A report from Ian from his run yesterday.
Sunday 9 January saw me attempting this rather unique event.
This was taken last summer?
It consists of 11 racing stages which vary in length from 800m to 3km. After each racing stage there is a walk (and rest!) to the next racing stage.
The weather is always variable in January so following the snow of Friday and rain of Saturday the scene was set for a mud fest on Sunday.
The race started from Endcliffe park in Sheffield and headed gently uphill through Endcliffe park (2.9km) and then more uphill through the beautiful Porter valley (2.5km) before we recovered Ringinglow road.
The downhill through Limb valley (2.5km) was very welcome and then Eccleshall woods (1.8km) descent started to hurt. (too much of a good thing!).
Undulating through Lady woods (2.5km) Chancet woods (0.9km), Graves Park (1.4km) and Lees Hall (1.3km) was very enjoyable as great views of Sheffield opened out before you. By now I knew the familiar faces of the runners around me and enjoyed their company/ chat.
Meerbrook Park (0.8km) tested my downhill sprinting ability (useless I now know!). Stage 10 Brincliffe (2.2km) was a very hard uphill effort – a real sting in the tail. The last stage in Endcliffe park (0.4km) should be a sprint finish but was a slog in the mud.
Overall it is great event with a real party/ celebration atmosphere at the end.
Ian Smallwood
Results
Racing time 1 hour 41 mins – 24th V50 (out of 174) Elapsed time 2 hours 45 mins, distance 14.75 miles, height gain 1900ft
The winner from Bristol AC achieved a time of 1:07.13, 12:03 ahead of the first lady finisher.
1399 runners.
Sounds like a challenging race that some of you should try!! This was the winter version. They do it summer too. Proposed dates are 25/6th June
Part of the course [legs 3 and 4] before the snow and rain!! Have a look.
Seems an interesting concept Ian – well run!