Equinox - medals and mud

My first and only 10km race 2018! To be honest, with my performance in it ‘organised event’ is a better description that race. To give some background, Equinox is a 24 hour endurance event which takes place the beautiful yet extremely undulating grounds of Belvoir Castle. People can take part solo, in pairs or in teams with the aim of completing as many 10km laps as they can over the 24 hour period. 

I found myself there as Des decided he wanted to take on the 24 hour challenge solo as part of his “Super September” trio of events. Browsing the website a few weeks before the event I found there was the option of completing a lap at both 12noon and 8pm and gaining two medals for the trouble! “Brilliant” I thought, my medal haul for 2018 so far not matching the same point in previous years. I signed up to both events looking forward to taking on a challenge a little different to the standard road running I am used to. 

After a glorious and seemingly never ending summer, that weekend in September well and truly saw the start of autumn. As we made our way through fields and battled with gale force winds and torrential rain to set up camp, not for the first time on my running journey, I really bloody questioned my life choices! 

Following a freezing and somewhat uncomfortable sleep (I was desperate for a wee all night but refused to go trotting across a field in the dark) the morning came round and finally a gap in the rain. By the time the mass start came round at 12 noon I was again looking forward to the run and wished my friends luck and encouragement as we all set about our various challenges. 

The course really was beautiful with some spectacular views. However the thing about such spectacular views is the extremely high-up vantage point they require to enjoy them. Knowing before the race there was an infamous “that hill” section, I paced myself in the first couple of miles in anticipation. Flipping heck did I need the energy reserve! Apart from the first third, the rest of the race followed some killer elevation paths and took on bumpy and uneven fields. It was about half way around that I really remembered why I stick to straightforward road running – I’m extremely clumsy at the best of times so add in slippy paths, rabbit holes and a few tree routes and it’s a recipe for disaster. 

Despite really wondering why I ever thought it would be a good idea, I must say the morale out on the course was brilliant! There were a few people I chatted to quite a bit as we made our way around and it was fantastic running the last mile through the campsite which was full of fellow runners willing the people on course on. It’s definitely a special kind of atmosphere which I’d definitely recommend and runner takes the chance to experience. 

As the end slowly came into sight, so did the rain – just a few drops at first but with huge dark clouds looming and by the time I’d collected my medal and got back to our camp area it was well and truly hammering it down! Des came back from his second lap absolutely sodden and the dry paths which had been cracked with dehydration from the long summer had become complete mud trails. 

Later on, with darkness starting to fall, I was in genuine and utter turmoil about whether to go ahead with the 8pm leg which I’d signed up for. I had massively underestimated just how dark it would be (I don’t like the dark!) and I knew the lashings of rain would have made the course even more tricky than when I’d set about it earlier on that day. Right up until around 7.30 I was weighing up the pros and cons until I eventually decided it would be much more sensible to get myself wrapped up and stay with the people on our camping plot. I tried not to beat myself up too much – if I’m completely honest I would almost definitely have just walked around crying wishing I hadn’t done it!

So that was Equinox. Despite the cold and the rain it was a truly lovely weekend spend with friends with the medal being a bonus to take home with me. Des did fantastically and managed to complete five laps within the time – that’s with his legs only having had one week to recover from Berlin Marathon! 

As I said earlier, I would definitely recommend one of these events – it’s essentially like a bit of a festival for runners really. Lovely atmosphere and it’s great fun watching people completing their laps all through the day and night.

 

The view with "that hill" in the foreground

I was glad this was over!

Des still smiling after his 50 miler!