Started off nicely, running along footpaths, across a few styes, but to be honest, nice. That is, until you got to the fields, the fields of the stickiest mud I have seen for a good while.
So you are running along a footpath quite nicely, then you hop over a style, and suddenly you are in a field with not much growing, plenty of mud, and water, and every step accumulates more of the sticky stuff, at least 2 inches of it. I think that about a quarter of the run was across muddy fields, and it seemed like more....
Ok, so I am sitting here after doing it, and feeling smug, but it was tough. I'm more used to doing half Marathon distances on the road, which I thought was hard, but I must say, after running through fields of pure sticky mud, which almost brings you to a standstill, give me the tarmac any day.
All said and done though, when the painful experience was over, and yes organisers, the uphill section at the finish was positively cruel, I loved it.
Yup, I did, and I'll be back for more next year.....I think (if I can forget the fields).
Mark Wilson
