every ones faces. The performances throughout the field were fantastic with every competitor respecting every effort of their fellow runner. The atmosphere at the finish was electric!

The Overall Males winner of the weekend was Gwyn Davies with a remarkable time 9:42:28 and the  Overall Females winner was Michelle Double with a respectable time of 11:28:25. Congratulations both!

The Pilgrim Challenge 2012 will certainly go down in Extreme Energy history as our first ever 'Arctic' Ultra and absolutely 'Epic' from start to finish. No one will ever forget the efforts of everyone involved in the race!

Best Wishes

The XNRG Team,