Almost worth it for the goody bag alone 😀

[AnnieW55]

I'm usually a lone runner and don't enter many races. I thought I last did the Ratrace Clumber Park run in 2014 - it was actually 2013! How time flies. Unfortunately my time didn't, I was slower this year, although it was not the exact same course and it was a lot warmer. The warm up was done by British Military Fitness and after that I needed a sit down, a heart attack felt close!

Have to say it was well organised. We set off, on time, in waves. I was the last one setting off in our wave (5) and only had crowding for a few metres in the first half km where the trail narrowed as it went down hill and ended with us going over or round a log.

There were water stations on the route and plastic cups were used but as it was a trail run it was ok. Not wanting to waste what was in the cup after a couple of sips I poured it over me!

The trail was through Clumber Park/Sherwood Forest and was lovely and soft in places. From what I can remember I don't think there were too many metres on road-type surfaces. Although some areas were rutted and we seemed to be running in tracks made by vehicles. Robin Hood was at home, didn't see him but we went along a stretch of forest where 'elf safety' had been as there was tape and notices saying not to cross because archery was taking place. The sting in the tail was the not one but two hilly slopes to the finish, one, in retrospect, a short sharp path and the second a longer sloping upwards run across knarly grass towards the finish. Take off the timing chip, pick up the goody bag and head for the massage tent where there was only a 10minute wait - result!

Wind down with a week of walking/cycling for Virtual Runnings Run The World. Two weeks running in France and then starting to train properly for a half at Halloween at Worksop - another highly recommended run.

Sorry, don't know why photo is upside down. Managed to get my uninterested 17yr old cat in too!

[poppypug Graduate10]

Fab report , sounds like a really good event and look at all those goodies ! Theres even a cat in there

Well done Annie, that sounds a tough one . Fantastic effort ! Oh yes Ive seen one of those BMF workouts, they're mad aren't they ?

Great post , loved it , and your tags are fab ! Ha ha xxx

[Noaky12 Graduate10]

Well done. Sounds like a tough but rewarding one. Great run report. x

[AnnieW55 in reply to Noaky12]

Heat, me and running do not go together - so I found stretches quite tough. Not so sure others did though!

Forgot to mention that there had been an HM run earlier in the day too.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Well done...cats are very hard to impress, but I think that's a fantastic goody bag!🙂

[AnnieW55]

Thanks. There are a few things in it I look forward to trying - don't know how I've not scoffed all the edible bits yet. Also included is a throat spray that is supposed to shorten, alleviate colds - and there's enough for three of them!

Yes, I don't suppose she got to 17 by expending energy she doesn't need too 😀

[goonkeepgoing Graduate10]

Well done - sounds fab ☺Clumber park is beautiful. I'm also doing Run The World whilst I'm on my hols. Good luck with yours ☺

[AnnieW55 in reply to goonkeepgoing]

Thanks. It was lovely today. There were lots of walkers and families on bikes but it didn't interfere with the runners - as I said it was very well organised. We even watched a bit of cricket after the event.

Good luck with run the world - another nice piece of bling!

[misswobble Graduate10]

Well done!!!!! A lass at jog club was entering that one. That goody bag is filled with brill stuff! Quality!! I like those Popchips! The company is part-owned by Jillian Michaels apparently. I could snaffle some o them right now! Bling too! Done two races recently and not one bit of bling! Sigh

I drink that Vita coconut water on races now. I reckon it keeps your legs turning over when it gets hard work and your energy levels begin to flag

I've done Worksop! I think I'm doing Chesterfield thought this time. Can't do them both as they're really close together. Well, they are for me.

What's the pink thing? Is it a buff or something ?

[AnnieW55 in reply to misswobble]

Yes, it's a buff. At sign-on the tee was handed out and I almost walked past the guys handing buffs out as I wasn't expecting it. There was a choice of colours too - decided on pink to match/clash with my running face.

I did Chesterfield in 2014 and 'enjoyed' it even though I had cramp in both calves just past La Casa (round the corner was the end)and was on my back, in the road, with my legs in the air being massaged by a sports physio who happened to be watching 😀 Otherwise I would have been crawling the last few hundred metres.

Last year I did Worksop, doing that one again as I really liked that one and entry is cheaper. As you say they are a bit close together to do both.

Pop chips snuffled while I waited for my massage, pic is the empty packet 😗. I don't usually do crisps but I'll certainly give those another go.

[AnnieW55]

As I said organisation was great. The TOILET situation was really good. Didn't see mahoosive queues for the portaloos and there were tables with hand sanitizer so available (not sure if that's regular practice but I've not noticed before) and there were proper ones available a couple of hundred yards away in the courtyard with no queues.

There was also loads of free water available to everyone all the time in the village area.

[Hidden]

That looks a great haul for a fab run 😊 have been to clumber once seem to remember it is very scenic ☺

[AnnieW55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Rob. Yep, great haul and lovely run albeit undulating. Good thing was, the very long incline near-ish to the beginning was also part of the return so a nice long decline before the final push (see original post) at the end.

Goody bag being demolished this morning 😀

[misswobble Graduate10]

Great stuff! That buff looks fab. What a great haul. I know we don't run for stuff but you must be well chuffed 😊

I thought I might run town half as it requires no travel. I can walk to the start ☺

They say once you can see the finish line your brain tells your body you've finished so your legs stop. Best avoid looking for the finish line. I had a job finding mine the other day cos it was a scruffy line drawn with a stone 😀

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate10]

Sounds like a good race. 10 min wait for a massage is brilliant!

[AnnieW55 in reply to boptillyoudrop49]

It was. I'm no expert as I haven't done many but everything worked and I was impressed. Even picked up a subscription to Runners World that included a free camelback. Should come in handy over the summer while HM training.

[misswobble Graduate10]

Oh I forgot to ask, have you seen the home page on the ratrace Web site, that female sheffield run club runner in that fab skort? I love it! Fancy one of those. It's Salomon labs sense one and I tracked it down to a shop online for £40 ish. I am about twice her age but still 😃

[AnnieW55 in reply to misswobble]

I hadn't until you mentioned it. Just had a quick look on t'internet too and there are some nice ones around - at nice prices! A bit rich for my blood. Same as you a bit longer in the tooth than her but I like the style. Much prefer it to those that are skirts at the front but still shorts at the back! Reminds me of those skirts people used to wear in the 70's when not brave enough to wear hot pants on their oen (I didn't wear either - too podgy) 😳

[misswobble Graduate10]

I had a fab hot pants suit 😁