It is increasingly difficult to find times that all eight of our running group can get out on a run together. So, when we managed to arrange a run for Sunday it was set in stone. It has been quite a few weeks since we were all able to make it so none of us wanted to miss it.
We generally go for quite a long run through the fields and woods and sometimes try new footpaths if they look like they will take us somewhere new.
We all met up at our usual place and have got the timing almost perfect so we all arrive almost at the same time so our walk there serves as our warm up.
Down the road we went and then into the field along the footpath. The ground was quite slippery in places and a lot of puddles in the field. Quite a change since we came this way last time. As we started going down a slope, the ground started to feel a bit squelchy and I could feel water being kicked up as we ran. I love running through the woods and fields but must admit I am not a great fan of mud. As we reached the woods, the footpath joins the bridle path and to my horror it was just wet sludge. Normally when it has rained, the centre is muddy but I can usually get along the edges. It looks like some vehicles have been along it and there we no edges, just mud.
Now I am not alone in my dislike of the stuff, but we are in the minority so the others just ploughed straight in. After taking a bit of stick for stopping we decided to go for it, in a more delicate way. That turned out to be the wrong approach as the runner in front of me got her back foot stuck and her front foot slipped. SPAT! Face down in the mud. Unfortunately, I tuned so that I did not run on top of her, slipped and fell sideways but landed on my backside. This was evidently the funniest thing anyone else had ever seen as each of the others turned to see the spectacle. All I could her was laughter.
There was no way I could get up without putting my hands down, so they got covered too. Once up, to say I felt uncomfortable was an understatement, but when my friend was up and turned round, I could see she had come off a lot worse, mud right up to her chin.
There was no point in trying to keep clean now, so we just went for it. Mud flinging up everywhere. By the time we exited the woods, it was hard to tell which of us had fallen over, and which were just hit by flying mud.
Back onto a footpath through a field and we were getting looks from other runners, ramblers and dog walkers. I think they were having second thoughts on going the direction we had just come from.
We normally stop running and do some stretching together, but with mud in unmentionable places, that felt a bit uncomfortable, so we just said our goodbyes and headed home.
My husband found it equally as funny when he saw me and went back in to open the side gate. I had to strip off in the conservatory as I don’t think any amount of towels on the floor would have kept the carpet clean.
I rinsed my clothes in a bucket before putting them in the machine and was not surprised by the amount of sludge at the bottom when I poured the water away.
I must admit, that once I was muddy and basically gave up caring, it was fun. I am not saying I would choose to do that again but it was not as bad as I would have thought.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
