Hart 4 2025

By Laura Bartlett

You might be a great lover of races. Maybe you’ve ticked off the 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon and ultra-marathon distances. But have you ever taken part in a relay style race?

For many people, the idea of taking part in a relay race might bring back memories of school sports days, running up and down a course and high-fiving the next runner. However, once you’ve entered the wonderful world of running in adulthood, a relay race can represent a whole different challenge. Not only do you need to be able to “go the distance”, but you also need to be able to recover, fuel, hydrate and get yourself ready to go again whilst also maintaining your stamina across the duration of the event!

So on August 10th 2025, 18 brave runners from FTRC decided to test out their speed, endurance and self-organisation skills over the Hart 4 course in Minley! Teams of 4 runners, would have 4 hours to complete as many 4km loops as possible (we see where the event gets it’s name from!).  Whilst many of our team members were familiar with the set up at Endure 24, we knew this would challenge us in a different way. The course was shorter (so we would need to run faster), and there was significantly less time in between turns (needed to get on top of that recovery), and there was much more of a race mentality as we approached the event.

We arrived in the race village on a scorching hot day. We quickly set up the gazebo, talked tactics and registered our teams. Before we knew it, it was time for the first runner to toe the start line…..and off they went! Whilst our teammates were off running, the rest of us loitered around our base camp, speculating what the actual course would be like. As the course was only 4km, we didn’t have long until our first runners came back. All full of warnings about a “hill”………

The 4km lap course was pretty stunning; although I think it would be fair to describe it as more of a beautiful beast. Once your teammate hands the relay band over to you, you cruise out past the race village (often with cheers from the FTRC gazebo to spur you on) and into a field. It’s a trail race so you have to watch your feet as you navigate your way through the field and onto the dirt track as you make your way into the forest. The forest gives you a welcome break from the heat of the day, but something in the back of your mind reminds you that your teammates mentioned a “hill”. Gradually you move through the forest, over some rolling hills, and then you encounter a more substantial hill. But it’s not that bad…what was everyone complaining about? You turn the corner and then you see it……..a sudden, sharp, definitely hilly hill. Oh…..It’s a toughie. But fortunately once it’s over you get to recover on the flat before a lovely downhill and final stretch around the race village. As you approach the finish you start desperately looking for your next teammate. You hand the relay band over to them and finally you can rest……..but not for too long as it will be your turn again within the hour!

And that’s basically how the next 4 hours played out. It was very hot and humid. But we were all in this together. Occasionally someone would go and check out the leader board to see how our 4 teams were getting on. Unlike at Endure, there was always someone running on the course right up until the very last minute. Crowds gathered to see which teams would make it out before the strict 4 hour cut off prevented anyone from starting a new lap. And then….it was all over for 2025. I know I’m biased, but I obviously think that all of our teams at FTRC did exceptionally well! FTRC Dizzy 4 came in 52nd in the Veterans category (and they got free ice cream at the end!). FTRC Quad came in 25th in the mixed category. FTRC B(omb) Squad came 19th and FTRC Red Arrows came a tantalisingly close 4th in the male team category.

It really was a brilliant event with a real community feel to it. Personally, I’ve never been at an event where so many people wished each other well on the course. There was so much positivity and camaraderie whilst we all tried our best in hot, sunny conditions. You know its been a good event when people are already making plans for when they do this again next year. The question is…..will you be joining us at the Hart 4 2026?