Race report: The Beast, Double or Quits, September 19, 2010
The Beast...the thought is enough to strike terror into the heart of your average weekend warrior. With 32 obstacles usually tackled by horses (yes horses!), multiple chances to wade through waist high freezing & muddy water and numerous quad burning hills....not for the first time was I questioning my sanity as I lined up on the start line.
Photo courtesy of runner-photos.co.uk
A quick glance around me proved that I was not the only one who'd taken full leave of her senses...fancy dress (the nightie/warewolf combination is such a good look), red riding hood, hobby horses & more than one wide-eyed anxious look proved that this was a race for all comers! The pre race briefing comprised of an explanation of the double (!) or quit course and that water could be avoided if we had a true aversion to getting wet (I did get the impression that only a note from the doctor or my mum would get me out of it at that stage). A number of “spot” prizes voted for by the marshalls were awarded including best quads, most intrepid race returner (to someone choosing the Beast as his first race in 20 years) and best ability to look good in lycra – there was slight disappointment as a young man standing next to me thought he had won the ladies prize!
The claxon sounded at 11am and we were off initially adopting a safety in numbers approach as all but the fittest and fastest initially stuck together. Apart from a small queue at the first water “jump” (or should that be jump right in), the passage through the remaining obstacles (logs, tyres, barrels, giant wooden ducks, waist high toadstools, bushes and yet more water) was smooth. Although various feats of leaping athleticism were evident I was not alone in opting for the rather more ungainly “bum first, legs later” approach.
There’s no denying the hills were a killer, truly quad shredding followed by alarmingly fast descents. I managed to stay upright helped by the fantastic race marshalls who were smiley & encouraging throughout. Additionally there was plenty of encouragement from the faster runners who were constantly visible owing to the looping nature of the course. I was either having a truly great time or was delirious with exhaustion when I decided to “double”, having paid my money I was determined to get maximum gain /pain. The second lap was undeniably quieter but the marshalls were as vocal & encouraging as ever and the second lap was twice as good!
We were rewarded with a great goody bag (T-shirt, discounts, sports wash, energy gels , drinks, snacks, pasta sauce AND a red Beast rosette) and plenty of cheering from an enthusiastic crowd.
Weary finishers could buy food & a cheeky beer – they had earned it! All in all fantastic organisation, great camaraderie, and loads of cheerful people content in the knowledge that there are few better ways to spend a Sunday morning!
This morning I have a few new bruises but I am still grinning....The Beast bit me hard but I can’t wait to bite it back next year....
Click here to find out more about the event
Quit (One Lap)
Men's results
| 1 |
Richard Whittington |
30:03 |
| 2 |
Edgars Sokolovskis |
30:14 |
| 3 |
Aaron Chappell |
31:23 |
Women's results
| 1 |
Claire Wilson |
34:49 |
| 2 |
Jen Neininger |
37:53 |
| 3 |
Sarah Rock |
38:39 (and on her birthday!) |
Double (Two Laps)
Men's results
| 1 |
Gordy Smith |
1:01:51 |
| 2 |
Arturas Sungaila |
1:06:11 |
| 3 |
Simon Killen |
1:06:55 |
Women's results
| 1 |
Ros Viner |
1:12:17 |
| 2 |
Amelie Thickitt |
1:15:43 |
| 3 |
Wendy Freeman |
1:16:49 |
I'm famous!!!
Great write up, it's a great course, my sides hurt nearly as much as my legs from laughing so much - I think it was hysterical laughter!