I love Mud Runner. The organisers are My Kind Of People, they get the whole 'ridiculousness' of running through mud, and the marshals are just the best around. When I did RideLondon I saw a LOT of marshals asleep at the side of the road, today they were brilliant - they all encouraged, supported and cheered us round. Particular mention to the young lady marshal at the top of the first grassy hill who was leaping, waving and cheering madly. I asked her how she had such energy (she had been doing this for at least 50 minutes when I passed her) and she happily said 'Three Red Bull and two coffees". I might try that next time...
There was a guy running in a business suit who carried a briefcase the WHOLE way round. When he passed me a fellow runner shouted out 'you'll just catch the 12.48 to Paddington'. And the main word I heard on the way round? "Sorry!" as people slid into each other, cannoned off each other and splashed each other with mud. Soooooo polite!
I loved the 'Red Bull with water' at 6k - I've never tried it before, so halfway through an actual competitive race seemed a good time to start and those adverts are right - it gives you wings! Well, for a bit... I should have drunk more of it!
The swamp stank as much as ever, and HUGE thanks to the marshals who were actually standing in the middle of it hauling people out - I do hope they manage to get rid of the smell at the end of their very long days....
My time was 2:08:26 and I'm thrilled - with minimal running practice, lots of mud and all those hills, I'm delighted!
This is me and Happy Running Dog at the end - she's proudly wearing my medal (which is an improvement on Oblivion when she tried to eat it) although she is giving me a very definite 'phwoar what's that pong' sort of inspection.
I've emptied my running kit into the washing machine. There's a very specific smell about the Eastnor mud - I can't quite (and frankly wouldn't want to) put my finger on it, but it's a very distinctive whiff. I've had a bath, I've scrubbed my feet and I've changed clothes. And I can STILL smell it.
My knees ache, my body aches and my jaw hurts like hell.
Probably because I spent the entire time smiling
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