Saturday, February 27, 2010

 

The Belvoir Challenge- Event Report

Now the Belvoir Challenge is usually renowned for being extremely wet and muddy underfoot... usually... and this year was certainly no exception!! Can't believe that I haven't done this one since 2007. It is quite high in my affections, being the very first LDWA event I ever did, way back in 1996 (interestingly enough, I don't think I have ever bettered the time I did it in then). It is also the only 26 mile event I had to pull out of in 2004- I was near my top weight and not very fit. I lost quite a lot of time in a horrendous queue for a stile and ended up at the back of the field- the routes split a lot later that year and everyone around me disappeared down the 15 mile route, leaving me completely alone. I limped along at the rear and finally had had enough at 21 1/2 miles- it was dark and snowing and I gave up at the last checkpoint.

I haven't done a 26 miler like that for some time so was slightly apprehensive about today... especially seeing how much rain we had this week!

It only took me about 25 minutes to drive to Harby so I got quite a central parking space. Registration and the finish point were at the Village Hall this year, rather than the school (the event is run to raise funds for Harby Primary School). It was quite manic when I got there- there are around 1,200 people doing either the 26 or 16 mile route, and this year was rather special, being the 20th Belvoir Challenge. Apparently 74 people did the first ever one!

They did have portaloos this year, I think they have learnt from previous years. I had my usual cuppa and banana before wandering to the start line at the school further along the road. We don't get a route description for this one, they always mark the routes with ribbons of red and white tape- I suspect this is because they get special permission to go through the grounds of the Belvoir Estate so don't want people walking it again or recciing it.

The route changes each year- this year I noticed that the long and short routes stay together for the first few miles, so positioned myself very carefully at the start- not too near the front to piss off the runners, but ahead of the mass of 16 mile walkers in case of stiles!

 
The Start- With The School

9 o'clock came and we were let loose on the unsuspecting village. It wasn't too long before we hit the first muddy track- Belvoir mud is quite unique- it is clay, so extremely sticky and slippery at the same time! I had chosen to wear my old running shoes and resigned to getting absolutely caked.

Luckily, there followed good tracks and no stiles- think they must have learnt from previous years on this too!

 
Loads Of Brightly Attired Runners In The Distance

It started to drizzle, which carried on for much of the day apart from a few dry (and sunny once) intervals. Shortly after this shot the two routes split and we had a steep muddy scramble up the escarpment in the distance before following lovely muddy fields to the first checkpoint at Scalford.

There are always loads of cakes on offer, baked by volunteers who must have been at it all week. The flapjack was to die for!!

 
Unusually Dry Fields

We had a brief respite, walking through fields and alongside some gallops on a thankfully dry path. All that was to end though... I noticed the people in front of me heading up a track and my heart sank as I recognised it from the Ponton Plod route. It is notoriously rutted and difficult, and today it was gluttinously slimey and slippery too! I am really not good in mud and everybody always comes past me as I slither about on the spot.

The path along the field edges to Croxton Kerrial was slippy too, I was passed by a lady striding along like she was on tarmac, advising me to 'keep high and walk on the grass'. Eventually I reached Croxton Kerrial- the half way point with coffee, sandwiches (the only veggie ones being jam unfortunately) and cold pizza. There were a fair few there- I heard one chap tell his friend that the route had been changed from here on, but looking at it now it wasn't. One of the helpers said that last year's event had been the driest one ever- there was hardly any mud and everyone finished much faster than usual! I said that it just wouldn't be the same without the mud...

As we left the village, we followed the Ponton Plod route for a while- along more really muddy, slippy paths. It was a relief to reach relatively dry fields;

 
Fields Near Harston 
We had a bit of road walking after Harston, and I guessed they were going to take us down Sewstern Lane, which was correct. Sewstern Lane should be lovely but unfortunately isn't. It's used by off roaders and motor cyclists, so is rutted as well as slippy. I even came across a burnt out car on it a few years ago. Following this, we had a quite steep, grassy descent to Woolsthorpe, with good views of Belvoir Castle;
  Belvoir Castle

There was another checkpoint here, with more yummy flapjack (not that I'm food obsessed or anything...) After this we had a long pull up to the castle.

