Snooze costs runner the title

NOT satisfied with running for 24 hours in races, Honiton’s ultra distance runner, Heather Foundling Hawker, has just returned from Antibes where she took part in a 48 hour race.

The course was a 1295m circuit around Saint-Roch Fort and a running track, with daytime temperatures predicted to be up to 32 degrees, and food eaten on the go.

After 24 hours she had completed 114 miles and was in the lead overall, men and women, but an oversleeping friend - who forgot to wake her after a planned one hour nap - cost her the advantage. Heather was asleep for nine hours and woke to find her friend still sleeping! She got up to meet the sunrise and finished the race in fourth place and first lady, beating many top male athletes.

Heather completed 217 laps and ran 175 miles, breaking the female course record by 50km, beating Anne Delaroche’s previous best for the course.

Many of the French and South American runners are used to high temperatures - and compared it to Les Stables, a triathlon training base where many had run - but Heather seems able to keep running in extreme heat, dry air and dust. It was excellent preparation for Heather’s dream race, the Spartathon in September and she has already been invited to the world 48 hour championships in France next year.

On return from the race, Heather had an operation on her big toe which hopefully will enable her to be more balanced and to run pain free.