Blacklight Run UK

Following on from last years random running events like Wild Warrior, Santa Dash and this years Winter Warrior it was time for the next adventure with clients while helping raise money for Cancer Research UK. Blacklight Run UK at Donington Park on Saturday 28th February was the challenge.

The Blacklight Run is a 5km fun run with neon paint thrown at you. The run taking place at night with black-lights so all the neon glows. Basically a variation on the Color Run at night.

Now we know after a few winters of outdoor training sessions I've got some clients who really don't care about getting wet, muddy, dirty in any way shape or form as long as they can have a laugh. That's sort of important for this type of event because you're going to get mucky.

A brilliant group of about 15 of us all met up picnics ready for a brilliant afternoon and evening. We had our neon clothing at the ready, face paints, and white tops. The rest was just pure carnage!!! Once the picnic had been eaten it was time to get ready, putting on face paints quickly ended up in a paint fight with hand prints all over the place, lots of hugging to mix paints and just a brilliant laugh.

Face paints went wrong!

Once it started to drop dark we went over to the main area for the pre-race party and enjoyed the blacklights and the way we looked. We may have got some funny looks but we didn't care we went for it and had a brilliant time!

Neon Happiness

Once we started the fun run we split into our little groups of joggers, jog/walkers and walkers. We made sure everybody had a friend for the 5km and we all got round the course  to the best of our abilities. It was a brilliant feeling being with the joggers seeing 3 people finish the 5km jogging all the way (apart from paint stations) and the achievement they felt after.

Post Run Mess!!

I do think there are too many running events now all trying to draw in the same target audience and some events will become watered down, or prices will go up as fewer competitors enter but hopefully this is an event that can keep going. We all had a great time and if they had another event in the East Midlands before the end of the year I think we would all jump at the chances to do it again.

Check out my GoPro video below of the post run party. That is just one of five videos made from the event. If you enjoy running, enjoy mucky fun, and want to do a 5km fun with with a difference I would recommend this straight away.

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