Hell Runner !!

I am working a night shift and its nearly 0100 hours, being a bit bored I have just entered Hell Up North with my colleague. I think I must me mad... anyone out there who did it last year got any good tips ? I have done a few 1/2 marathons and several 10k's before but always on roads and decent forest tracks.

How do you prepare for running in the bog of doom ?

I did it last year (south) it was brilliant. Tips i can't think of too many to be honest.

Maybe the ovbious like wear old kit etc that you don't mind getting really dirty. 

Oh and this might apply up north too-

The bog of doom as i recall is a lot deeper than it appears don't just charge in otherwise you will end up loosing your footing getting a mouthful of god knows what with two hundred people laughing at you. Don't ask how i know that.

forget running in it i'm 6,4 and it was up to my chest probably better off swimming it. 

Cheers - everyone seems to enjoy being covered in mud. Thanks for the tip re the bog of doom

will keep my gob shut and paddle like crazy ! I was thinking of running in the local brook but think I may get sectioned by the local health authority...

No body told me there would be ALLIGATORS !! as you may of guessed I am game for a laugh and am just looking forward to having a great time in addition to a challenge. I know the distance wont be a huge issue as I have done a few half marathons before I think the biggest problem will be the cold.

Debbie you didn't say if you would do another one... is once enough ?

Andy,

It's a good cross country 10 mile run at Longmoor (Hell Down South) Hampshire.  However, the palaver of getting there i.e. leaving home early enough to park and get to the start line, then do the race, then get back to the car, change, then crawl through the traffic to get out of the car park then drive back home 20 miles away, makes it a long day.  A few participants who had finished were in the car park having barbeques by their cars whilst everyone else was going home.

I did it in 2 hrs 9mins, I was really pleased about this.  Even more so when I learned that a Personal Trainer who goes to the same circuit training group as me did it in 2 hrs 4 mins, i.e. she was only 5 minutes faster.  The last couple of miles over sandy/hilly terrain is a bugger when all you want to do is finish and you can hear the tannoy welcoming other finishers across the finish line.

By the way, I did the Paris Marathon last weekend in 5hrs 37 minutes.  Not bad for a first time marathon.

I've done all of the Hell Runners at Delamere. The last two years I've done the race the week after the Snowdonia Marathon, which didn't help my time much.

My advice is 1) wear trail shoes, not road shoes, 2) look at where/how other people deal with the 'obstacles', 3) go to enjoy it - cos it's enormous fun.

it was just me and my mate how did the course last year but there about six of us doing it this year .

and my best tip i learned from last year is tie yours laces tight or put some tape around them as i got my shoe sucked off in the mud last year great stuff ...lol 

Thanks everyone, not many hills round where I live so think I will do some "stairs" and build up the muscles. I am also doing about 40 miles on a mountain bike each week which I hope will also help.

At least nobody has said "DONT DO IT YOU MAD FOOL" Which is very encourageing.

Yeah - wear old kit if you have it. Long sleeve tops are fine, but wear shorts or the weight of the water will drag trousers down.

Its good fun but its not that hard. Steep hill to begin with to space people out, then running round the forest on trails and then go off road and down muddy bits and up muddy slopes. 

The bog of doom is fun - and its right at the end so it doesnt matter too much.

Be as fit as you can as then you'll be further up the field with more chance of running rather than getting caught in the masses and walking it.

If you dont have trail shoes, just use old trainers.