The Mid Essex Christmas Trail courtesy of Katy and Sharon always attracts a good entry despite the guarantee of mud and hills. This year’s routes certainly had plenty of both.
I set off at a reasonable pace (for me) and soon reached Heather Hills. I read BW as bridleway which caused me some concern. I did wonder why the boardwalk didn’t get a mention in the instructions DOH. For me it was all straightforward from here as I have run around this area for forty years. I caught up with Guy and a very jingly Richard as we went through Holybred Wood. They pulled away across the fields and Ian S, Christine and Ian L came past.
I recaught Guy and Richard through the orchard, but they pulled away again across the horse field only for me to catch them again in Blakes Wood. We saw Mark running in the opposite direction so I reckoned that we would be doing a loop back. On the long drag to the car park I decided I was going to run the whole stretch and overtook G&R in the process. I was first to the sweetie bag (mini Snickers, thanks) and soon the jingles of Richard’s elf costume faded into the background. Winner, Antony had a little chat as he went by.
Down the hill into Lingwood Common I could hear those pesky bells but as the climbs kicked in they faded away. Again I pushed most of the way to the car park and then the relief of a short stretch of road. I ran/walked the next two miles of woods all on my own and was only overtaken on Postmans Lane by an unknown to me runner.
I knew exactly what I was in for, but suspect a few people weren’t expecting 700 feet of climb (if they went the right way). It is a beautiful, but very tough place to run.
Well done to the winners Sarah and Gavin on the short course and Antony and Nicole on the long. Here’s to next year.
FOX N HOUNDS
The popular Fox N Hounds trail was held on a beautiful sunny morning on dry and firm ground.
Even though I arrived early I still parked about 400m away up the lane. After my 400m warm up walk to the start Justin set me off straight away. I felt surprisingly easy for the first couple of miles and passed a couple of walkers and Neil coming the other way on his way to the start.
Several people ran past on the long enclosed track. As I emerged from the track I could see at least two runners who had missed the turn and were coming back up the hill. I ran with a Maldon Soul Runner along the old railway, up past the church, up the hill to the vineyard, then across the old airfield and along the never ending enclosed path. I was now knackered and walked through the sheep (sorry Justin not round them) and then got shuffling again across the field and the last interminable road to the finish.
I used to use these paths when the Easter Monday trail was from the Roundbush and the only thing that has changed is that the vineyards didn’t exist then. Apart from the middle bit it is probably as flat as you can get so there was some fast running (from others). As usual at these events there was a nice atmosphere outside the pub in the sunshine.
HOBBLE 2024
Another great turnout for the Hobble on a dull but dry day. The underfoot conditions were firm and fast.
This year it was the turn to take the course west which always gives lots of route choices and of course the chance to use the tunnel and a good chance of spotting deer. A few weeks ago I saw a herd of about one hundred on the route.
I apologise for there being a bit more road than usual but I don’t think you would have appreciated the rough field edge or the pathless ploughed field I decided not to use.
The difference in the finish between the two courses caught a few out but other than not finding the rope swing in the woods the only complaint I got about the course was that the pubs on the route weren’t open yet. Happily the Horse and Groom were as usual very accommodating and had the usual array of excellent beers available.
Nobody finished before 11 and I know a lot of you stopped en route for the two minutes silence.
Congratulations to the winners, Jackie on the long and Phoenix on the short course.
TWISTED AND EXCELLENT BITTER
I set out to make this the twistiest Twister ever and I think I succeeded. In fact I had to write notes from my screen to take with me so that I could go and write up the route description.
When I came back from putting out the tokens the clubhouse was already buzzing. I’ve always found it amazing how much noise runners make around the registration table. With all the runners set off I was consigned to the kitchen for much of the night but still felt the feel good atmosphere in the hall.
One of the most pleasing aspects of this event for us is that even though it is in the dark we still attract a field of runners where 61% were female. There is something quite primeval about running in a pack in the dark. Our winning lady Jackie, however was well ahead of any pack and won the race outright by three minutes from Antony.
