Since our first race in 2016, every Hoppit race has been different and faced unique challenges and obstacles, but we have always seemed to get there. This year, our biggest challenge yet, it was the pandemic. It created problems that we wouldn’t have surmounted without our fantastic Covid Coordinator. He designed the rolling starts, the feed station protocols, the Race HQ processes, and more, to keep us all as safe as possible.
Our army of race volunteers were as amazing as always, and I am so proud of every one of them. They create the identity of the Hoppit. Not many races might boast a 1:10 ratio of volunteer to runner, but we managed 100+ volunteers for the 1,000+ runners; and every one of our volunteers is so positive and helpful, and always 100% focused upon you, the runner. Inevitably, we had some on-the-day issues that clouded what might otherwise have been a perfect event, including 15 runners that went astray on the half marathon course at Mile 12, some 4×4 vehicles on the Wayfarers Walk that hindered some of the marathon runners at Mile 5, and some technical glitches with the results system that meant we needed to cancel our prize-giving. But, to focus on the positives, we had fantastic weather, the new parking was ideal, a great Race HQ field, a challenging course that everyone seemed to enjoy, the best Goody Bag ever with a lovely keepsake medal, cool t-shirts, great beers, and food/drink vendors that were efficient and tasty.
Full race results can be found here. At the time of drafting this note, they are still provisional results, but they should be finalised soon. https://hampshiretrailmarathon.co.uk/results/
If you haven’t seen your photos yet, please view here. They are free to download as part of our arrangement with Sussex Sport Photography.
I’ll sign-off now for another year. If you haven’t had the opportunity to rate our race, we would love you to do that, because there is no better endorsement than a fellow runner. Please either use your favourite race review site, or we quite like this one at Racecheck: https://racecheck.com/…/the-hampshire-hoppit-trail…/
Finally, for those many people that have requested a link to the amazing music playlist (in my dreams), here it is. Note that it is designed not for Shuffle mode; i.e. it is carefully created to play from 7am-4pm to reflect the energy level in the field at that time, therefore there is a slow start as people arrive, and then high energy when the races are imminent. Note that the Woodkid song is played twice – this is our ‘anthem’ that is played at 9am and 10am to herald the marathon and the half marathon starts. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7FRhs5dQd0IaURpcamj7to…
Oh. One last thing. The provisional date for Hoppit2022 is Sunday 19 June…
Tim Fowler
Race Director
Race Director
