The Oxted Running Club at the legendary Fan Dance

Last weekend a team of eight from the Oxted Running Club took on the legendary Fan Dance challenge in the Brecon Beacons. The Fan Dance is the route used by the UK Special Forces in their selection tests. It is a gruelling 15 mile course run in full kit and carrying 35lb packs. 

The Fan Dance climbs Pen y Fan twice, giving a total of 1100 metres of ascent, including the leg sapping ascent of Jacob’s ladder. The team has been training under the eye of Mark Wren since January, and it showed! 

Our Oxted Running Club in the Brecon Beacons.

Three finished with Special Forces “pass” times of under four hours and everyone else was close behind. 

We had the Women’s Overall Champion setting a new course record, 4th place in the Men’s Overall event, first place in the Men’s Masters category, first and second in the Women’s Masters and the fastest “back-to- back” time (running the route twice on successive days).

We also had the “coolest” competitor in the race, finishing well up the field, looking completely unruffled, despite having only taken up endurance training in January at the age of 55.

The team particularly enjoyed gathering together on the finish line to welcome home our 
competitors from the British Military Fitness team, some way behind!