The day dawned in a less than bright and clear way, but we all knew in advance that the night before was due for rain. I'm not usually one for giving two hoots about the weather as my work takes me just about everywhere inside and out. If it's raining, I know as I get wet. If it's cold, I feel the need for a coat, etc etc. But when it comes to doing a wild run you have the need to know in advance so you can feel appropriately worried about how hard it will be. A wild run is one that covers various terrain, both man-made and natural obstacles, lots of mud and wet bits and in this case, a lake swim. The cold wind wasn't overly welcome though, and would prove to be one of the hardest things to overcome.
The Wolf Run is known for being muddy. And lots of fun. The run isn't timed, so there's no need to be concerned with finishing in a certain position, beating a P.B. etc unless you really wish to. This means that we could keep going as a team, help each other out and push each other into the muddier bits whilst having a heap of fun and giggles.
We arrived at the farm where the run is held with plenty of time to go, as the registration instructions say that there will be cues and delays. Given that the run is open to 5000 runners, and you all enter through the same field gateway, the cues come as no surprise. Thankfully, our run time was 10.40, and with the first wave setting out at 10.00 we wouldn't be facing the hoards that would arrive later in the day. So once we'd parked up and signed in we had the obligatory group photo, along with our two young mascots. Given how battered my legs ended up, everyone was glad to have chosen trousers over shorts!
Soon after, our wave was called over to the pre-run briefing and warm up session. This is one of the things that helped make the day good fun: knowing that the organisers had enough foresight to think about making us all warm up properly. Although being shouted at by a guy in a warm looking fleece stood on a landy whilst you're traipsing about in lycra isn't huge fun! It does make you feel a little silly doing jumping jacks and running sideways, but you do it knowing that everyone else is going to be doing the same thing soon.
The first obstacle is a tyre run, starting with smaller cars tyres and ending with clambering over big tractor ones! The small tyres are harder than they look, as my size 12's don't fit inside the them, but my weight just holds the edges over and makes going quickly tricky. With our group through the tyres, we were running across open fields and to our first hill. As someone who can be just a smidge competitive, I made sure to get to the top in one go. But there were others running with us who made me look like I was going backwards! Once at the top, the view was good as the sun had come out at last. But that view also included the shrieks coming from our next big obstacle: the first of the water wades.
Once down the hill and through a small wooded area, we were stood at the edge of the pond. Wading in seemed the best bet, so in we jumped. There came a point that every bloke took a sharp intake of breathe on this one. Thankfully, I'm 6'3" so I didn't have it too bad and only ended up belly button deep. Others weren't quite so lucky! From here it up a slippery bank and back to running through another wooded area. Only this time, being tall was a pain with all the low hanging branches. But I managed to escape with both eyes intact!
Next up was more running and then more assault course favourites, the net crawl and muddy ditch. These are a stock option and give everyone a short break as you wait for the track in front of you to clear. This is true of most of the obstacles, with the number of runners involved there can only be so many passing through at any one time. Through the nets, it was back to my more usual haunt of trail running up hills and muddy tracks. As the tracks are on a farm, they're often ridged and full of water. So being me, I go splashing into each and every one with little regard for anyone around me. I figure if they're not already wet then they should be!! Right up to the point where I took a left hook to go past a small group. That puddle went from ankle deep to neck deep in less than the space of one stride. And I went from running to swimming in the same time in perfect Vicar of Dibley style, much to the amusement of everyone else. This was quite a shock as it was bloody freezing!
After I had recovered from my impromptu dip, it was back on up to the top of the hill and a 12ft wall. Having been an Army Cadet, these walls aren't hard to cross. The big person, in this case me, crouches against the wall and gives everyone else a leg up. The last person over then helps me to the top and off we go for more muddy trails. This was the point where my trail shoes were really starting to pay off as Katie, one of the girls in our group, was running alongside me and really struggling for grip. With the tracks being mostly single file, the going wasn't all that quick so I didn't see anyone take a tumble.
