Cathedral Musicians Completed Half Marathon Challenge in Support of Cathedral Music

Three members of Truro Cathedral’s music team took on and completed the Rame Head Half Marathon this June, raising funds to support the cathedral’s thriving music programme. 

James Anderson-Besant, director of music, alongside assistant director Andrew Wyatt and organ scholar Alfie Beston, completed the demanding coastal race on 13 June, bringing to a close months of preparation and training. 

Music continues to be at the heart of Truro Cathedral’s life, supporting the choral tradition and the development of young singers. The fundraising effort aimed to ensure this tradition continues to flourish for future generations. 

“We were not just running for the challenge,” the team said. “Every mile was about supporting the future of cathedral music and the opportunities it creates.”  

Thanks to all who generously donated

The team expressed sincere thanks to all those who supported their fundraising.

“The encouragement and generosity we received meant so much throughout the training,” Andrew said. “We are incredibly grateful for every donation.” 

Funds raised will go towards supporting the cathedral choir and young singers, maintaining and developing musical programmes, and ensuring the continuation of high-quality sacred music. 

There is still the opportunity to donate: GoFundMe page

Training 

The months leading up to race day were filled with training.  

Andrew reflected on how much he had enjoyed the process, highlighting a particularly special moment during the cathedral choir’s tour to the Isles of Scilly.

“Being stranded there (due to repairs on the ferries) for a few extra days turned out to be a blessing,” he said. “Those early morning runs around St Mary’s were unforgettable and some of my favourite memories from the tour and the training.” 

He added that the experience had changed his perspective on running. 

“I enjoyed it far more than I expected, and I will certainly keep running. It was also great getting to know colleagues outside of normal cathedral life.” 

James also reflected on the benefits of the training period. 

“It did wonders for my health and wellbeing,” he said. “I am very grateful to my colleagues for encouraging me to start.” 

His training included a particularly memorable 17 kilometre run through the mining landscape around Twelveheads during heavy rain. 

“There was a lot of wading through flooded roads, but it was one of the most memorable runs.” 

Regular participation in Parkruns at Trelissick was also part of the training, and one of the most demanding preparations came in a long training run along the South West Coast Path from Geevor Tin Mine to St Ives, undertaken by Andrew and Alfie. 

Covering 23 kilometres with nearly 1000 metres of elevation, the route proved to be a true test of endurance. 

“It was incredibly tough,” Andrew said. “Every time we thought the climbing was over, another hill appeared.” 

Despite the difficulty, the scenery along the coastline made a lasting impression. 

“By the end, our legs felt like lead, but it was exactly the kind of run we needed.” 

Race Day 

On race day, the trio completed the challenging Rame Head Half Marathon in demanding conditions, marking the successful conclusion of months of training and fundraising. 

Their incredible finish times were  
James 2:09 
Andrew 2:16 
Alfie 2:19 

Andrew reflected, “The Rame Head Half Marathon left me with equal measures of elation and exhaustion. The hot weather and lack of wind made an already extremely demanding course even tougher, and there was something mentally challenging about tackling the same route twice. The infamous steps within the first 5km were a brutal early test, while the final 4km felt like a real battle of determination and resilience. Despite the struggle, the highlights far outweighed the lows: the incredible coastal scenery, the camaraderie among runners, and the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere that made the event so special. Crossing the finish line brought a huge sense of achievement, knowing just how much the course had asked of everyone. Ultimately, I’m so glad I took part, and while I’m still recovering, I’m already keeping an eye out for our next race—hopefully one that’s a little flatter!” 

James added, “It was a wonderful atmosphere at the Rame Head half marathon on Saturday! We'd all done lots of training, but I don't think we were quite expecting the course to be as brutal as it was. The second half of the ~10k course (which we ran twice) was relatively flat, but the first half was a succession of incredibly steep ups and downs - some we just had to walk! I was very grateful for buying a last-minute CamelBak, as the 24-degree heat and sun bearing down on us was horrible...  

It was difficult to keep going, especially tackling the hills on the second lap, but the thing I kept in mind with every step was just how generous people have been in supporting us. That sense of custodianship for our cathedral's musical tradition is so great to see, and the past months have been a wonderful journey. After the run, we treated ourselves to a late (and large) pub lunch, before letting the aches set in. Now mostly recovered, I'm reflecting on the sense of achievement and where our running is going to take us next. What sort of challenge will next year bring...?”