Run Rabbit Trail Festival – May 11, 2019
Wow! What an event! How much fun was that, not to mention the challenge! For those who are new to trail/off road or to those who have not yet been inspired or to those seasoned runners who are tired and bored of doing the same old road races year after year after year after year (you get the point) – then this weekend is for you!!!
The Wreake Machine (as the marshals nicked named us from the beginning) had no idea what to expect, as this was the first time the event had been done, so we thought what the heck – lets go for it. So myself (Marsha), Karen, Ashley, Ali,Mandy and Lloyd arrived thinking we needed everything including the kitchen sink, as the weather had been unpredictable the last few days. This included a beach chair each, several changes of clothes for all weather, change of shoes and….the gazebo!! Now in all fairness we thought that we would have a central place to set up for the day, but as it had it – NO!!! As the event (described below) was a different route for each race, we had to walk to the new start every time. This meant we did an extra 6 miles plus of walking and that isn’t including the 1.6 mile walk back to the car (which seemed like a marathon itself!)
The whole weekend (if completed) would have been an ultra trail – this started with our event the Trail Mix Challenge – 5k x 5 – on the hour for 5 hours! This was followed by a 10k and then the next morning by a half marathon. If completed the Quest for the Golden Carrot totalling 56.1k would be achieved!
The uniqueness of the event was EVERY ROUTE WAS DIFFERENT!! Whoopee! Just what we love! Off road, scenery, naggery bits (a new word for the dictionary, as made up by Karen, but you all know what it means), forest, grass and hills. Did I say hills?? Oh yeah, forgot to mention the whole event is nothing but hills!!!! Let me put this into perspective – think Broombriggs for 5 hours!!!!! Each race took in 2 laps, which were all different terrain.
Now we thought we would have at least 25 minutes or so in between races to eat, chatter, refuel etc., but as the day wore on our time became less and less, so much so that after race number 4, we had to immediately start walking back up the hill to the next start (which was a mile uphill!).
The first event was the Five Fields 5k– which is was it says on the tin. This was our fastest one, which gave us time to change clothes (hot and it started at 12pm) and get to grips of what the day would bring. The camaraderie was immediately felt with all the 250 competitors, (which for me is the perfect amount) and the support crews, marshals, families – when they cheered the last runner in to rapturous applause. I can add that I have never said or heard so many ‘well done’ in any event for the whole day. Second race was Hollow Spinney 5 k (if I get the order of names wrong sorry); this one was the undulating event, which took in woods. We managed to have a decent rest still. The third was Attrilla 5k, which many of us found challenging as it was in the heat of the day and involved some fields. We swiftly moved onto the forth the Motte and Bailey 5k, which is where we were warned the hills were now getting big! The plus side on this one was the finish was downhill. The last race was a 3 lapper Wood Close 5k, and where the body started to tell you it had been 10 hours since a cup of coffee!!! A very hilly one with lots of rabbit holes (of which I managed to fall into, ankle ok), legs cramps by some and shear exhaustion by us all. However the boys had decided the last one we would all run and finish together (which they took a photo of us holding hands), which we have been awarded with by now being on the official website page!
But we did it and we did it in style! We got a wristband after each one and a lovely medal. The support van carried around water, and other lucozaddy stuff, cliff bars, energy gels and my new favourite the energy jelly cubes (wow they are great and contain caffeine!).
What an accomplishment and fun challenge. We had all run marathons before, but there is something so special about completing trail races, as you don’t do it for time – just for the shear fun and sense of pride when you have done it.
I would not bring such a heavy bag next time, and the less clothing the better!
I will be doing this again next year and maybe go for the Quest for the Golden Carrot. You can camp overnight as well with entertainment provided and breakfast the next day.
This event gets a 10 out of 10 and I recommend it to anyone who wants a challenge and sense of pride in their running. So are you up to the challenge? Will you be joining me in 2020? Do you feel inspired? I hope so!
Marsha
