Tri Challenge

Normally when I sit down to write these race reports, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I tend to list the good and bad points, with ugly bits thrown in if I really have something to moan about. But I can’t do that for Commando Challange…because the whole event was awesome.

After a reasonable drive down to Exmouth on Saturday afternoon, had a glorious afternoon paddling and wandering along the beach. Met everyone else at the Quentance Farm B&B – a bit mad, but very accommodating with lots of dogs – then went out for food. Oooh, here’s an ugly bit: never, ever go to the Dog and Donkey in Knowle village. It’s run by the rudest couple in the world.

Anyway, after a reasonable night’s sleep, it was time to rouse the team for the challenge. I’d roped in a few people from work, some of whom run regularly and others who do not. Here’s the team in our specially designd t-shirts looking rather fresh, and almost completely clean.

Before the challenge

This wasn’t to last for long. After registering, listening to the safety briefing and doing the warm up, we made our way to the start line.

We set off…uphill basically…across an uneven field down a lane with quite a lot of poo, then up a series of other hills towards the course. I think this is what they euphemistically call “undulating” in Runners World. It wasn’t an easy run, and it felt more like three miles than the stated two, but we were all feeling good and had a slug of water at the top.

Into the course, and we immediately hit the first tunnel. Down on our hands and knees we went, and into the darkness. I’m a little claustrophobic so I asked everyone to keep talking, at which point they all started talking at once, creating an echoey but quite comforting feeling. Some Marines were at the end to make sure we all emerged. Which was nice.

Out of the tunnel, down a muddy hill, the next hurdle was a long, muddy pool – which came well above my waist. Halfway through it, we were stopped and told to duck ourselves right down under the water. That was fecking cold, but quite refreshing.

We ran steeply uphill after the pool. It was very boggy by now and we were weighed down by wet clothes, but glad of them as the sun rose out of the mist. At the top of the hill, we could see a crowd of supporters for the first time. It took me a minute to realise they were all gathered around the “highlight” of the course: the sheep dip. Didn’t have much time to think about it, just held my breath and was hurled through it by one Marine and hauled out of the other side by another.

Weirdly, we’d changed colour.

Me after the sheep dip

After that, it couldn’t get any worse. The tunnels got progressively smaller, more painful on the knees and eventually the elbows, but we were still having a blast. The run back didn’t seem to take half as long, and we crossed the finish line – about 1 hour 45 mins after the start, according to our support crew.

Looking slightly less fresh than at the beginning, here’s the team at the end…

After Commando Challenge

Quite easily the best event I’ve done in a long time. I’m coming back again next year.