Well we finally made it!
Despite the logistical challenges; train strikes and of course the ongoing COVID 19 Pandemic, 67 riders started from Land's End shortly after 09:00 am on Sunday 03 July 2022 and 50 riders officially finished the inaugural LEJOG AUDAX 1400 km Randonnee.
Firstly, I'd obviously like to thank all the volunteers who contributed to make the event a success:
OAKHILL, Somerset:Hillevi Moller-Blackwell, Luke Hounsome, Tim Daplyn, Will Pomeroy, Fiona Ridley
ABRAM, Greater Manchester:Gary Taylor & Michael Loughran
CLARKSTON, Renfrewshire:Simon Lee & Mick Stanford
KIRKHILL, Aird:Matthew Gilliver; Simon Lee & Mick Stanford
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This 1400 km Randonnee took the riders on a historic coast to coast, south to north journey across mainland Great Britain. Starting from Land's End, Cornwall - the end of the road - the riders headed across the lumpy roads of Cornwall and Devon before climbing over Dartmoor into Somerset as darkness fell on day 1, with many riders arriving at the first night control, Oakhill, Somerset at just over 300 km throughout the night.
Day 2 started with a loop around Bristol before crossing the Severn Bridge into Wales and on into Shropshire.
Day 3 started with a ride through northern urban towns such as: Wigan; Preston and Lancaster before the climb over Cumbia 's Shap Fell - at 426 metres above sea level - the highest point of the route.
Later that day, the route crossed over into Scotland passing just to the south of Glasgow.
Day 4 was remembered for the punishing winds of Glen Coe; whilst the last day was more or less a straight run north-west up the A9.
A couple of known accolades from me:
Rimas Grigenas completed the event less than a week after completing the Alpi 4000.
Ryan Mcglen completed the event as his first ever AUDAX.
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All those involved in the 2022 LEJOG AUDAX,
whether you cooked Pasta for the riders at 02:00 am; cleaned the loos; or even a curious passer-by who stood and applauded the riders into the control at Clarkston - scenes reminiscent of PBP - should feel a sense of achievement.
Overall, the event went relatively well. There were no reportable accidents and the online result has now been submitted to the AUK website and can be viewed at:
http://www.aukweb.net/results/archive/2022/listevent/?Ride=22-64There's no running of my LEJOG AUDAX in 2023. The next edition has been provisionally set for
28 July - 02 August 2024; with some modifications to the route and also to the drop bag arrangements. It's likely the 2024 route will take a more central route through Scotland - including a run over the Forth Road Bridge - into the Highlands. The final 100-mile run up the A9 will likely also feature.
Many photos have been uploaded onto the event website at:
https://lejog1400audax.com/live-updates/I look forward to seeing you in 2024 .....
Andy Corless
Organiser
LEJOG AUDAX 2022