FINAL FLING

In November, the Project Trail team faced their challenge at the Bath Hilly Half

PHOTOS: ELIZABETH HUFTON

A beautiful day for lots of slippery hills

Trail running is tough. If you need evidence of that, just look at what our Project Trail team – Abbey Payne, Steph Dutton and Clare Steel – have gone through in the last four months.

They’ve tackled hills, strength work, mental struggles and jammed diaries, and suffered real problems with injury. In fact, in the end, sadly Abbey’s knee problem was so bad that she was forced to withdraw from the Bath Hilly Half.

However, that didn’t stop Abbey travelling down to Bath on 13 November to wish her team-mates on their way. With coach Anne-Marie joining them on the start line, Clare and Steph battled round the slippery, steep two-lap course from Bath racecourse, encountering the famous Fool on the Hill as they went…

STEPHANIE DUTTON

FROM MILTON KEYNES • AGE 62

JOB SWIMMING TEACHER, SPECIALIZING IN FEAR OF WATER

I can’t believe the Bath Hilly Half has been and gone. The race was not what I expected. Yes I was expecting hills, but maybe not quite so many of them! They were relentless, long, steep and muddy in places. In one particular place it was near impossible to stand up. You kind of slid your way down the hill and prayed that you didn’t fall on your butt.