Winter Warrior!!!

On Saturday 31st January I took part in X Runners Winter Warrior and as expected it was freezing!!!

Yes doing a mud run in January in England should be cold but I wasn't expecting the wind to be the worst part of it. As I was driving to Donington Park Race Circuit where the race took place it started sleeting. Once I got there signing all the disclaimer forms in the ice cold wind made me question my sanity for signing up for such events but then I remembered one of the reasons for doing them is for Cancer Research UK - JustGiving.

I started at 11:00, Rob at 11:30 and Jo & friends at 13:00. Rob kindly stepped in and replaced another Jo who is now pregnant but I have a feeling she will be running this next year as pay back by Rob haha.

After the warm up I just wanted to get running to keep warm! The first few obstacles were ok, climbing over tyre walls, running in gravel traps and climbing fencing. The worst part was getting your hands cold for the first time and the icy wind. Around the back of the course there were a few cargo nets with mud and water (all the good things) under them. But once you got up and started running the wind just cut straight through you and it wasn't pleasant especially when you're then trying to climb up and over massive A-frames. The mud trenches were really good fun but Rob did manage to loose his trainer, then find it and then loose a sock in there. Jo had to just crawl on all 4s by her 2nd lap as the course was now just pure mud!

The climbing walls and slides were good fun too and to be fair to the weather the sun did try and come out while I was starting my 2nd lap but it didn't really make much of a difference once you was already freezing.

Apart from the wind the run itself was brilliant, good challenging obstacles, different terrains to run on, and most importantly loads of mud!!! I look forward to running it again next year and jsut hope it's a slightly milder January. Hopefully Jo will be able to join me next year, so she can enjoy the muddy good fun she missed out on this year while growing her little baby.

Post run in my foil blanket and it was needed badly!!!

I have now participated in 2 of 4 X Runner evernts, this and Wild Warrior. I have signed up for Water Wipeout in June and I'm contemplating Wild Mud Run in April if I can find somebody to run with.

If you think this deserves some money for cancer Research UK please visit my JustGiving page and make a donation, every £1 can hep make a huge difference. www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt