The Clench 8Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (4 votes). | 1 to 4 of 4 ratings | Page: 1 |
| The big picture (4 votes) | | Overall score | | 93% | | How many would do it again? | | 100% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 95% | | PB potential | | 45% | | Atmosphere | | 90% | | Organisation | | 90% | | Value | | 95% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 65% |
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2011 race reviewed by: Ruth Foley
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic race. The rain and wind just added to the buzz. Tough run but well worth it. I hope this is an annual event - I'll definitely be bring back and I'll be spreading the word!
Date of review: August 16, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Nick Marvin
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Awesome except for the weather
Date of review: June 14, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Colin T
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great course with a slightly challenging hill
Date of review: June 14, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Laudy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough Terrain, Terrible Weather but Terrific Event
In full: On possibly the most miserable day of 2011 we took on 'The Clench 8'. After a short briefing about a 'hill within the first mile' and to take care with the very slippy terrain we were off. The first 2 or 3 miles passed relatively quickly despite the neverending rain and with no sign of the hill, but as we passed up a steep wooded bank decided that this must have been 'the hill'. However, on clearing the trees we were faced with an almost vertical climb of around 400metres. Normally I'll run up anything but even I had to admit defeat and walk. On a sunny day I am sure the views at the top of the ridge were spectacular, today we were lucky to not get knocked off the top of the ridge by the wind. Hats off to the Marshall at this point, sodden yet still smiling and encouraging every runner through. I thought the worse was over as we passed through some fantastic wooded trails and across some fields until we reached the end of the ridge and had to come back down. Again had to resort to very a slow jog to make it down in once piece, road shoes definitely not recommended for this!!! The rest of the run was relatively flat and quick, a mix of wooded trails, open fields of sheep and canal towpaths. With 200metres to go and a sprint finish in mind we were faced with the last 'test' a short but steep set of twopath steps, just to fully finish the legs off!!! This race is certainly not for the faint-hearted, it would be tough on a normal day, on a particularly wet and windy day some of the descents were a little bit hairy but I would definitely return and do this again, especially as the race was a charity event to raise money for a local community charity supporting a project in the Ghambia, so more than worth the entry fee which was good value anyway. Finally, an enormous thanks to the marshalls, every single one despite being completely drenched and windswept did a fantastic job of both marshalling and encourgaing every single runner. Excellent job guys and I really hope you make this an annual event!
Date of review: June 12, 2011
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