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| Very crisp start! |
What: Winter Tanners 20 mile (30 mile version also available).
Where: The Surrey Hills.Started in Leatherhead, progressed to Fetcham, then across to Norbury Hill, then roughly down to Mickleham, then up the side of Box Hill up to Headley, then down the hill to Buckland, off to Betchworth, back up the hill, then back down the Box Hill steps, then along to Denbies, up to Ranmore, back down to Norbury, and back to the start.
How: Running mostly, walking if the hill was horrendous, sliding (obligatory in deep downhill mud) we didn't need to result to crawling but that was always an optional extra.
Terrain: Hilly, muddy, trees to go round, tree roots to negotiate.
Other Runners: Friendly bunch, met up with Martin from Twitter and Nicky (Mrs Events to Live). We met a nice lady Jess running the same pace as us, played cat and mouse for most of the run, ran the last few miles together and got lots of tips for ultra training.
Fuel: Homemade flapjack, peanut butter rolls, jelly babies.
Checkpoints: Two, with squash, tea and coffee on the last one, jaffa cakes, biscuits, bananas, garibaldi and more jelly babies. Just what you need!
Navigation: Route published a week in advance. I laminated the instructions which read something like this: In 75Y, FR to pass small triangle on your L. In 16Y, ahd across concrete drive & tarmac walkway to cont with car park immed beyond hedge on your R. Keep to this BW, soon with field on your R, for 950Y. Pass brick barn on your L & 40Y later, at X-TK, TL. Easy to understand on the sofa, but try reading it, running downhill through mud and deciphering the code-tricky!!
Hills: 2,389 elevation gained! Ouch!
Cost: £6 & free parking.
Livestock: Couple of dogs, huge cows in a field who were very frisky due to loose dog, was actually quite anxious we'd get through alive, several looked like they weren't very happy and about to charge!
Memento: Certificate, no medal or goodybag, this isn't your race if you're after the commercialised bag of goodies that nobody uses!
Rating: 10/10
Revist: We'll be back next year and might try the 30!
Why: Why not!
Bike: Yes, 3mile cool down on return!
Weather: Cold and frosty, sun came out for a while, overcast in the afternoon, drizzle as we finished.
Apologies: For the length of this blog!
Brilliant well done - well proud of both of you xxxxx
ReplyDeletewow. i am very impressed!
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about Winter Tanners - now it's definitely going on my list for next year.
ReplyDeleteWow v impressive! Well done!
ReplyDelete