Rauceby Ripper Race Report

[Hedgehogs123]

Am I allowed to say how proud I feel of myself and my two running pals?? Well, Im going to anyway!! Just look at the photo and see those smiles! 😁. The reason Im so proud is that last year, I had to walk up one of the ploughed fields as it is one of those cruel slowly climbing inclines, but this year, running with two of my best running buddies, I challenged myself to grit my teeth, dig in and RUN up , and run up we did!!! Infact we managed to run most of the way this year. The only place we literally had to walk was just coming out of the woods, as it was absolutely thick deep mud, which was just impossible to run through, well if you wanted to keep both shoes on and stay upright!! 😅

Some of you will be aware Ive had some medical issues over the last few months and still battling with severe anaemia which seems to make everything such hard work particularly with energy levels, so it felt a major achievement. Time wasn't bad, 1hr 35, so I was pleased with that.

This event is really popular, and usually sells out within an hour of the entries being open. Its actually 9 miles rather than 10 (thank goodness! 😁) and is a really fun event, running through the beautiful estate of Rauceby (in Lincolnshire) up and down farmers ploughed fields, through woods and open fields. We were warned about the mud towards the end, so we just laughed when we got to that bit, as there was just no getting away from it. I reckon all my training for the 24hr Welsh 3peaks challenge in May is definately helping stamina☺️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Those smiles say everything Hedgehogs123. You are three absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️! I got so excited I pressed the post button🙄 …so this will be the longest edit in history. You have clearly been through a lot. This run shows just how strong and determined you are …in fact I will use the L word again; Legendary !! Time for a week of serious refuelling and a recovery run at some point I guess. Brilliant 🙂👏👏👏🏆

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Haha that made me laugh again!!😅

Thank you , that is such a lovely reply🤗. We had a recovery run this morning, only 5km but felt ok.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations on completing that Rauceby Ripper race in 1 hour 35 minutes, yes you should be very proud of yourself, not sure which of those two runners is you? 37 or 31?? both look very happy running

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Hi, its 37. I think we were grinning because we knew we only had a mile to go, and the mud to 😁face!

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Wow, brilliant result Hedgehogs123 and such a lovely photo 😁xxx

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Aww thank you 🤗

Well done on yours too!!🥇🥇

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Great photo Hedgehogs123 - and that is amazing considering your recent health issues! You are clearly made of strong stuff! Well done to you and running buddies! 👍🙂🏅

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you so much, sheer determination I think!💪🤗

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Happy , strong and positive So lovely to read.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Week7]

Thank you so much! Im definately determined!! 😁

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I’m in total awe of you Hedgehogs. You and your pals are rockstars. Running in ploughed fields, up hills and in mud? I’d run a mile (in the other direction on the nice flat road!), but not you epic bunch. You dug deep and got the job done.

Huge congratulations ! 💪🏅❤️ 🥳

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Thank you 🤗it certainly is is a challenging event. there were about 25 of us from our running club, but for this race, the three of us decided to run together. I think it was sheer determination that got us round, plus Im a true Capricorn through and through, very stubborn, and it wasn't going to beat me! 😇

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I hear you with being a Capricorn. That’s what I am, and I’m stubborn as a mule! 🫏

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

And me!! 🤣🤣

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I've checked the rules and yes, it's definitely allowed! To run 9 miles in that time is great. To do it with hills is greater. To do it with hills and mud is greaterer. To do it with hills and mud and anaemia is flippin amazing!!! Yes, you're allowed to tell the whole world how proud you are!We're proud of you too 🥰

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you sooooo much, the support on here and my running club buddies is utterly unmeasurable, just so nice! 🤗🤗

[Cmoi Marathon]

Those farmers are extremely kind, glad you enjoyed it Hedgehogs123 !

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Yes they are indeed. They let us run all over their land for this event each year and totally support it. Not sure how long it's been going, I think 2018 was when it first started. Outside of the event, it's pretty strict when you can go on the land, but I can understand why, so atleast the sheep and deer don't get spooked and the woods don't get churned up. It was good training for the peaks though. It's the Welsh 3peaks challenge in May, and the nationals next year, ( if we all get on ok with this trip)I got it a bit mixed up. We've done some peak district training in the dark which has been interesting as it will be early hours if the morning for our last peak climb in May. You've had some interesting runs too I see. Hope you're well.🤗

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Thanks Hedgehogs123 😊 I'm running again: had 9 days off as trashed my back doing YWA.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

oh no, that sounds very painful 😖, but hopefully youre on the road to recovery with being able to run again. I know how frustrating it is with injury🙄

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Great race , great time and those smiles just prove the worth of running. That long slow hill too, and mud, and more mud, so well done you and your running buddies

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you, and apparently on all the pics we are smiling 😁, thats the power of doing things together and spurring each other on!🤗

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Hedgehogs123]

That's really brilliant, on nearly all my pics of my one and only race I was walking with hands on hips scowling 🤣 but I was just happy to get round

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

I think some of the pics may have been a grimace!!😅

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

What a great photo! It could be an advertisement in a running magazine as you all look so happy 🤗

A huge well done to you especially with your current health problems. I’m sure it’s been hard at times but you don’t show it. Instead you just showed your body who’s boss 💪

Good luck with the rest of your training and enjoy it!

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

this one is even better, we were determined to all cross the line together! And yes, my current health issues may be slowing me down but they're not stopping me!

finish line at Rauceby Ripper

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

🥰🥰

[Freecloud Marathon]

Fantastic running! Those smiles are what it's all about.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Freecloud]

Absolutely !😁

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon]

Amazing effort 🙌🏻! Smiling all the way round is what it’s all about. And you can’t fake a good run, it’s always the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication, so double well done! 👏🏻

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

Thank you, running with the other two definately helped as we supported each other. People laugh at us as they say we all have 2 pairs of lungs to be able to talk all the way round!😁

[misswobble Marathon]

oooooh that looks like fun! 😀🏃‍♀️ Well done 👏🏅. Nothing like a bit of cross country to blow the cobwebs off 👍

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to misswobble]

it was great fun, challenging but such a great feeling (more so at the end of course!!) which lasts all day as you will know too😁

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Just look at you!!! How far you have come ... I have watched your progress over the last few years and seen the determination and strength you have shown and still show , in sometimes, very tricky times.

The joy shines from your face... Well done you!!!

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

aww thank you, 🤗Ive definately got the determination that I won't let my health problems beat me. Ive had the odd wobble where I questioned if getting slower was just because Im getting older, but my getting slower just didnt feel right physically so I knew there had to be reason. So, Im still entering races, got my next HM in April and then the big challenge is Welsh 3 Peaks this May, atleast this time we are walking not running like the Yorkshire 3 Peaks last year. 😁