Delamere Forest, 29 October 2006
Fun day crashing through the undergrowth in Delamere. Some got muddier than others.
1 Simon Bailey 1:03:18
5 Michael Halman 1:06:30
9 Rob Downs 1:09:35 M40 1
950 ran
Full results and photos at: http://www.hellrunner.co.uk/results.htm
Also photos at www.sleepmonsters.co.uk Photos–>Hellrunner then enter race number 302 for Mike and 191 for Rob. Great photos of Mike transforming from smooth runner to mud lark.
This race was promoted as an 11 mile adventure challenge and subtitled “By ‘eck it’s tough up North”. There were photos of runners covered in mud and wading through rivers. But then again Delamere Forest didn’t sound like a venue that was going to make you cry, especially when you have survived Wilmslow bog. Most importantly, the inclusion of a 3k fun run meant that I could sign up the kids and reclassify the exercise as a family day out.
As we massed for the start a 10-foot high devil and scantily clad she-devil whipped up a bit of excitement and trepidation for the gruelling trials ahead. More scary by far was the appearance of fell running champ Simon Bailey grinning away on the start line …
The course had been well designed to cope with nearly 1000 runners and we quickly stretched out as the path wound up towards the radio masts on top of the first hill. Plunging down into the forest we hit the woodland trails that were going to occupy us for the next 10 miles. We zig-zagged over small hills and contact with the leaders indeed all sense of direction was soon lost, although the route remained well marked. Skipping through the trees with pine needles underfoot and a sunny autumn day all around this was about as far away from hell as a trail runner could be!
Slowing down over fallen logs and dodging tree roots, I was caught by Chris Heys of Sale and George from Vale Royal both of whom demonstrated Jim-like superiority over obstacles. We ran pretty much in formation for the rest of the race, which helped us follow the twisting trails. The usual “Caution Runners” signs were replaced by more useful “Beware the Bogs of Doom” and “Here the Hills of Doom”.
The bog section progressed from Bogart Hole grab-your-trainer stuff through to scrambles across streams and up muddy banks. At one point a slippery tree trunk had been placed as a bridge over a marshy stream: not tempted, I ploughed on knee deep through the bog.
The hills of doom led us repeatedly up and down steep slippery hills (a bit like repping the Woodbank Park XC hill) before plummeting down a mountain bike course complete with jumps. I gained considerably from following Chris who had a fell runners eye for the best place to risk your footprint.
Up ahead Simon Bailey was untouchable but Mike was reeling in 3rd and 4th place before a wrong turn left him easing off and settling for 5th. He later appeared at the finish grinning from ear to ear and covered front and back in a broad stripe of mud.
Ten miles is a long way to run on soft ground and we were grateful for a few hundred metres of harder forest road that gave us some chance to regroup and kick the mud off. Two runners appeared ahead of us and we gradually caught them as the going became easier only to lose them again on the later hills. A rare gap in the trees showed that we were again heading up towards the masts. From this clue and 55 minutes on the watch I figured maybe a 5-minute climb to the top then lash down to the finish; little did I know that the water challenge was still to come.
Slithering down a steep bank a stream maybe 3m wide appeared ahead. “Jump, jump” yelled the spectators on the other side and Chris duly obliged, leaping like a 3 day eventer. I weakly failed to make the far bank and dropped back into the water to loud cheers. Back on my feet I chased on. With the finishing field visible ahead I still had some strength to spare and pulled ahead of George and Chris only to fall headlong into the next obstacle: a series of boggy puddles of unknowable depth. Again supporters were on hand to shout helpful hints like “stay right it’s deeper on the left” before photographing me in waist deep; you had to laugh. Surprisingly I still led as we exited the final bogs and was confident of a fast run in to the finish. But then one more sting in the tail as we were directed on another loop around the top of the field. This gave Chris the opportunity to catch me, deservedly having led for most of the way.
I really enjoyed this race. The organisation was very slick and they had made a race that was fun and challenging for runners of all abilities. The ten miles of woodland trails were like the very best bits of Styal and Alderley woods.
By ‘eck we had a laugh.
Rob Downs
Full results and photos at: http://www.hellrunner.co.uk/results.htm