28th June 2014
7:15:28
After the notorious Friday evening traffic on the M25 we arrive at Sydling St Nicholas around 8pm for camping and the first of the banter with the BCRC gang. It was hard not to be distracted by the orange onsie but we did manage to pitch a tent (poor Phil hates camping) and join in with the giant cock jokes and mental preparation for the 10hills we would face tomorrow.
The following morning. No sign of the predicted rain- in fact the sky was looking positively clear and promising. I risked it with just a folded up bin liner in my back pocket as an emergency rain jacket. A quick race briefing in the village and we lined up on the road for the start: the farmers wife and a shotgun! There was a short jog (about half a mile?) before we hit the first hill and preceded our casual run-walk. I had decided to tag along with four of the BCRC girls as this kind of 'race' for me was really only about getting round within the time limit so I'd decided I'd rather have the company and a natter than go out alone.
The (naked) farmer was in his bath at ~3miles, drinking a glass of champagne. He had two other ladies also in baths, so we had a few photos. We saw the chalk giant with his giant *ahem* head and had more photos. It was a very leisurely day. Apart from the bit where we jogged for a whole unbroken 2.5km somewhere in the second half!
The Dorset trail was varied- hard packed, gravel, uneven, cambered, hidden, grassy, soft, narrow, woodland- everything you could image underfoot, but happily 99% mud free, and even that was avoidable. The aid stations were amazing well stocked- cake, sweeties, squash, vodka, cake, jelly beans, biscuits, crisps, cake, hugs and cider! Some of the hills were beasts. But we just walked. It was reasonably hot with thankfully a breeze where it was open enough.
Phil met us at 'the love station' at 20miles and jogged back down with us. We also picked up a girl called Jessica who was suffering with calf/foot cramps and did actually stumble on the final decent into the village.
All the girlies crossed the line arms high to receive our medals, t-shirts and pint glasses.
A fun day out!
Enormous Ice Cream Super Bling
7:15:28
After the notorious Friday evening traffic on the M25 we arrive at Sydling St Nicholas around 8pm for camping and the first of the banter with the BCRC gang. It was hard not to be distracted by the orange onsie but we did manage to pitch a tent (poor Phil hates camping) and join in with the giant cock jokes and mental preparation for the 10hills we would face tomorrow.
The following morning. No sign of the predicted rain- in fact the sky was looking positively clear and promising. I risked it with just a folded up bin liner in my back pocket as an emergency rain jacket. A quick race briefing in the village and we lined up on the road for the start: the farmers wife and a shotgun! There was a short jog (about half a mile?) before we hit the first hill and preceded our casual run-walk. I had decided to tag along with four of the BCRC girls as this kind of 'race' for me was really only about getting round within the time limit so I'd decided I'd rather have the company and a natter than go out alone.
The Start
The (naked) farmer was in his bath at ~3miles, drinking a glass of champagne. He had two other ladies also in baths, so we had a few photos. We saw the chalk giant with his giant *ahem* head and had more photos. It was a very leisurely day. Apart from the bit where we jogged for a whole unbroken 2.5km somewhere in the second half!
Cerne Abbas, the Giant
The Dorset trail was varied- hard packed, gravel, uneven, cambered, hidden, grassy, soft, narrow, woodland- everything you could image underfoot, but happily 99% mud free, and even that was avoidable. The aid stations were amazing well stocked- cake, sweeties, squash, vodka, cake, jelly beans, biscuits, crisps, cake, hugs and cider! Some of the hills were beasts. But we just walked. It was reasonably hot with thankfully a breeze where it was open enough.
Trail
Phil met us at 'the love station' at 20miles and jogged back down with us. We also picked up a girl called Jessica who was suffering with calf/foot cramps and did actually stumble on the final decent into the village.
The Finish
All the girlies crossed the line arms high to receive our medals, t-shirts and pint glasses.
A fun day out!
Enormous Ice Cream Super Bling 