photo Allan
Greenmantle Dash. 02/01/14
Michael G regards this as essential
holiday running and if I have a lift to the race (he generously
provided one) I am inclined to agree. It's a short sharp assault
course and great fun. And although it lasted only about 20 minutes
it's well worth the journey.
We arrived in plenty time to warm up.
This is crucial as you have to jump a wall, a fence and cross a fast
flowing burn. We jogged the length of the village and checked the
obstacles. The wall is low on the ascent side and higher on the
descent. I favoured the two hands on the top and leg over method. For
the fence shortly afterwards similar – a two footed bounce and
commit to a vault over the wire at one of the wooden posts. I have
seen good runners make a pig's ear of this. It can be done cleanly
but if you approach it in a panic with 100 people in stampede mode
directly on your heels, it can spoil your concentration and next
thing you are under the water in the stream being trampled.
Heading into the Swamp
photo Allan
There were a couple of lower bits of
fence where some might aim for this year, but these would be highly
subscribed by the first runners to get there. Good to have a solid
Plan and stick to it. I checked the line across the burn and after
yesterday's full dook under had no problem wading into the shin deep
water. Best get that out the way. So right in and check the line –
look out for a knee deep trench over to the right.
Then back to the car to drop off the
extra layer and along to the start line at the Broughton Brewery.
Brief talk from Dick Wall the organiser, then we were off. I had
found myself on the front line as I wanted to get a decent crack at
the wall before queues formed. This was the case and I was over
almost before I was aware of it. I heard commotion behind and was
glad to be off. Michael hadn't got as good a start and by the time he
hit the wall there were folk either side of him and so he was unable to
swing a leg over sideways had to go more vertically.
off the hill - photo Allan
I vaulted cleanly over the fence at the
chosen spot and sploshed about 4 steps through the fast flowing burn
while again shouts went up as folk made heavy weather of it. Michael
found himself going at the stream from a diagonal and finding the
deep trench stepped deeper than anticipating and hit his head hard on
something. I wondered if it was someone's shoe as it's difficult to
image what was there other than the bank. Could have been that. Mary
says since Michael is an Aries he will run into stuff head first to
try it out. It's not the first time (there was a tree with a low
branch and a near lobotomy, I seem to remember.)
photo Allan
Next up and a swamp. I knew it would be
wet but I thought it would be easier than when you have to run
through the ice. It wasn't. Although Iain Gilmore floated past like
he was running over a grassy field. I seemed to be going up to my
knees with every step. Was I really that much heavier? While he
skipped away I lumbered through at nearly walking pace, my lungs
suddenly greasy paper bags and yesterday's last mile vividly
re-encountered. Then onto some blessed tarmac and a left turn into a
field. Rather than sprint (as if I could) to the bottom of the steep
hill and then expire I paced myself and hunkered down for the vertical
climb. Michael went past. I well-doned him and watched him gain
ground as we got into marching mode and everyone stomped up the steep
grass hands-on-knees sweat pouring out my head. I had been reminded
at Nebbit Hillrace that bare hands slip less on knees rather than
gloved hands so had conceded my gloves. It wasn't that cold. In fact
I was now VERY warm and felt the t-shirt was overkill, I should have
worn a vest or gone bare chested, hell it was warm. Charlotte went
past. This was entirely expected. Last year she ran 18.45 and skelped
many men who quietly raised eyebrows and certainly didn't make sexist
comments. I anticipated being among that number this year although
recently a cough has been stopping consistent training. I heard the
cough following across the swamp and into the hilly field like the
ticking Crocodile in Peter Pan. Then Charlotte went past. However she
didn't disappear and I was able to keep a few yards behind, and
Michael stayed about 30 yards ahead. I wondered how far a lead MG would get
before the top of the hill which you can't really see. (It just goes on forever.) It's just a
case of head down and chug up the hill. It was very steep and very
wet and everyone was slipping as they climbed. The rain came on as we
approached the high point although it was of no consequence compared
to the exquisite agonies we were already enjoying. Michael said his
legs were trashed by the turn around. Mine felt in better shape than
the twice I have done this race previously which I put down to Wintervals and
the cruel Thursday evenings slogging up the crags and the rad road. I
don't think I was much quicker going up but when I turned around I
maybe had something more left in the tank.
Not so pink panther
photo Allan
Of course it is so steep and slippy you
can't just take the brakes off. It didn't take long to catch Michael.
I was almost at the bottom of the hill before overtaking Charlotte
who slipped and fell just before I caught her. As the ground levels
off I put some oomph into it knowing it was just a gallop along the
flat to the finish. With all the obstacles out the way I got a lift
(probably some Red Bull, the remainder of yesterday's fuelling
strategy which I drank this morning, coursing through my viens,) and
I charged at Allan who was taking photos. I closed the distance on
the guy ahead but he was going at a pretty decent pace. As we got
into the semi flooded finishing field he definitely took the foot off
the throttle and began to coast towards the line. Making as little
noise as possible I made a dash for it but he noticed and raised his
game just in time to stay ahead although I reduced him to a kneeling
heaving wreck. He took it with good humour, and we shook hands. That
Red Bull is a competitive tipple.
Charlotte didn't drop any further
places and she arrived shortly with Michael immediately behind. We
all went for a warm down for probably as long as the race had taken.
(I took 19.16 and was 13th or thereabouts.) The weather
was changing dramatically and if I had known it was to be so pretty
and sunny I would have taken a camera. Due to the assault course
nature of the course I didn't carry a camera for the run.
There was excellent soup and free beer
– both very welcome after all that fresh air.
photo Allan
The only disappointment about the day
was the time it took to organise the results. In fact Dick came out
after a long while (it's difficult to know just what exactly
he was doing up until then) and asked the top runners to come forward
and tell him their times and positions. Dick apologised but many folk
couldn't hang around long enough to see the prize giving. I got first
v50 and four bottles of beer. There was no shortage of beers for the
winners, and lots of age group prizes. There was also a kids fun run
and it was great to see everyone who took part get prizes (and a
bottle of beer for their parents).
photo Allan
Dick announced his intention to retire
from the organisation of this race. It would be great to see someone
continue with the race next year – it would make sense if someone
relatively local undertook the job – as it is a classic and a
really great fun event bringing a bit of sunshine to this time of the
year.
Many thanks to Allan Gebbie for the photos.
Full set here
Full set here
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