Puma Hellrunner

Hell Runner http://www.hellrunner.co.uk/hellupnorth.htm

1^st 58:30

I know not everyone approves of me doing this race but I enjoy it and I think everyone needs races like this where there is no pressure and you can just run and enjoy yourself.  Its also a Puma sponsored event so its nice to give a little something back to them as they are so good to me providing me with all of my kit and trainers.  Some of the mud in places makes Sefton Park look like a road race but its still great fun.  Even though the standard is not great I still find it very rewarding and challenging and nowadays most races seemed to be more based around fun runners anyway.  I won the race today quite comfortably so could run it within myself treating at as a Sunday run with warm up and warm down.  The race gets off to a tough start straight up the big hill and from there you head off into the forest itself.  Underfoot it's a mixture of terrain over undulating surface and the only part, which is un-run able, is the bog at the end, which seemed to be deeper and colder than ever this year.  When I came out and ran the last 300m or so to the finish I couldn't feel my legs they where that cold and numb.  They also put a nice treat in half way round with a swamp, which was so deep I thought I was actually going to get stuck.  The marshal there just laughed at me as I struggled through.  What a great job he had laughing at 4000 odd people sinking in the bog.  There's another section on the course called the 'hills of hell', which is quite tough and takes me back to my fell running days.  I'm now left with battered legs and a few scratches, but its well worth it!  

I have found a video of some 'elite' runners approaching the finish and the bog of death from the race yesterday to give you an idea of what it's like.  I will try get some more pics up soon.