Race challenge takes place on airport runway

2 hours ago

Danielle MalgwiSouth East

News image — Simon and Kim Ballard are the race directors of the Runbelievable Challenges, which is organising the event (pictured at another event)

Runbelievable Challenges The image shows a picture of a man and woman posing for a photograph, both holding a white cup each and with a medal around their necks. The man is wearing sunglasses while the woman is wearing regular glasses. People can be seen in the background standing and lying down on grass. — Simon and Kim Ballard are the race directors of the Runbelievable Challenges, which is organising the event (pictured at another event)

An eight-hour running challenge is being held for a third year at Manston Airport.

Runway Rerun sees participants running the length of the Kent runway or as many laps as they can within the time limit, with the run due to be the last before the airport is sold.

One loop is a "slightly long 10k" organisers said, two loops is a half marathon, four loops a marathon, while five or more would make it an "ultra".

A donation to a local charity, Thanet Disabled Riding School, was also made as a condition to using the runway. Organiser Runbelievable Challenges said it was hoping to hold a "bigger, better" event in 2027 to support the school.

Sarah King The image shows a woman running in a field at a Nature Reserve; she is wearing running gear including a hat and sunglasses. — Sarah King, a barrister, has run 61 official marathons in total, 29 of them with Runbelievable Challenges

One of those taking part is 37-year-old Sarah King, who started running marathons in December, 2021, to cope after her father passed away from sepsis.

She will be running her 30th marathon with Runbelievable at Manston.

On a journey to run 100 marathons by the time she is 40, King said race directors Simon and Kim Ballard had supported her over the years.

"It's their all-encompassing celebration of every everyone's achievements I just love," she said. "Everyone feels like family when you're at an Runbelievable event and that keeps you coming back."

Having been on the two previous Manston runs, King said she hoped for better weather as participants last year had to run through Storm Amy, and a heatwave the year before.

She encouraged anyone considering participating in a running challenge with the group to just "go for it".

"By the time you leave, you will have gained a whole new group of friends because you're never alone on a Runbelievable run," King said.

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