The next obstacle was last seen showing off Catherine Zeta-Jones lovely figure in Entrapment. In case you haven't instantly guessed, it was an area with dozens of ropes tied between the trees to jump over, duck under and weave around. It was quickly passed, but I'd guess I heard half the people mention the place being lacking a certain Miss Zeta-Jones, even the girls!
Another water wade was up next, known as the Ash Hole, although I've no idea why. This is a split way water feature, although I think both sides were largely the same. It starts with either a scramble down the bank or in my case a jump in, then another waist deep wade for maybe 50-60 yards before needing knotted ropes to climb back out at the other end for the half way water point. Turns out they'd run out of gin just before we arrived, so we had to settle for plain old water.
At some point we knew there was the renowned lake swim, and as we were past the half way mark it had to be coming up soon. But before then, there was another hill to climb. And at the top of this hill was a set of monkey bars. Nothing tricky there you might think. But several hundred muddy hands had tried the same thing already, and the first set went uphill slightly. Of our group only Felix managed more than 4 rungs, and he went on to make it all the way across! Round the next corner was the sign we had been waiting for: keep left for swim, right to run around.
Our group all went left. One of the other guys had just jumped in and others were stood watching and waiting as there is a 4-5 ft drop into the lake. Feeling more than a little gun-ho, I decided to go for it and bombed in. Despite the big jump and drop in, I only just hit the bottom before surfacing. And if I thought my first swim was cold, this lake was worse! The cold wind was blowing and whilst I enjoy swimming, I've not actually swum in almost 2 years and certainly not in a cold lake. On the bank the 75 yards or so had looked not too much bother. But from two thirds of the way across, the going got hard. The water was sapping everyone's strength, except our triathlete Hannah, and the far bank looked a way off. But we all slowly made our way to the edge and clambered out to try getting some warmth back into our bodies. The best way of doing that is to get moving, and moving means running.
Running was now hard work. The cold had taken it's toll, but the sun coming out from the colds was a welcome sight indeed. A short distance away we could see the top of a tower of some sort. As we got closer, it became obvious that we had arrived at the start of the slide. This is a quite quick way of getting down the hill using a plastic slide and a load of water. This was a massive giggle, and like every childhood slide dream come true! You step up to the edge, leap over and enjoy the ride down!
The next thing to conquer was another obstacle course standard, the cargo net. Ordinarily, these pose no bother as long as you climb them in the right way. Using one vertical rope as a ladder is the best and quickest way up and over. But with wet, cold hands and flagging legs, things get harder. Climbing off the other side, I couldn't feel one half of my right hand for maybe 10 minutes!
This was the last major obstacle until the finishing complex 1.5Km or so away. This is approached from across a large field, and the closer you get the louder the crowd cheers! Round the last bend and having all the kids cheer you on is quite uplifting and made me dig a bit deeper for the last straight. The end of the straight has something known as the Nut Cracker. This is basically a climbing frame with a series of large horizontal logs that can just about be stepped across if you're brave enough. Make a mistake, or slip, and the name becomes painfully apparent! Being tall certainly helps here, as my stride was just about right for hopping the logs. Once over, a series of ditches and ridges is next, with more waist deep cold water. These end at The Wall, which won't take a MENSA level genius to figure out. Climb up the small footholds and rope one side, jump or use the wide steps on the back. Simple enough really. We then gathered our group back up again for the final bit of mud.
The finish line is now in sight, and just the other side of one last cargo net covered ditch. Make it through and the scramble to the top is a slippery climb. Jump into the final water hole and you're done! This was our group facing that last jump:
And one of me and two mates in the last water hole. This is about right for the amount of mud you can expect to come away covered in! Not that I could see a damn thing at this point though.
All in all, our whole group had a damn good time! We all came away caked in mud, wet and cold but grinning and happy. The post run pint certainly went down nicely too, along with a hot pork roll. I would suggest that anyone who likes running of any kind, or has a group of slightly fit mates can do this run. Although it is a 10Km run, you maybe only run 8 km of that, maybe less, and the obstacles break the run up and give plenty of chances to catch your breath.
I loved it so much in fact, that I have now persuaded some of the guys we ran with to do the Winter Wolf Run! Even the run organisers describe it as like the normal run, but wetter, muddier and colder!
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