Race Review - Xrunner Wild Run - 29th March 2014

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/03/xrunner-wild-run-video-review-fun-fights-derbyshire.html

Race Review - Airfield Anarchy - 22nd March 2014

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/03/airfield-anarchy-video-review-spiffing-day-newark.html

Equipment - Gloves - O'Neill 2mm SLX

When I was looking for winter gloves for obstacle racing, I needed something to keep my hands warm even when wet, surfers gloves seem to be the best idea. Surfers spend hours out on the water with wet hands, and need grip to push up off their boards when catching the waves. So they will have come up with something ingenious that would be suitable for obstacle racing.

Neoprene works by trapping a small layer of water / sweat inside the glove next to your warm skin and because neoprene is a rubber based material it is very well insulated and the thin layer of water remains nice and warm. This means it is essential to get a tight fitting glove other wise each submersion will simply flush the glove with cold water and chill your hands.

At the 2014 Tough Guy 15km obstacle race in late January I wore O'Neill 2mm SLX neoprene gloves. The weather consisted of a constant drizzle and temperatures in the single digits. The course is famous for its sub zero water obstacles and huge punishing obstacles. 

The gloves were outstanding, not once did my hands feel the cold, every other part of my body took serious blows delivered by the aggressive cold water. My fingers maintained their dexterity for hand over hand rope crossings and so many climbs up cargo nets and greasy wooden A-frames. The surface on the palm and fingers added incredible grip and confidence when climbing and crawling. 2mm of neoprene is surprisingly cushioning when crawling and using my hands on tree trunks to slow myself when running down steep hills. But they never felt bulky or clumsy

Neoprene is very tough wearing too, after wearing these gloves at 6 obstacle races over the last 12 months the gloves look exactly the same as the day I purchased them. I can't recommend these gloves highly enough for cold wet obstacle races.

Race Review - Xtreme Challenge - 9th Febuary 2014

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/02/xtreme-challenge-review-association-queens-greatest-hits.html

Race Review - Tough Guy - 26th January 2014

177th 2:10:09

I wrote for Mudstacle today so you can find me review here:

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/01/winter-tough-guy-review-going-need-bigger-plaster.html

Dr. StrangeHills or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Incline

Here's a some training tips for approaching hills I wrote for Mudstacle.com

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/01/hill-running-tips.html

Race Review - Holly Bush Inn New Year's Day Race - 1st January 2014

Result 17/88 14m57s

The second race within a week were I can run to the start line in under 10 minutes. I had been up until about 3am following a small house party and changing nappies in the night on our small wee baby. So getting up for 10am on new year's day was quite a challenge. I made to the the pub for just before 11am and chilled out with my sister and a fellow Team Derby Runner member. Then to my surprise my friend, from way back, walked in with safety pins, registration sheets, and a suspicious looking bag.

I joined the back of the queue for registration and registered all three of us before sticking the self adhesive race numbers to our chests. my sticker fell off almost instantly so I used a couple of safety pins to keep it secure. We sat around and chatted and kept warm in the pub as the rain and wind rolled in finally around 11:40 we were invited to muster outside and the master of ceremonies unveiled a rather splendid looking shotgun from the suspicious bag.

As we jostled on the start line the countdown started as the shotgun was aimed high into the air cocked and on '1' an almighty bang as the shotgun was fired. This had the effect of stunning most people rather than motivating them to run. It was pretty tight as we left the pub car park and on to the uphill bridleway, but with a bit of fancy footwork and off piste diversions I managed to get through the thicker clumps of runners and settle into a hard half km of uphill trail running. As the mud and stone gave way to tarmac the road got steeper but i knew it was a short race so no need to save any energy and pushed on until the course flattened out. The problem with the top of the hill was that it was incredibly exposed. The wind was driving the rain horizontally right into my face, and was brutally painful on my forehead and face.

It was a welcome relief when the route took us back off road and slightly more sheltered. The fields where incredibly slippery but the downhill gradient was great fun. I slowed down when running towards a pack of horses. one of the horses was on a path set to cut me off but when it stopped its hoofs started to slip in the mud, as I waited to see what the horse would do next 2 guys over took me. I pushed on and ignored the potential head to head with Mr Ed and managed to re take one of the guys, but couldn't quite catch the other dude. The final stretch done some narrow slippery steps was pretty dicey but great fun. finishing with a hand on the pub door was a great touch and huge thanks to all involved in this awesome short run all in aid of charity.

http://hollybushinnmakeney.co.uk/