Ask any one of the 20 Sidmouth running club members who ran the Blackdown Beast on Saturday what they came away with, they would all reply MUD!
Smug in the knowledge that the event, organised by Honiton Running Club, fell into a perfect weather window, they hadn’t fully appreciated the extent of the mud. The route had it all, sticky, stodgy mud; slippery, slimy mud; mud that sucked you in and mud of dubious origins!
Always a fresh start from Dunkeswell airport, there was still frost on the ground and ice on the puddles when the 180+ runners set off on the self-navigating course. Sarah Watkins got caught up with the ‘Swifties’ at the front of the second wave and the look of horror on her face when she realised a mile in caused much amusement to her 17 mile running buddies Clare Luke and Carol Hounsell who were running at a steadier pace behind her.
There is a knack to spot white drawing pins on gates, stiles and finger posts and Alexa Baker surpassed herself this year leading her run buddies, Kerry Salter and Beccy Johnson astray before mile two. Fortunately, a dash through a hedge got them back on track and there were no more mishaps on their 10 mile challenge.
Instinct takes over especially as mile seven approaches and your tummy rumbles in anticipation of a hot pasty and warm mulled cider which is waiting for you at Smeatharpe village hall. This was a very welcome pit stop for first time beastie Ann Cole as the cider hit the spot and recharged her batteries for the final three miles (just a park run!) to her finish point at The Sidmouth Arms. The four MG’s hopped on the minibus provided to take them back to the airport.
Arriving at the airport at same time having run the 17 mile route were Mighty Greens Louise Dalton, Becky Knapman, Richard King, Amanda Stokes and Janice Ransom. This was great going especially as they had enjoyed a pit stop at The Sidmouth Arms too.
Helen Palmer and Cath Miller paired up to run the full course with Cath saying they had to ‘mud-ify’ their expectations on how long it would take but they had a ‘muddy’ good run!
The juniors were also enjoying the mud, with Emily Smith and Amelia Womersley Westlake joining four senior SRC’s at Greendale park run and Eleanor and Marcus Wieffer joining two senior SRC’s at Cranbrook.ords words words words words….