This morning I did my first "race" of 2011, it was the re-scheduled Merthyr Mawr Xmas Pudding Race, it had been cancelled in December due to the snow! The official description from the race website states:
Steve Ovett and JPR Williams are just a few of the legendary athletes who have used the sand dunes at Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend as a base for their training and especially the highest dune, the mother of all sand dunes, the highest in Europe, known to one and all as “The Big Dipper”. Running up it is a harsh challenge just in itself, but the fun continues with an eventual second long climb, off road rough moorland, and several streams towards the finish! Welcome to the Pudding Race, an annual Christmas tradition that draws runners from far and wide to compete in a truly memorable race, guaranteed to test every muscle and sinew in your body!
This was the toughest "short" race I've ever done! With the energy sapping "Big Dipper" sand dune to start you off with, you know it's going to be a tough day! This is then followed up by more dunes, long hills, waterlogged fields, stream & river crossings and more sand running just to finish you off! As you cross the line you get your prize for your hard work, a Xmas pudding! Did I mention at the half point there was the welcome sight of an aid station, the volunteers were calling out what drinks they had available, "water, mulled wine, sherry!". I stuck with the water!
Not sure of my final position (not that important really, but the race was a sell out, 600 participants) but I finished in a time of 44:09, happy with that. A great race and one I will definitely do again. Train smart all!
5 comments:
It was a great event - even if I was 15 minutes further back.
Mr Grok has pointed out that was actually the last race of 2010 really not the first race of 2011!
How far was it? It sounds like miles from the description but at 44 mins over that terrain I'm thinking around 5 miles?
It was 6 miles and 6 of the hardest miles I've ever run!!!
Just over 7 min miling on that terrain ... rather you than me!
Results are in, I managed 28th position out of 429, happy with that! :-)
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