There were a few tales of extra sheds and gaps but everyone made it back in good time and seemed to enjoy seeing people running in all directions. I imagine the residents of Chelmer Village were puzzled. Now I have the problem of working out an even twistier route for next year.
Special thanks to Malcol, Dave and Julian behind the bar and Kendo for putting on an excellent barrel of “Jake the Snake” who could be the event mascot.
RESERVOIR JOGS
Not being capable of 15 miles these days I can’t comment on the longer Reservoir Jogs routes or pubs but the 5 miler and Wheatsheaf at Tattingstone were excellent.
I’ve run many a time from the pubs around Alton Water so I don’t think I ran anywhere new, but it was an interesting route, despite the plethora of FSD, which took mainly the smaller less well used paths.
I arrived before the appointed time so had a chat and a nice leisurely change of shoes and got my knee support comfortable. Clare did let us go slightly before time. I set off in search of the green house. Left opposite the brightly coloured building onto a track and I came to my only head scratch of the route at a sharp left turn. It could really only be to turn left and it was all plain sailing from there onwards.
Even with all the rain we’ve had lately there was very little mud but I got wet feet from the long grass. Apart from walkers Steve, Rachel and John who I passed at the start, Gary and Lynn who overtook me in the first mile and Phil who passed me before the TP on right (which he missed) I had the run to myself.
It was a surprisingly small turnout for a run in a lovely area on a great day for running and from an excellent pub. I had a pint of 3.1.6 which the landlord assured me was the grade of steel used in the kegs the beer comes in. I looked it up on the Grains website and it is certainly one of the options listed there.
Thanks Clare and John for another excellent event.
A TALE OF TWO TRAILS
As this was a fund raiser for Katia’s art group I wasn’t involved with the organisation so instead had the chance to run. Katia wrote the route description and Howard checked the course.
Knowing how our races start I placed myself near to the exit to be first out the pub. I went on the curve of the G of GO. I couldn’t believe that for 2 minutes 22 seconds I led the event. Donna and Sue, then Ginny and Richard went by. It was well into mile two before Jackie passed me just after the ford.
When I reached the road I came to a drink station for the Hospice run/walk that was taking place at the same time on more or less the same course. I warned the friendly ladies at the drink station that there would be about 70 runners coming who had nothing to do with their event but they assured me they had enough for everyone.
The course followed the river to Paper Mill Lock where I encountered my first arrow on yellow card. Apparently I had missed the one just after crossing the river. Anyone who hasn’t done an Essex Trail Event before must have thought how efficient and kind we were to put out marker arrows and yellow ribbons, that is until the routes diverged one and a half miles from the finish.
Despite the heavy overnight and early morning rain the paths were dry, but the humidity was really over powering. I had started wearing a bright green rain jacket but had to take it off and carry it. When Dean overtook me before the return to the ford he said he thought I was carrying a cabbage. “Crackerjack” I shouted out after him but he just gave me a blank look.
There weren’t too many tales of woe although Keely and Lynn apparently tried to break into a school and the pub proved invisible to one runner. I was reasonably pleased with my shuffle round.
The beer was excellent at the Wheatsheaf although I only tried the “Landlord”, apparently the “Proper Job” was good too. I had four bottles of wine to give to the Admiral McHilly and Chelmer Trail winners who were all conveniently sat at the same table. A barmaid came out and asked if they wanted glasses.
An enjoyable run in surprisingly dry conditions at a new venue for us. I'll let you guess who the winners were.
SOUTHEND SCORCH TO VICTORY
City of Southend won the Essex Way Relay with a record breaking low score of just 12 points. Only Benfleet on stage 5 and last year’s winners Grange Farm & Dunmow on stage 6 stopped a grand slam of ten top spots.
The holders took second place on leg one and like the winners retained their position to the end. Billericay took third after a battle with Benfleet who were in third spot until stage six.
The ladies race was closely fought. On the leg from Epping it was Grange Farm ahead of Southend and Leigh. At Good Easter it was Southend leading from Springfield and Leigh. Southend retained the lead into Little Leighs with Grange Farm bouncing back ahead of Springfield. At this stage just two points separated the top three.
