More than a relay: 100km for MOVE Against Cancer.
100km of Grit, Laughter and Community Spirit on the Serpent Trail
What do you get when you combine 53 determined juniors, two brilliant adult teams, endless trail miles, enough food to feed an army, and a shared desire to make a difference?
An unforgettable 100km charity relay along the stunning Serpent Trail.
Starting in Petersfield and finishing in Haslemere, runners followed the beautiful heathland route through the heart of the South Downs, taking on mud, hills, forests, tired legs and sore feet — all for an incredible cause.
This wasn’t just about running fast. It was about teamwork, encouragement, resilience and community.
The Junior Teams Take on the Trail
At the heart of the day were our 53 junior runners, who were split into three fantastic teams:
The Cobras
The Pythons
The Rattlesnakes
Each junior ran alongside an adult, tackling relay legs ranging from 4–7km. For many, it was their biggest trail challenge yet — and they rose to it brilliantly.
There were nervous starts, huge smiles and tired finishes, but every single child showed courage and determination out on the trail. The support between runners was incredible, with teammates cheering each other on at every handover point. This impressive bunch of juniors completed the relay in 10 hours 52 mins!
The event perfectly captured what junior running clubs are really about: giving young athletes confidence, adventure and a sense of belonging.
The Adults Join the Challenge
Alongside the juniors were two adult teams from the club — each bringing their own unique energy to the event.
One team took the competitive route, attacking the course with impressive pace and determination, with runners taking on huge 25km legs between checkpoints. Setting a new course record at an impressive 10 hours 47 mins!
The second adult team, wonderfully named Ladies Wot Lunch, a group of women who approached the relay in a very different style. They chatted, laughed and supported one another all the way along the trail — very much in the same spirit as the junior teams.
True to their name, they also ensured nobody went hungry. Bacon and eggs were cooked along the route, snacks appeared from every direction, and each checkpoint felt more like a moving picnic than an ultra relay transition zone.
Fuel levels were high. Morale was even higher.
More Than a Run
Most importantly, the relay was held in support of MOVE Against Cancer.
The charity supports and empowers people living with and beyond cancer to stay active, recognising the enormous physical and mental benefits movement can bring during and after treatment. Through initiatives like 5K Your Way, online programmes and community support, MOVE helps people affected by cancer regain confidence, connection and wellbeing. (moveagainstcancer.org)
Thanks to the incredible effort and generosity of everyone involved, the event has already raised more than £3,000 for the charity — a fantastic achievement that will help support people impacted by cancer across the UK.
A Day to Remember
The Serpent Trail delivered everything: sunshine, bacon, teamwork, exhaustion, laughter and memories that will last for years.
From the juniors taking on new challenges, to the adults grinding through long miles, to the bacon and eggs appearing at exactly the right moment — the entire day was a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together for something bigger than itself.
A huge congratulations to every runner, marshal, supporter, driver, cook and organiser who made the day possible.
The snakes conquered the Serpent Trail.
