Water Wipeout

Run 3 of 3 in 3 weeks. This is the fun one of the three, after a Half Marathon and then a 10k this is a 10k mud run, or should I say water run!

This is my 3rd of the 4 events by X Runner, earlier in the year I ran (froze) doing their Winter Warrior, last September I ran their Wild Warrior, now it's the turn of Water Wipeout! I was looking forward to this until I saw the course and the obstacles. Normally these events don't bother me but when I saw 100m swim, 30m swim, wild rivers - moving water swim, and 30m swim, doing them twice with the two laps made me think why sign up for this? I might enjoy almost everything health and fitness but I'm no swimmer. Being very short sighted from a young age, school swimming lessons weren't enjoyable at all as I couldn't see the other end of the pool so ended up panicking. The only time I enjoy swimming is on holiday with a snorkel and goggles watching the fish but this event doesn't include nice fish, just a Ford Capri.

The course.

I really didn't need to worry about the water obstacles as they weren't anywhere near as scary as first thought, in fact it was a brilliant event! I would happily do it again next year. The rapids were brilliant fun and I wish I had my gopro camera with me to film it. The reason I didn't is I didn't have the float in case I dropped it (currently on ebay buying one).

I was running the event with Rob and Danny, Jo was also running it with some friends in the wave after us. So 4 members of IlsonGlowsticks were at the event which was cool. It was all of our first time running the event and it was Dannys first ever 10km and first obstacle run so a major achievement. His effort levels were amazing for the event even including a funny to watch fall on "boxed in". The three of us stayed together and finished in about 2 hours.

On a personal note I managed to finish 100% of obstacles, technically about 110% as after jumping over some incline walls I saw others struggling so ran back around to help them then jumped back over myself again.

Before the run, all nice and clean.

Obstacle no.33 and no.34, water slide to swim on lap one.

As I've already said the event is brilliant, the course was really well set out with a good mix of obstacles, The water did stink at times but what do you expect jumping into a pond and muddy water. Who cares it was great fun!

Post run  #IlsonGlowsticks we all stink!

Danny did this as his first ever 10k and his first obstacle run, the medal means so much to him but not as much as a donation to Crohn's & Colitis would mean, please visit his JustGiving Page.

Bring on Wild Mud Run in 2016 to finish the 4 XRunner events, but first I think I'm rerunning Winter Warrior with a couple of clients as a Postnatal treat!

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

Wild Warrior

Last Sunday was X Runner's Wild Warrior at Wild Parks Derbyshire. A nice set of 64 obstacles over 10km with water slides, fire, mud pits etc. After the Isle of Wight Challenge it was nice to have a mess about event. Once I got there I bumped into a client who had just finished and was just a tad muddy and didn't smell too good. This meant one thing don't swallow any water on this course!!!

Pre-Run & Post-Run but both happy.

I didn't have any set time I would be happy with as a result for this race as it was the first time I had run it and didn't know how busy course would be or how tricky obstacles would be. 

By the end of lap one I realised I hadn't be overtaken by many people from the start line but knew a few had vanished into the distance too. The first lap was really enjoyable with everything being new and thinking what will be round the next corner. The second lap was more of a let's get to the finish now for a warm bath and shower. The water really did stink and wasn't pleasant at all but the course was brilliant. 

I ended up finishing 109th out of about 1880 which I was happy with but even better out of the wave of just under 300 I finished 4th. 

I think a wash is required!

In fact it was a shower, bath then another shower for myself to become clean again. My clothes had 2 or 3 washes too and the top still isn't fully white. Good job it only has to more races then it can be retired and I can try to get another one next year.

The last big push is on now with two races to go, the biggest being tomorrow for the Robin Hood Half Marathon followed by Men's Health Challenge in a few weeks.

That's now 10 races down, 2 to go for Cancer Research UK in 2014.

Derby 10k - 45 minutes 11 seconds.
Awsworth 5k - 22 minutes 20 seconds.
Hull 10k - 45 minutes 46 seconds.
Wollaton 10k - 44 minutes 53 seconds.
Twin Peaks Midnight Walk - 8k. - 2 hours 37 minutes.
Leeds 10k - 46 minutes 8 seconds.
York 10k - 46 minutes 31 seconds.
Birmingham Color Run 5k - 45 minutes 38 seconds.
Isle of Wight Challenge 56k - 7 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds.
Wild Warrior 10k - 1 hour 18 minutes 42 seconds.
Robin Hood Half Marathon 21k
Men's Health Challenge Nottingham 12k

If you wish to donate please visit www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt