Mendip Muddle multi-terrain race

The Mendip Muddle is a good off road event. It was originally guessed at 12 miles, in modern money converted to 20km but this year remeasured at 13.1 miles, 21km or half marathon distance. Garmin 305 said more like 20.5 – did I really find that many corners to cut?

Chepstow Harriers as a club did well. It was one of the club championship races which encouraged a good tunrnout. Steve Caldwell and Martin Pengilly did very well – a shame there wasn’t a team prize. As for me it was a real disaster. I recognise that I am very inconsistent – is this physical, psychological or most likely a mix of both. Anyway, the Me that turned up was in a bit of a state. Slow and unsteady. Sue beat me by 17 minutes – and she reckoned she wasn’t running well.

When asked if I had enjoyed the run I tried to mix honesty with positivity – the honest answer – no but that was no criticism of the race – just of the runner. It is a good tough route. The terrain doesn’t allow much easy running – the sort where you just go into a bit of a trance and keep pushing. There were too many rocks, puddles, stiles and undulations to let you settle, but this is part of the event. The countryside is great and it is well organised. Definitely one to add to your calendar. I’ll be back sometime.