The pre-race communication and organisation was spot on, simplifying everything on the day by making you feel very well informed.
Two weeks before the event I received my race pack which included my timing chip, and race number, so there was no need for me tp register on race day. This made the arrival stress-free and allowed us to wander around bits of the course and have plenty of time to warm up (which was a necessity on such a cold day!)
There were also plenty of toilets making this the first event I have ever been too were there were no queues, especially just before the event start.
The logistics of the start of this event are quite unique. There are two races you can enter, either on the Saturday or the Sunday and the unique part is that there is only one wave time, something I had never experienced before at this type of race, or in fact any other running race.
This filled me some anxiety as I usually hate the start of races anyway when they are crowded and congested; the terrain of a mud race is difficult to negotiate anyway, without having to think or worry about getting knocked over on top of that!
Due to the wide nature of the course and a fairly gradual incline at the start of the course, there wasn’t really a major problem with congestion. However, it did still involve dodging around people to get into your stride.
The course also offered a couple of water stations which I did not expect on an eight mile course. I think most people used the water to try and wash the mud off their hands (cheaters!).
Would I do it again?
This is a great event, both well established and organised, and one which a runner of any ability could come back to year on year. There is a marathon-type vibe with a huge number of participants racing in fancy dress, as well as some keen runners taking part. This makes it ideal for beginners to have fun with their mates by entering a team, or for keen runners to get a good quick time on a fast but tough off-road race with the added variety of some puddles to contest with.
Good Points
- Excellent organisation both before and during the race
- No on the day registration, which freed up time to explore the course and warm up
- Plentiful supply of toilets
- The event finish was well located and had a fairly large crowd around it. There was a great vibe there with the announcer congratulating everyone on finishing using their names which was a great personal touch
- Good showers and changing areas for after the event
Bad Points
- The one wave time meant that you had the added obstacle of negotiating other participants at for the first 5-10 minutes
- Some of the obstacles seemed a bit pointless, especially the cargo net which was partially hidden under the mud and not clearly signposted
More info: www.grimchallenge.co.uk
Clarissa Goodwin, Sportsister The Women’s Sports Magazine
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