2009 PUMA HellRunner: Hell Down South Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (468 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Simon Butler 2
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hell's frozen over and not what it once was
In full: I had great fun running this but with the air temp at minus 3 degrees it was a little chilly in the water sections. This year saw the return of the car park near the start. This was at a £4 premium but well worth it if just to reduce the likelihood of hypothermia walking to the alternate car park about a mile away.
Despite the loos being frozen up, the start being disorganised and several runners taking short cuts I still love this race.
Date of review: December 7, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Claire Campbell 6
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not as tough as it says on the tin!!
In full: I was expecting this to be a tough race but it was only the British weather that delivered on this front. Most of the distance is a moderate trail run with a few short sharp hills and two water obstacles near the end. As the course goes a long way out there are no spectators for most of it, just a few frozen cadets standing around in a few places (hats off to them by the way!). It was good fun but I saw a couple of people in difficulty near the end and there was very little medical help for them. There really needs to be just two big male and female changing marquees or something at the end for people to get out of their wet stuff, I was borderline hypothermic and so were many others. Great fun if you've never done anything like this before but doesn't come near the organisation and atmosphere of events like Tough Guy.
Date of review: December 6, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: wehaveaproblemmouse
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hellrunner - they wish. More like bit of cross country and a waterdunk.
In full: Disappionted overall. I thought this was going to be "hell". But for me it just felt like a long cross country run with a couple of swims near the end. The organisation was fine. T-Shirt was ok. Just not worth the money and didn't live up to it's OWN hype.
Date of review: December 3, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Hilary Willett
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Challenging & freezing. No help for almost hypothermic participants!!!
In full: Having ran this race last year, I found it to be easier going underfoot as the ground was much drier this year. However, the bog of doom had ice on it before the start and the air temperature was below freezing. Therefore the race was much harder than last year after going through the water hazards as you were absolutely freezing. This to the point that I still have some nerve sensation problems in one of my fingers. Note to self: must not fall into the water next time! The hills were tough but if you spent time training on hills then they were not too much of a problem. There were no silver blankets (or any official assistance) at the end. I am surprised no one had hypothermia. There was also no band playing half way round so there was less atmosphere than last year. All this said, I beat last year's time by 6 minutes so was pretty chuffed! I would consider doing it again (check the weather forecast beforehand!!)
Date of review: December 3, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Simon Dean 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bit of a Let Down, V Cold but FAR easier than expected
In full: Having entered a number of off road races which include water hazards in the past and enjoyed the challenge, I thought Hell Down South was going to be a real challenge. Also, having viewed the video it looked as though the organisers put in a lot of effort to make the event special. Sadly, my experience of the race did not live up to expectations. The actual run was pretty straightforward trail running with nothing that was any more challenging that normal training runs. I admit that the water hazards were absolutely freezing and upped the difficulty factor somewhat, but with temperature at -2 on the start line, I guess this was to be expected. I was so glad that my friends and I had come prepared as there seemed to be little help at the end of the race for those suffering with the cold. This could have had serious consequences for less well prepared runners and I think is something the organisers need to think carefully about. I know this race is run at your own risk, but the unusually cold days this year could have resulted in real problems for some people. The loos were the most hellish part of the day to be honest (and I hear they were even worse on Sunday). So I won't be doing this one again. There are cheaper, more challenging and more fun events to be run!
Date of review: December 3, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Emily Gibbs
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Insane but brilliant
Date of review: December 3, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: david pomeroy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: the race its slef was fantastic but was let down by the organisation sadly :(
In full: I loved the mud, course and pysical challange of the race. Running while that cold and wet was hard but enjoyable. :)
Sadly I came away anoyed at the organisation and saftey of the race. For the money we paid it was not good. Some members of our group came close to hyperphemia ( We all understood it was a posibilty and what the race was about ) How ever you expect the organziers to understand this and be set up for it. First hand i saw this was not the case. There needs to be tents with heaters where people can get changed with blankets and peopel to help. Luckly we were part of a big group and could help each other in and out of clothing. The way the first aid dealt with people who could cope was terible.
Date of review: December 2, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: steve sneath
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: This event is a real ice breaker... literally.. with the frozen bogs and lakes!
In full: Great run, but would have been a greater challenge if some of the earler water features did not have a path to avoid it. Really good fun, but very cold, and the bog is very deep, smelly and frozen, really felt for ther smaller people who had to swim rather than wade..
Date of review: December 2, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Josie Tidbury
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Brilliant Fun & cant wait for next year!
In full: This was the first time i had ever entered a race like this and also the longest run i would have done in terms of miles - i was nervous but very excited at the same time.
The atmosphere was amazing and even though i was running on my own it didnt matter as everyone was friendly and in good spirits. The weather worked to our advantagin one way with all the hills of mud frozen but not when it came to going through the bog of doom. I will never forget that feeling of getting in that bog and wondering if i would finish at all but the amazing feeling of finishing made up for it all. A great race, well organised and great fun!
Date of review: December 2, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Henstooth
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: FAB, Cold, Hell
In full: This is the BEST event I have done this year. It was hard but fun. Shockingly cold, mental water hazards, hilly terrain, great organization. I will be back to better my time next year.
Date of review: December 2, 2010
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