Hundreds of runners had the experience of a lifetime when they took part in a 5k race in the shadows of a solar eclipse.
On Wednesday, August 12, Alchester Running Club hosted its annual Alchester 5k in Marsh Gibbon, with the event coinciding with a rare solar eclipse visible across the UK.
The start of the race was delayed allowing runners to watch the eclipse. As daylight began to return to the sky at around 7.15pm, the runners set off on the 5k course.
A total of 222 people completed the race, with Buckingham runner Scott Harman taking first place in the men’s race and Natasha Roebuck winning the women’s race.
Neither runner managed to beat the existing course records, held by Marcus Shantry, who recorded 14:52 in 2024, and Charlie Arnell, who ran 17:00 in 2023.
Established in 1998, the Alchester 5k attracted runners from across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire. This year, 280 people entered the race, with places selling out within just 24 hours.
Runners started outside Marsh Gibbon Cricket Club before completing a loop around the village and returning to the cricket club.
Alchester Running Club chairman Gary Warland said: “The Alchester 5k is extremely popular and is one of the few 5k races of its kind outside London. Places sold out within hours of the link going live.
“Everything went smoothly and, despite the heat, the pace was fast. The eclipse certainly made this year’s race particularly memorable.
“Each year we choose a local charity to benefit from the race, and this year we have chosen The Hummingbird Centre. Some of our members have links to the centre, and we wanted to support it and say thank you for everything it does.”
Hummingbird CEO and Founder Mechelle Harris said: “We want to thank every participant who took part, especially in such extreme heat. “It was amazing to see just how quickly the runners completed the 5k course. We are in awe of their achievement. “The money raised will help us continue running our vital services and supporting people affected by cancer. We are incredibly grateful to Alchester Running Club, its members and everyone who took part.”
The Alchester 5k was launched in 1998 as part of a summer series of races before becoming a standalone 5k event. The race was initially held in Charndon, before moving to Cottisford and then to its current home in Marsh Gibbon in 2018.
Article written by Sam McGregor sjmcgregor2017@gmail.com
Photos by Simon Godfrey