 

After a bit of road walking, we dropped down a mostly good track, which turned out to be slightly demoralising as it went on for ages- you could see walkers who were just a tiny speck miles ahead.

    The Never Ending Track

The track eventually turned uphill into the woods and became muddy (no surprise there!) We had quite a long climb before dropping down through the woods to the last checkpoint- it was in the middle of nowhere but they had a caravan and were offering coffee! One of the volunteers drove up and told the folks manning the checkpoint that the last walkers had just left the Woolsthorpe checkpoint. They were calculating how long it might take them to reach this one, reckoning on them doing 4 miles per hour, which I thought was a bit of wishful thinking as I hadn't been doing that and had had a few little jogs, plus the mud would slow them down and they would be getting tired.

I left the checkpoint behind two other walkers, and was frustrated to find that we had to follow another muddy, slidy path for a considerable distance through the woods. Eventually this became a slightly easier muddy track. I had stones in my shoes which were hurting so had to remove my shoes which was a very filthy operation, with me trying to work out how to undo my laces without actually touching them!  (If anyone works this out let me know).

We came across a stile and footpath sign leading away from the track, which had lots of red and white tape around it and more tape in the field beyond. People were having a bit of a conflab- some thought it was straight on and others were in the field looking for more tape. I walked down the field a bit but couldn't see any more tape, so we all went straight down the track. It was a relief to see more red and white tape confirming our decision, obviously it had been somebody's idea of a highly unfunny joke!

We passed through Stathern and back into fields;
 
Glad This Wasn't Our Path!

Of course, they turned out to be very muddy fields! Was I really expecting anything else!?! I was hoping for a sub 9 hour finish, as I had done it in 10 hours 11 minutes in 2005, 8 hours 59 minutes in 2006, and 9 hours 10 minutes in 2007.

There were quite a few people around me, and we turned on to a depressingly slippery path, so of course they all passed me which was quite frustrating as I felt quite strong and would have been striding out had it been a good path (maybe my secret weapon of 2 nurofen at the half way point had more to do with this than my fitness!!) It started to rain heavier, and was just starting to get dark but I knew I would finish in daylight which is a plus (although I did have my head torch on me this year!).

Eventually we reached the village, and I managed to put a bit of a spurt on, passing folks and running to the end- my time was 8 hours 26 minutes which I am delighted with- I know the route changes each year but it was certainly no easier than previous years!

I had some cold bread and butter pudding with cold custard, which went down well. I actually had the foresight to take a change of clothing- talk about caked!! I think I will tackle my shoes tomorrow...

After a long hot soak in the bath I am feeling human again, damage is one blister on my right foot and slightly aching legs, so I'm well chuffed with today's result.

Labels:


# posted by Steph Cooke @ 9:44 PM
Comments:
Well done!
# posted by Anonymous AndrewM : 2:31 PM
 
Congratulations.

The couple from my running club did it around 6:40 ish, but your time was very good considering lack of training etc etc.

Unfortunately events conspired against me (See the RB or Glassback blog), and I had to settle for 14 miles around Ironbridge.

However, it has left me feeling more confident for Grindleford and Charnwood.
# posted by Anonymous Miserable Bleeder : 9:26 PM
 
Thanks Andrew and MB- I was quite pleased as my time was a lot better than previous years.

MB- I am sure you will be well on form for Grindleford. May see you there!
# posted by Blogger Steph Cooke : 10:09 PM
 
Hi Steph

Great to hear from you, Hope you get this message as I do not have your email. by the way mine is kobus@kobus.eu

Yes its almost there an I CANT WAIT :)

Preperation.....well shall we say as regular as my blog updates :)
# posted by Blogger Kobus Cilliers : 8:29 AM
 
Hi Steph
Please excuse me for being cheeky but Nottinghamshire Hospice, are looking for people to run on our behalf in the Robin Hood Festival of Running, Sept 12th 2010. We will pay your entrance fee in return for you raising sponsorship. The free service that the hospice offers means alot to alot of people. If you would like to know more visit http://www.nottshospice.org/supportingus/RobinHoodMarathon
Best Regards Caroline Clarkson
Nottinghamshire Hospice Website Manager
# posted by Blogger Bramley House : 10:13 PM
 
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