Walmsley retains his National 100k title in Edinburgh (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Walmsley retains his National 100k title in Edinburgh

IN another marvellous feat of endurance, Bourton Road Runners' Dennis Walmsley returned from Edinburgh on Sunday having won the National 100k Championships in his best-ever time.

Walmsley and his support team headed up to the Scottish capital in order to defend his title as UK champion.

This year's gruelling event involved 25 2.5-mile laps around the campus of Heriot-Watt University to make a total distance of 62 miles.

Competitors lined up at 7am on a bright summer's morning and, from the gun, Walmsley took the lead, remaining there for the rest of the race.

Running even splits for each lap throughout the first half, he steadily built up a gap between himself and his nearest rival so that by halfway he had lapped all but three runners.

His meticulous pre-race planning paid off and he was able to get all the drinks and energy supply needed throughout.

Despite a rough patch in the last quarter of the race and needing all the encouragement he could get from his supporters on his penultimate lap, he picked up well and looked strong over his final lap.

He crossed the line to retain his title still some three minutes ahead of his nearest rival in a personal best time of seven hours, five minutes and 15 seconds.

His coach, Norman Lane, was delighted with his performance.

For Dennis is still proving well able to consistently produce medal winning times and make all the planning and hours of training worth while.

As well as being crowned UK 100k champion and winning the Celtic Cup, he has also secured his place in the GB team for the world championships in October.