Returning to Tavistock after a 40-year absence, the Dartmoor Marathon - organised by Dave Chanter - took place on 12th April, set against the backdrop of stunning Devon scenery and four seasons’ worth of weather in a single day. The OGT crew were on hand with tasty energy bars to fuel runners across 26 miles of the most challenging terrain, and we dished out hundreds of samples to the local community with our pop-up stall on race day.
Dartmoor is a five-hour drive away from OGT’s “hive” headquarters in Hertfordshire - so the team set off on Saturday afternoon and stayed overnight amidst the rolling hills ready for an early start on the Sunday of the race. Gazebo, signage, leaflets, uniforms and of course the all-important oat bars had to be packed up and ready for a mammoth sprint down the A303, taking in the scenery of Stonehenge as we passed into the mountainous south-west.
Almost as soon as we were up and running in the town square, people approached us to learn more about our unique product and its relevance to runners. We were sampling our new Chocolate Brownlee flavour, developed in partnership with Jonny Brownlee himself, and the result was overwhelming enthusiasm for a new kind of active nutrition. As the rain clouds drew in, marathon competitors reached into their vests for a completely waterproof treat: a quick hit of simple, oat-based energy that requires no wrapper, no waste and no fuss. In a survey carried out in 2023, 29% of visitors to Dartmoor said that litter spoiled their visit, and the biggest source of plastic pollution globally is packaging from foodstuffs. OGT eliminates that problem, and our presence meant that runners were able to leave nothing behind as they traversed the stunning terrain.
We were lucky enough to get spotted by the Dartmoor Search & Rescue team based in Tavistock, and they’re going to be using our rugged, reliable (and completely waterproof) bars as part of their rescue kits. Exciting stuff! We also spoke to the local branch of Lions International, who were almost as thrilled at the idea of wrapper-free food as we are.
An engaging day of spreading awareness was bookended by our co-founder and CEO, Daniel Bedford, having the opportunity to hand out some of the prizes for the marathon’s top finishers: a proud moment which gave us the opportunity to say a hearty “well done” to everyone who pushed for peak performance, supported by OGT.
We had a wonderful time in Dartmoor and we’re grateful for the invitation. Next up in our calendar is the biggest of them all - the marathon in London, where we’ll be at the Running Show from the 22nd to the 25th of April. We hope to see you there!
