Only fools again - Events - Runner's World

Bean

25/08/2002 at 11:18

Did anyone do the only fools fun run last year? My advice to newcomers is wear long trousers as the nettles are vicious!

fraggle

pirate

25/08/2002 at 11:42

Any one doing it - saw it for the first time yesterday and thought about doing it myself.Are the obstacles big ?!

Hildegard

25/08/2002 at 11:56

As this is only a short bus trip from where I live, I did give it a thought. I'm still not sure, although the novelty value of scrambling over a horse course is quite tempting!

The Lurker

26/08/2002 at 21:39

This will be my fourth time over the 'jumps'. The obstacles are not too bad, it's running through the lake and squelching the rest of the way that's hard work! Good fun though. Go in fancy dress and really enjoy it.

Big T

27/08/2002 at 16:47

Done this a couple of times, great fun day out, not to be taken too seriously.. Take it for what it is a great fun way to do some 'as hard as you want to make it' training while getting very wet and very muddy.. And supporting a very good cause..

About to enter for this year..

The Dog Walker

27/08/2002 at 16:55

Myself and Mrs DW are doing this (it should be posted on the URWFRC web site). Mrs DW is particularly enthusiastic as she is a keen horsey person.

Thanks for advice about long trousers - I will bear that in mind. However, I had toyed with some fancy dress anyway, so as it has been suggested, I think I will. Any suggestions anyone? I'm away all next week so haven't got long to organise anything.

Hopefully see some of you there - come on Hildegard...you know it makes sense!!!

Wolf with Runs

27/08/2002 at 17:05

haven't needed any track suit bottoms in the past and have run it each of the last 4 years - so don't know what route "the bean" took??

(also wouldn't wet track suit bottoms be a nightmare after the water jump and 2x through the lake????)

great fun, big traffic jams at the early jumps - so don't run it for a fast time (or if you do, get right up to the front at the start)

i will be there, i'm afraid - who's in the club running vest, so that we can say hello?

The Dog Walker

27/08/2002 at 17:09

WWR,

I will have the club vest on assuming (a) it's arrived by then and (b) it is compatible with my costume!!!!

Hildegard

27/08/2002 at 20:31

Oh, stop tempting me with all this talk of fun! I'm still not decided yet, but for those of you who have been there before, is this place easy to get to via public transport. I would have to take the bus from Oxford, but I've never been to Woodstock before, and wouldn't want to get completely lost!

Hild

Bean

27/08/2002 at 20:53

Last year, people in fancy dress got a head start, which would avoid the "traffic jams". Did you manage to get into the showjumping arena? How do you do it - when we went it seemed that you needed to pre-book a ticket for that bit?

I'm not sure where the nettles came from. I was trying to be ladylike and jump carfully but landed a bit funny when a kind gentleman pushed me over one if the jumps! Thanks, whoever you are!! I think I was dithering a bit...

Wolf with Runs

28/08/2002 at 10:15

hildegard - i don't know how easy it wouyld be to get to.

it takes placein the grounds of blenheim palace in the village of woodstock.

the entrance to woodstock/blenheim palace is on a main road going into oxford and i would be staggered if no bus stopped right outside it.

however it is about 8 miles from the centre of oxford, so aiming for oxford itself may not be the best idea. a few minutes on the internet shoudl give you more details than i have managed there. sorry i couldn't be more helpful

it IS GREAT FUN - and amazes people when you tell them what you've just done!!!

bean - you can view the showjumping from a standing bit on one side of the arena (which gets busy), but if you want to get in the stands then i think you're right, you need a ticket. best to ask at the turnstiles on the way in

The Dog Walker

28/08/2002 at 10:35

Hildegard,

Stagecoach run a bus service (service number 20) from Oxford (Gloucester Green) to the Marlborough Arms in Woodstock. This is 150 yds from Blenheim Palace entrance!!!

Even on Sunday, there looks to be enough buses for it to be a fairly straightforward journey - it looks to be about 20-30 minutes (depending on if you get the express or not).

Check out www.stagecoach-oxford.co.uk/bustimes/ for details.

You will run out of excuses not to do it sooner or later Hildegard!!!

DW

fraggle

pirate

28/08/2002 at 12:37

I'm tempted to do it, but i'm only 5'2 so a bit worried about getting over some of the jumps - are people generally friendly in a helping you over kind of way ?

Wolf with Runs

28/08/2002 at 14:09

yep

Hildegard

28/08/2002 at 14:31

Dog Walker, you are evil!

And I have just emailed for an application form.

fraggle

pirate

28/08/2002 at 14:33

Excellent - will check with Mr Fraggle about looking after the boys while I'm running , well, they can all come along and have a good laugh at wet mummy.

The Dog Walker

28/08/2002 at 14:43

Hildegard, you will thank me after you've done it!!!! ;-)

fraggle

pirate

28/08/2002 at 15:01

Hildegard - Myself and Mr Fraggle wil be travelling in two cars (he's on-call and may need to leave early), so I could pick you up somewhere if you'd like a lift (though I won't be offended if you say no!)
Andrea

Hildegard

28/08/2002 at 16:42

Thanks for the offer of a lift Fraggle. I'm going to decide over this coming weekend whether I can realistically do this, as well as write a conference paper and other thesis work. So, would it be alright to let you know next week?

Cheers,
Hild

fraggle

pirate

28/08/2002 at 19:23

Absoloutely - email me next week when you've decided