Stage 4 saw Grange Farm slip to third with Springfield now leading Southend by one point. Cressing to Great Tey was pivotal with no change in positions but Springfield took a commanding lead that they held to the finish. While Southend and Grange Farm battled it out all the way their positions remained the same. All these ladies teams made the top 12 overall.
As usual there were some strong vet teams with the top two finishing 4th and 5th overall. On the first leg Leigh took the lead from Springfield and East London Runners. From Chipping Ongar to Good Easter Little Baddow moved into third. These positions remained the same all the way via Little Leighs, Cressing, Great Tey and West Bergholt although the top two had moved significantly ahead of third spot. At West Bergholt Leigh had a 25 point lead over Springfield.
The longest stage of the race, to the madness that is Dedham on a sunny day, saw Leigh’s lead cut by three points and a good run from Harwich briefly raised them to third.
But it was all to swing Springfield’s way on leg 8 with a second place overall bringing them within two points of the leaders. Little Baddow regained third place. A great run from Little Baddow into Ramsey clinched their top three spot and another strong Springfield performance promoted them to the top of the leader board for the first time. It was a good battle to the finish at Harwich but Leigh could not stop Springfield claiming the trophy.
Thanks to all the clubs that make this great day possible.
HOT AND HILLY OR HOT AND FLAT
Another bright sunny day for the Admiral McHilly and Chelmer Trails saw some regulars and a few new faces. When I set out the drink stations for the longer route I couldn’t believe how many people were already out running, cycling and paddle boarding at 7.30 in the morning. The runners were obviously expecting a hot day.
I have run in the woods and hills of Little Baddow more or less weekly (now weakly) for over 40 years and know it like the back of my hand, however, I rarely run down by the river so was a bit surprised last week to find the narrow EP to the wooden bridge over the Chelmer was well overgrown and stinger central. On Saturday morning I went to clear the path which now had a branch laden with sloes blocking it to add to the fun.
We had fun at registration with several people who thought they had entered the Chelmer Trail but in fact had entered the McHilly. We also had a competitor who set off on the Chelmer Trail only to return five minutes later because he had meant to enter the McHilly. Unfortunately for him when he set off with the correct instructions he caught up with a group doing the short and followed them in error. Rule number 3 of trail running never follow anyone especially on events with more than one route.
The runners started to come back and there were only a few tales of wrong turns and lots of compliments on the routes. It was also nice to see everyone enjoying the sunshine and socialising outside afterwards which is a great feature of this sort of event.
The winners Antony and Jackie on the long and Gary and Lynn on the short got round in excellent times.
Many thanks to the Cricket Club for stocking up the bar (apart from lemonade), to Ginny for operating the glass washer, to Jackie and Alan for clearing up the water stations and you lot for being patient at the bar.
TOPPESFIELD TENS
After a very warm and muggy Saturday the weather was much kinder to the runners at the Toppesfield Tens. We set up the gazebo in the garden and enjoyed a balmy morning.
The first runner back still needs to master reading at the same speed as he runs and the last runner back missed a street sign that was ‘Stambourne Green’ long. Everyone else seemed to have little trouble with the instructions including a few newbies.
A swarm of bees was reported by local runner Steve, but luckily the routes avoided them. And the horses on the long route behaved themselves unlike six years ago when we went through. And thanks to you all the pub dog never got loose.
Terry and Shukila kept up their good form with another win in the 10 miler with Phil and Fred first in the shorter run. Polly was first lady.
After some shocking weather at our recent events it was nice to while away the hours in the garden afterwards and let’s hope for more of the same at the Admiral McHilly/Chelmer Trail in two weeks time.
BOCKING TRAIL
A beautiful sunny morning greeted us to Bocking Sports ground. A brand new venue, but with familiar paths.
I was first to start and quite surprised not to be overtaken until well into mile two. Having run the Bocking Five back in the day and many trails in this area, the excellent paths and tracks of the Fennes estate were well known. The ground was firm apart from one notable swamp and the trees provided enough shade from the sun.
