Doynton Hard Half Third Edition

Sunday morning I headed up the M5 in the pouring rain, the Norther I went the colder it got. I left Devon with a balmy 8 degrees and arrived in Doynton just over 90 minutes later in a flipping cold 2 degrees. Two scenarios worry me when driving 1) flooded roads where you can’t make out if the puddle is passable 2) getting stuck in mud. By 10 am I had encountered both stresses and the wet conditions looked set to stay so I knew I would have tackle both again to get home! Aaaahhhhh

This is the third time I have done this Half, (here are the first two accounts 1 2 ) this year they had made it harder, hillier and muddier, oh joy, like I thought that was even possible. This took the pressure off me trying to do a faster time which was just as well really, because in all honesty I had no business doing this event, generally unfitedness (!) and a lingering virus meant it was going to be a struggle. A sensible person would have stayed clear, but what can I say I love this event and was not going to miss out.

Why do I love this run so much, after all there is plenty to hate about it, mud and great big hills mostly?

Mud (DHHM official pic, not me or mine!)

This is how far up the hill I am

This is how far I still have to go!

I love it because in my eyes it represents all that is good in the  ‘running community’………..

• Whats not to love about an event that has an Order of Service
• Amazing organisation, marshals, signage, water stations
• A cake stall, hot drinks, hot food for afterwards
• Runners who don’t take the event too seriously, this guy came prepared with his flotation device!
• Participants who look after each other, I was checked on after I fell and during the water crossings where the water was flowing very fast, I was offered a helping hand as we crossed both helping each other to stay upright
• Designated marshals to push your car out of the mud at the end of the day, so grateful for this!

Despite this being my third time at this event for me there were many firsts

• First time Ive lingered in a portoloo to keep warm and dry a bit longer
• First time I have fallen twice on the same run
• First time I have run with a long sleeve and a rain coat and not felt the need to remove either
• First time wearing a Buff on my ears AND a cap on my head
• First time Garmin seized up (his days might be numbered)
• First time I have taken my wellies to a run to get from car to start (seriously a smart move on my part, Shaz you genius)
• First time I have waded through water so deep that my knickers got wet

Cold!

This man is 6 foot- I am not

Oh my

I had a great trot round the countryside. My time is embarrassingly Sloooooooowwwww but thats fine, next year I hope to be fitter. Edition 4 I can’t wait!