MUDRUNNER OBLIVION "Dirty Weekend" 2012

It’s Monday lunchtime as I sit at my desk; chomping on a sirloin steak drizzled with England’s finest mustard, lovingly nestled next to two fried eggs, easy over.  A protein overdose to repair my poorly calve muscles that were battered yesterday like a Whitby Cod in a deep fat fryer.

Mudrunner Oblivion is the cause for such drastic repair. A fearsome 10k in the amazing grounds of Eastnor Castle.  An event cancelled earlier in the year due to horrendous rain and storm force winds which was of course the correct call (despite a 3 ½ hour journey and sleepless overnight in the camper with billy big drops doing a tap dance on my hot tin roof!).  Rain, who cares, that’s why it’s mud runner right? but getting killed by fallen branches and re-naming it “Log Flume Death” is probably not the best marketing strategy and certainly not the best way to get repeat customers given that you’ve just killed a couple with a ten ton Oak. We move on….

Fair play to Mudrunner, they re-scheduled the event and instead of just being the one day Sunday free-for-all, you could do the race on Saturday or Sunday or take part in the “Filthy Weekend” and do both days all for the same price! Free camping in the deer park, camp fire Saturday night and a band (well solo artist) banging out classic tunes like Wonderwall, bit of Ed Sheran, Green Day, James. Cold Play, Travis etc. The dude was good!!  An inspired decision, almost festival like atmosphere and with kids (the junior Mudrunners),  having a great time too playing footie in the fields. My dog, among many others enjoying running around like a complete fruit loop that she is. Bang on the money!

Pumped and ready to smash it

So the event: Junior Oblivion, about 300 kids aged I guess from about 8 to about 14 dressed in spandex and donning free temporary tattoos on their arms, legs and face with slogans such us “Dirty Boy” , “ No Stopping” , “ Boom” were set for a 5K race. A few parents joined their kids. Of course I’m there with my boy to set the pace, push him on and most of all to be fair, have fun in some mud with my lad. It was awesome, the first 1k all uphill then into the mud, mud, mud, more mud, a few obstacles, more mud, water, mud, muddy water, cargo net, mud, wall climb, more muddy water, mud, hill, finish, …..and finally, the much anticipated, and appreciated …Tub Of Love (A large wood fire heated sponge filled outdoor bath).

Celebrating in the Tub Of Love

 A review from my boy “That was just awesome, so much better than I thought it would be….I wanna go again!!!! (Huge muddy smile on his face)”

Done, Junior Mudrunner medal display!

So, I escorted my off-spring back to the camper, threw him a towel, grabbed the wife and headed back to the start line for Mud Runner Oblivion Adult. 10K, same drill just bigger obstacles, bigger lakes, bigger hills and oh boy bigger mud swamps!

The Hill Start (Junior and Adult)

About 1,100 nutters start going up the huge hill. Staggered starts, 200 at a time five minutes between each wave. After the hill it’s into the forest for 8k non-stop undulating MUD! Thin mud, thick mud, clogging mud, dark mud, light mud, smelly mud, liquid mud and mud that was more like a parasite that just stuck to your hands and feet so you couldn’t make out the shape of your body parts.  At times you cross obstacles, not tough one’s but when you’re on your hands and knees in 12 inches of black/brown smelly s**t and can’t move….it’s tough…it’s cramp inducing and it’s just simply brilliant dirty fun.

At times the paths were very narrow and you get caught behind the walkers/resters, at times the muddy hills are so steep you slip up and slide down and at times the endless puddles of glupe just seem to go on, slowly chipping away at your calve muscles. Logs in water to jump over or dive under in my case, rope climb up a muddy steep bank, monkey bars with muddy hands  #impossible. You finish wading through two chest height lakes and over the 8ft timber wall with a race uphill to the finish and of course…the Tub of Love J

Goodie bag: Mars bar, crappy wooden block medal, decent T-shirt (all sizes), red-bull, water and a car sticker.

Overall: Brilliant event!!

Rating out of 10 = 8.5

Plus points: Brilliant organisation, enthusiastic marshals, brilliant course, exceptional value for money…..and oh sooooo much filthy mud!

Minus Points: Catering not too great (bring a picnic), Portaloos on camp as per norm stunk (bring some bog roll), bit too far from my house (no I’m not going to move).

Would I go again: Absolutely nailed on event for 2013…I’m there with wifey and son.

Note: I was fortunate to experience the “Filthy Weekend” after some very heavy rain and flooding. Next year it may not be so muddy and I believe it’s going back to the one day. I’ve asked them to make a whole weekend cos I just  love being damn filthy!!

Smally