I passed a lady out walking who said she never sees anyone on these paths. I told her there was another 50 runners to come and she congratulated me on being so far up the field. I did tell her I’d had a head start.
People started to pass me but only in ones and twos and it encouraged me to keep on shuffling along. Tom flashed past on his way to another victory. Lynn took the honours for the ladies.
Well done to Miles and family for putting on an enjoyable event.
RIDLEY ROUND RUNNERS RAISE RECORD AMOUNT IN THE RAIN
When I woke up it was raining. When I got to the pub it was raining. When we put up the gazebo it was raining. Over 200 had entered and the majority were not put off by the weather (it was raining by the way).
Most people set off in the rain, some in monsoon conditions, and they all came back. There were stories of 16 miles run but the actual distance is just over 14. We did not charge extra for the added mile.
During the week Howard and I had been out checking the course in what my weather app called overcast. It was so overcast that we got soaked. Some of the course had improved from last year, but things such as missing marker posts all have to be changed in the route description. We did not change much until the Butchers Arms where the path on the map was not very pleasant so after negotiating the tangled undergrowth we decided to rewrite that bit. This caught a few people out on the day who weren’t reading their instructions.
Thanks to the pubs who took part. The Green Man was again welcoming, The Walnut Tree remains a true “Marmite” experience. The Leather Bottle enjoyed your company and special mention to The Butchers Arms who provided earlier competitors with towels to dry themselves off. And of course the Compasses who cope admirably with speedy service of food and drink.
We raised £1306.50 for Alzheimer’s Research and when everyone got back it had stopped raining.
WHITHER FROM WETHER
Whither from Wether was a new venture organised by Colin and Lyn from the excellent Wethersfield Club. After having walked the 34 mile Sandstone Trail in the week my knees were not really ready for more punishment, but it had to be done.
A beautiful sunny morning as I set off running across the fields to Finchingfield. All these paths were new to me, but we have used the long Winsey Chase out of the village on our events from Cornish Hall End. However I turned left off the known path onto more new territory back to Great Bardfield.
As I came out on a lane I recognised where I was as Helen wrote a booklet in lockdown “Radwinter to Beeleigh Abbey” which follows footpaths along the rivers Pant and Blackwater. However just as I got to the river I turned right over it onto new territory.
About half a mile later I realised I was back on the known route as we passed the Vine. By now my knees were bad so I was walking. David Reaves then glided by.
The final three miles back to Wethersfield were along Helen’s route so I knew it well and was glad of an excellent pint back at the bar.
Winners on the 8 miler were Terry and Keely. A welcome return to form for Terry. The short route was won by Treena with Eddie the first man.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
I missed Dave’s first L or R trail as I was on holiday and after my performance on this one it is probably just as well. I arrived at the marquee to join the end of a serpent like twisting queue, but didn’t take too long to get registered.
Down to the river and the hurdling began over the myriad fishing poles across the course. At the first L or R decision I chose R and seemingly everyone chose L as a host of runners ran towards me. I missed a FPS so added about 400m and an unnecessary foray through the fishing poles.
At the next choice I again went R and again the majority chose L.
Then back to our metal bridge and the next decision. I was going to go R again this time but Ivan who was just in front of me went that way so I went L for a change. I got back to the metal bridge before Ivan. I read the next line and set off, missing the fact that the next boxed instructions started within about 20m. So without knowing I was on the R choice and looking out for landmarks I had already passed. I should have twigged when so many people (yes they had all chosen L again) were coming towards me.
I finally sussed it out but had lost heart for the fight and after the long run back along the golf course walked the final half mile back to the marquee to register last place if you don’t count a notable DNF and a couple of walkers..
Those that had no trouble with the courses were Mark and Lorraine on the 6 miler and Colin and Toni on the short.
FARMHOUSE FUN
It was another Wednesday evening that turned out much better than the forecast. Not too hot or cold for running or sitting outside a pub.
Due to a car crash at Thaxted it was mayhem when I arrived with locals having to direct diverted traffic which clogged up the lane. Apart from a couple from the other side of Thaxted everyone else arrived OK.
