It wasn’t just the adult runners that got to experience the wet and muddy conditions at the weekend as Honiton Running Club’s Honiton Hippo 10k also had a 2 mile calf run too. SRC junior Amelia Womersley-Westlake was determined to take part despite being 2 years below the age bracket. Luckily the race organisers allowed dad, Grahame, to run alongside her and she thoroughly enjoyed the route down Clapper Lane, through Combe Woods and back up Clapper Lane where they both received a finishers medal. The junior Mighty Green finished in 28:28.
The Mighty Greens
Four out of the seven adult MG’s were experiencing the Hippo for the first time and the ‘helpful’ insights from the other three may not have been appreciated. It is billed as a tough multi terrain race, just over 7 miles with plenty of mud and water to contend with not to mention the very challenging hills!
Donna thigh high in very muddy water
Once through Combe Woods you enter the Land Rover Experience site, and what an experience it is! Stony, rutted ascents and descents with deep muddy stretches-who knows what’s lurking in there.
Happy to see what their feet are treading on!
The return leg was through glorious countryside and just as your shorts had dried out you encounter two river crossings; the second of which some people opted to swim as it was very deep.
The Mighty Greens chose to stay on two feet and use the safety rope and ladder provided as well as a helping hand from one of the many friendly marshals.
Kathy and Alexa embracing the cold
Mark Andow was the first Mighty Green to finish in 47th place in 1:14:27 out of a field of 154. Scott Chown running his first event in a SRC shirt finished with Beccy Johnson in 1:38:22, closely followed by Kathy Jordan and Alexa Baker in 1:39:32 and Clare Luke and Donna Womersley-Westlake in 1:50:43.
A lovely tote bag to finish
Avoiding mud and water SRC’s Jane Hemsworth ran The Toffee Apple Challenge organised by Running Events Devon. The Mighty Green ran the marathon option, her 43rd, and enjoyed the very pretty out and back route along the old Exmouth railway line and finished in 4:32:00!
Jane with her toffee apple and medal
Chairman Terry Bewes also avoided the mud when he ran a recce of the upcoming Otterton reindeer run instead he found himself shoulder high in stinging nettles along the route! There weren’t many body parts that didn’t get stung and needless to say a bit of hedge trimming will take place before December 2nd! To find out how to enter the 10k Reindeer Run and Fun Run please go to www.sidmouthrunningclub.co.uk.
Good job Terry wasn’t wearing his MG shirt!