Well, what can I say about this weekend that hasn’t been said before?
UpTheStanley and I first attended this event in 2019 when someone on HU said places were still available. It is a family friendly event, brilliantly organised by a group of local runners and it is supported by and benefits many charitable groups in the New Forest. Runners can do FM, HM, 10k, 5k, 2k or a woodland doggy walk. We have been going every year since then, apart from the 2 year Covid break
Running buddies on HU liked the sound of a run in this beautiful area that includes a race village on the New Forest Show ground, with entertainment by local bands and food/drink sellers and attendance by local sport shops, Garmin and other sponsors. Campers and campervans are also provided with an exclusive site with excellent showers and a pizza van.
The main topics of conversation over the week before:
Was I going to be able to run 10k after seeing a physiotherapist about a hip/glute/piriformis problem? Or should I run 5k instead?
What was the forecast doing, changing from a cool perfect day the week before, to black clouds and 70% chance of rain?
Should we wear road shoes or trail shoes?
Would UTS be able to defend his first in age group title?
Well I decided I could do 10k if I started steadily with cheekychipmunks and if necessary, I could walk to the end of it.
We had no control over the weather but when it arrived it was huge, 100% rain that soaks you in nano seconds, and sent runners heading for shelter in the tents and gazebos meant for registration, physiotherapy and other concessions. Well once you’re wet, you can’t get much wetter so we eventually emerged. Running jackets and plastic ponchos proved useless in this tropical rainstorm. aliboo70 and Kenny, cheekychipmunks, Mudita11 and Sandie1961 and Shake-and-run (who stayed in campervans until the last moment).
Because our meet up plan was delayed we missed David_G before he was heading for HM warm up, but thankfully Cheeky and I got to give him good luck hugs as he was heading off in his HM wave. A shake of the hand from UTS.
Bags were dropped off and placed under tarpaulin or on a truck depending on running group.
A brilliant warm up routine began, being filmed by drone as we were hilariously doing star jumps and squats. Then cheeky and I started together, negotiating the ankle deep muddy puddles along the route. Although lots of laughter and stuttering as the runners around us went through or around them, sadly we saw someone being carried on a stretcher having had a fall. So glad I opted for trail shoes! At one point an adult member of the cadet force was standing in front of an enormous puddle, saying you don’t want to go through this one.
I left cheeky after around 2k, switched on my Shokz and followed the now familiar route, overtaking and chatting to others. Marshals were cheering us on and leading the various categories of runners in the right direction. We had different colour race numbers for different distances. Then we came to the option of running through a Ford or over a bridge . I chose the latter but laughed loudly as a group of friends took turns running through the knee high water, capturing it on camera. The Danger of Death sign hadn’t put them off. Through the woods I had to pause as a group of ponies with foals crossed our path. They take priority over runners. 🐎 🐎🐎
Loved all the signs along the way. Do No Feed The Marshals or Whine Now, Wine Later.
After the 7.5k water stop I caught a glimpse of a tall slim woman in a red T-shirt about 100m ahead. It was Shakes, who had started with Sandie ahead of us. It took a while to reach her as I was doing a bit of run/walking at this stage. We met in the woods, concentrating on avoiding tree roots, and said hellos as I overtook her, and then she did the same a bit later. Out of the woods we came with more warnings about slippery mud from cheery cadets. We were both stopping and starting along my least favourite part of the course, the sodden polo pitch. Running on grass just takes away all my energy and today felt worse. I managed to catch Shakes again and said “We can do this”. Less than 250m along a lane into the showground and I gave all I had to get to that finish line. The race photos will look awful I know.
We picked up a cup of high5, a T-shirt, a medal, a Garmin buff and a banana from the girl guides . A welcoming committee of HU finishers was there to greet us. And more photos taken by a lady who even lent her T-shirt to Shakes as Mr Shakes had taken hers away.
A minor hiccup as the volunteers couldn’t find UTS’s rucksack, but all resolved when we went back for mine. We then headed for coffee, a lovely donut from Ali, and then managed to take over a damp picnic bench as a family was leaving and the sun started to come out. The entertainment was excellent, with the Portsmouth Batala drummers and local bands. Unfortunately, the wasps then came out to play and we returned back to our rather muddy car park.
Sorry we didn’t get to see David after his run. Phone communication was so difficult there but he let us know that he had got back to his hotel room. Completing an HM in those conditions was amazing.
And no, UTS’s title defence was unsuccessful. He came 3rd in his age group, 4 mins off the pace. There’s always next year……
I came in at a surprising 1:20:13, only 31 seconds slower than last year. Now if I hadn’t stopped for photos, unnecessary water etc……….
The advantage of being sponsored by Garmin- we earned a badge too! Win win.
Hope you’re still awake 😂
x
Heathfield 10k Race Report