We have run from the Farmhouse Inn several times with good numbers attending but for some reason numbers were down this year and they missed an excellent undulating route with some great views, and as is now customary a bit damp in the last mile.
Well done to Antony on a convincing win with Keeley, first lady, ably abetted by Terry.
We must thank the pub as we didn’t realise due to illness they hadn’t done food at all this year so it was good of them to feed those of us who were hungry. They also look after their beer and the Heresy was excellent.
CHIGNAL FETE
We had concerns about a stile on the course so we arranged to meet at the stile to sort it before the race. Howard had brought a plastic storage box to help prop it up. We got there to find a gap and the rotten wood of the now demolished stile in the hedge. Talking of dodgy stiles, he turned up later.
We took up our usual spot in the corner of the fete field and were afforded a bit of shelter from the wind. But with the lack of sun it was quite chilly. However most of the runners found more than warm enough for running. We were entertained by the Salvation Army band while we waited for the first runners to return. The fishing lake caused some confusion for some and 250 metres wasn’t enough for a couple who followed the road for half a mile.
Father and daughter duo of Paul and Rachel triumphed again after their victory at the Gallop last week and are building up their wine cellar.
Chignal is only a small fete but there were plenty of stalls to enjoy after the run and more than a few runners were seen leaving with plants. The egg throwing competition held me up for a while as I was trying to pay for the vouchers. The winners then attempted a new Chignal St James World Record but the egg smashed into the ground.
Thanks for coming especially those bearing gifts (beer and hot dogs) and hopefully we will be back here next June.
GALLOP - IN DEPTH ANALYSIS
Well the weather gods got it wrong and we had a lovely evening for a trail. A huge entry meant we needed start and finish laptops as people finished before half the field had started.
I wrote the course about four weeks ago when it was a mud bath all the way round, but the river was low and the alternative route was very passable. When Howard checked it on Monday the ground was firmer and the alternative route was completely overgrown and the bridleway!!! was impassable. I rewrote the longer route but it was still horrible.
Between Howard checking on Monday and yesterday morning we had loads of rain and the council put up barriers in the park for an event this weekend.
Yesterday without telling each other, both Howard and I went to check the river and to knock down a few nettles. I looked at the river and thought the flow wasn’t too strong. Howard actually tried to cross in his wellies, but had to take them off as the water was over the top of them. When we met at the pub we decided it was safe enough and as it proved nobody drowned.
It was a very busy hour between 5.30 and 6.30 and then calmed down so all was good from our side of things. Most people seemed very happy to cross the river and there were a lot of smiling faces at the end.
Looking at the results Paul celebrated his birthday with a great run alongside daughter Rachel to take the wine. Nikki was third overall and third lady was Keeley who read the first instruction TsharpR as turn left out of pub. Second man was Thomas who had forgotten about the race, but his big meal just beforehand didn’t seem to slow him down. Third men home were Antony and David.
The main thing that stands out from the results though is that 56% were women and only 44% men. We take great pride in the fact that the ladies feel comfortable coming to our events and long may it continue.
Our next event is the Chignal Fete trail on Saturday 1stJune at noon so why not come along after your park run and enjoy a traditional English fete. Absolutely no river crossings involved, sorry.
NOT THE LONDON MARATHON
A great drying week for all the paths was turned on its head with a deluge of rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning. It was still raining hard when I arrived to find Howard and, always first to arrive, Richard had already erected the gazebo. We went three years without a spot of rain on our gazebo.
I had driven through floods and it still poured down as the first runners set off. Luckily it did ease off for most of the morning. The one stretch of mud mentioned in the final email had become three miles long. The baked field to the greenest trees was now a mud bath, the path by the river was now the river, the nice green path at the five mile point now had lakes in it and you all seemed to love it.
We were dry under the gazebo but it was really chilly. A coffee and a bacon butty helped but I was glad I had my big winter coat on. Howard as usual was in shorts. The first runners came back with watery stories and waterlogged shoes and we were a bit worried that they had seen runners in all the wrong places. If you turn left through a gate not into an enclosed path with no church at the end of it, you are best going back and reading the instructions again rather than just ploughing on.
