By Simon
Something a bit different this one. It’s a full weekend of trail running which you have the option of doing the whole lot “The Quest” or one of three parts comprising: Trail Mix Challenge: 5 * 5k different routes starting every hour from 11:00 Saturday, 10k Twilight trail run – Saturday and Half Marathon Trail run – Sunday. Flying the Wreake flag this weekend with me were Lyndsey, Pete Lang and Fiona Bates who were all signed up for the Trail Mix Challenge. Michele Lattimore then picked up the baton running the 10k and returned for the half marathon the next day. I liked the concept of a 5k on the hour every hour as a sort of endurance test and thought its only 15 miles total, how hard can it be…The answer – very hard! The surroundings are beautiful all within a farm near Market Harborough (Marston Lodge). They don’t share the exact routes for each 5k in advance but basically they get progressively more hilly.
It’s really well organised. Each route started and finished outside the Hutch which was a barn where you could safely leave food, drinks and change of clothes etc. Registration was simple you get an ankle tag which is your chip and off you go. The first 5k measured short and was fairly flat – happy days we all thought with plenty of time to relax and chat before the next one. There’s a briefing 5 mins before each route which is nice – not that you can remember the route all I recall is head into a field and then up a hill and a lap of another field. Anyway, from route 2 it started getting tougher and carried on to the point where routes 4 and 5 was just about getting round for me. Some crazy hills and on hard terrain too. It definitely presents a challenge but the atmosphere is great out on the course.
We all loved it and already talking about doing it again next year – maybe even adding the 10k on as well. Would be a great club day out but you really need to do your training and particularly trail running. That will definitely be my plan in advance next year. Nice medal which if you do all the events you can lock together apparently – maybe need to talk to George Seymour about that who won the whole thing after a 1 mile sprint off albeit in the wrong vest. Darker blue suits you better George….So yes definitely recommend this as something completely different that will test your mettle but offer you a stunning run (s) and a great atmosphere. It moves back to May in 2024 and hopefully gets a good crowd out for it. https://www.letsdothis.com/gb/e/run-rabbit-trail-festival-193562