With precision planning, Sidmouth Running Club (SRC) member Bex McDonald’s next challenge took her on a 16-mile downhill journey from Haytor all the way to Teignmouth, writes Hamish Spence.
In need of a new running challenge and adventure, Bex McDonald chose The Templer Way.
This is a route that links Haytor on Dartmoor with the seaport of Teignmouth. The route has a length of 16 miles (25.7 km) and covers a wide range of scenery with open moorland, woodland, meadow, historical tracks, urban land and estuary foreshore.
Bex got started just after 8am from The Haytor Visiter Centre kitted out in her Mighty Green colours for the days’ Templer Way adventure and quickly got into her stride. She headed down the Haytor Granite Tramway and along the now dry Stover Canal to join the old export route along the Teign Estuary to the New Quay at Tiegnmouth. The run had to be timed well to coincide with the tide.
A two hour slot either side of high tide will prevent the runner from having a long swim!
As this route is a lovely downhill jaunt, Bex made good time and her approach to the estuary section of the adventure meant she was able to chase the tide out as she ran. However, she did have to avoid the slippery stranded jelly fish, mud and seaweed. Even with just one small wrong turn very early on, Bex arrived in Teignmouth at the New Quay and completed the run in a time of 2:40:10.
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