The winners of course had no (major) navigational problems, and Tom clocked a fantastic time of 51.32, over 12 minutes clear of second runner and winning lady Jackie. In the short run young Sam took the honours with Lorraine the first lady. Sam’s winning time was three seconds slower than Tom’s. Amazing.
Thanks to Hilda for my cake, Jim for the beer, Elaine for my card and everyone else for their best wishes. I can think of warmer, drier ways to spend my birthday. Let’s hope the gazebo stays dry at our next two events the Galleywood Gallop and the Chignal Fete.
NOT THE LONDON MARATHON
On Sunday when most eyes were on a certain road race in London, 50 enlightened souls toured the Coggeshall area on a very attractive route.
Arriving a bit before the start time I was surprised how few cars were in the car park compared to the last race there a few weeks ago. I had driven past Wendy and Snig shivering at a table outside the café so knew they were ready to take entries. Entry on the day is a thing of the past for us as pre entry avoids unnecessary queues but if the queue is not too long it is usually a sociable wait before the off. The queue was two people long when I registered only to overhear the trail race organiser’s nightmare question, “Do I need these instructions?” from one of the two in front of me. He followed it up with “What’s TL?” Luckily he was running with a more experienced trail runner.
I logged in and took off about a minute behind my fellow queuers. I caught and overtook them at line 2. The course weaved through an estate then onto a field edge and gap we had done three weeks ago. However the gap was dry unlike the quagmire it had been. Next field edge was as Ginny’s race but then turned right.
A few field edges, then across the road passing the football club on the long path along the river to the now reopened Nunn’s Bridge over the Blackwater. The bar at the start of the bridge was higher than I had anticipated and I just about held myself back from a head first dive into the waters below.
The course now climbed across fields on baked paths. Rather than baked they were probably blow-dried. At the entrance to Pantling’s Lane (a long enclosed track we have run many times from the Western Arms) my two queue mates came past. I was 12th person to start and several people had overtaken me and I in turn had overtaken several walkers so I was in the current top ten.
The route dropped down to Coggeshall Hamlet and the lovely path through the meadows alongside the river back to the abbey. As I approached the road my two queue mates came past again, having enjoyed Pantling’s Lane so much, they hadn’t turned off at the footbridge.
I’m told quite a few people mentioned Vane Lane to Wendy, but I didn’t incur her wrath.
Another excellent day out in the Essex countryside thanks to Wendy and Snig.
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA
The 21st annual Easter Eggstravaganza Trail Series was run in much dryer conditions than the Met Office had warned, but mud was still in abundance.
I drove to Panfield on Friday with my windscreen wipers alternating between intermittent and full on, but by the time I set off the rain clouds had passed by. My main worry was would I get out of the football field without a tow truck. In fact that was on my mind all the way round and I cursed myself that I had been foolish enough to park there.
The course went towards Rayne (appropriate) so most of it was on well trodden trail territory but Dave found a few new paths on the way back. Adam and Lynn won the five miler with Antony and Jackie triumphing in the ten. The chocolate bunnies were nice and I have had a better pint of Landlord, but my moment of the day was getting off the football field without sliding into anything.
Day 2 at Purleigh was again dry, but I have never encountered such waterlogged fields. Again the course was all well known trail paths and there were some great views from the tops of the hills. Jackie won the five outright with Lynn in second place. Lynn towed Gary to win for the men. It was Antony again in the ten with Nikki (2nd overall) for the ladies. Andy and his team put on a great spread at the finish.
Sunday was forecast to be the best day of the weekend, but it was chuffing freezing. I had checked the course in a downpour on Thursday so stayed in the warm with Howard. Again a race from Felsted should mean lots of known paths but Howard managed at least two stretches I had never done before. Just one distance today and Jackie won by a mere 9 seconds from Antony.
The final day had sold out five weeks ago and the forecast had been for rain. I awoke to blue skies and sunshine. Three runners beat Helen and me to the start. Although very busy all seemed to go smoothly. Antony got his revenge on Jackie who was second overall. The April Fool clipper caught a few out. There were 140 runners 79 women and 61 men. There were 5 women in the top 7.
Over the weekend we had 254 different runners split exactly 50/50 between men and women.
Thanks to all the clubs and venues and to all you lot for making it a great weekend of social running.
Prize List is here. All prizes not claimed from me by The Galleywood Gallop in May will go to Essex Air Ambulance.
WHAT'S A CLIPPER
After lots of rain in the week leading up to the race I woke up to fog, but the sun was beginning to shine as I arrived at the then empty car park. I walked through the nature reserve to put the clipper on the footbridge. Did I need to bother?
We were all set up ready to go and people were already mingling around us. As things got going it was difficult to make yourself heard or hear anyone else and on top of that there was a spotlight shining in my eyes when I turned to my right. To top all that I had a nose bleed.
Within half an hour all was quiet as all 142 runners and walkers had left hopefully with the correctly numbered instructions and we had the wait for the first runner back to confirm the route description worked.
The first returnee was local runner Michael on the short route who confirmed the instructions were fine but he hadn’t clipped at the footbridge. (remember the clipper?). Pleased as we were that the short course was OK, Howard had added a MP to my instructions in the woods on the longer route when he checked it on Friday and we thought a few people might struggle through that section. So it was even better news when Justin was next in having completed the route with the long wood section without too much trouble. He also found the clipper.
Soon people began to return and the place was buzzing with conversation mainly about a clipper. Some thought it would be an old sailing ship conveniently moored in the river, although what that would have to do with the route directions I don’t know. The clipper was placed to stop anyone with local knowledge just running down the main road to the finish, rather than running up to number 95. Now I’ve never seen a bigger house number in my life but it wasn’t big enough to spot by one group of runners who ran straight past it. Other conversations were about the urinals in the gents which some ladies just had to see.
Last year’s winners had a major conversation in the woods as they added an extra mile almost completing a circle back to where they should have been before turning round to reverse their route.
Whatever the trials and tribulations everyone seemed to enjoy the courses and strangely the mud and the chance to have a swing in the woods. One couple enjoyed it so much they went round again.
If this was your first narrative trail event we can’t promise you mud every time but we think you’ll always have fun and plenty to talk about afterwards.
SLIPPING, SLIDING, SPLASHING
The wettest February since records began changed a nice mainly grassy route into a slippery mud slide. High winds also meant we used the term “clamber” for the first time. We also added “splash” to confirm the way.
In such conditions it was a great turnout and there were some remarkable times.
This was our first night venture from this popular pub and the management and staff could not have been more helpful. We will definitely return for more night time shenanigans. We are actually back here on Easter Monday for Day 4 of the Eggstravaganza trail series (only 10 places left).
Well done to Tom and Sarah on mastering the conditions and course and thanks again for coming out on a grim night.
NO AMOUND OF TROUBLE
It was totally different conditions to our last night trail with ice and cold replacing wet and mild.
Although Howard and I were sat in the pub we got frequent icy blasts as runners left and returned through the back door. Nobody banged their head and only one runner tried to leave through the Ladies and no he is no lady.
The night didn’t start well for John and Lorna as they negotiated the new Boreham Interchange roundabout only to find themselves back on the A12. Things only got worse as they missed the correct turn before the mound and ended in a rare DNF. Their confusion wasn’t helped by seeing Neil running towards them and they also distracted Ben who fed up with left turns took an incorrect right to relieve the boredom. The mound also confused a few people who had TL before the FC. (Do what the route description says and all will be well).
Apart from one faller into an icy ditch we heard of no other mishaps and every one was more than pleased to get back inside in the warm.
The race itself was extremely close with the first man being Adam. It wasn’t Eve who came next but another Adam just 4 seconds down. Then first lady Keeley and “Ladies man” Terry were just 34 seconds back. Second lady was Teresa with Sue & Lorraine sharing third spot.
This is such a nice course we are hoping to run it again in the summer.
Entries open at 6pm tonight for our next night trail https://www.entrycentral.com/Dark-Rose