Well we did it again, Myself and Sensei Peter participated in the Paras 10 Endurance Race at the weekend for the second year now we have helped raise money for "Help for Heroes"
The race involves running (or in my case shuffling) whilst carrying a 35lb (2 1/2stn) bergen across 10 miles of rough terrain at the Army training grounds at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire.
We drove up on Saturday morning and arrived at the campsite early afternoon, after pitching up the tent we headed off to purchase some provisions, mainly essential fluids and sustenance consisting mainly of Directors, Black Sheep and Speckled Hen and of course a packet or ready salted crisps.
Provisions bought, kit sorted and a cuppa on the go we sat down and chatted to the new neighbours, a couple of Paramedics from Bucks who also just happened to be there for the Paras 10. To kill a couple for hours we decided to head off to the nearest town, Richmond, for a few beers and some supper. We remembered the Castle Tavern from last year sold Black Sheep on tap and had a rather decent pool table..unfortunately there had been a change of hands and alas the pool table had gone but the Black Sheep had remained...sorted!
After a couple of pints we needed to soak it all up with some proper scoff, we were directed to a place called the "Turf" and we treated ourselves to the best steak & ale pie I had ever seen..the portion was huge and the steak wasn't shy, fantastic. Food done it was time for some more beer, to carb up of course ready for the race :)
After a fairly restless night courtesy of a couple on the other side of our tent talking all night until 4am (gits) it was rise and sine early on and get breakfast on the go...a healthy size portion of porridge and a big boys mug of tea, I glanced across at the paramedics next door and they had made a start on a full english breakfast, Sausage, Bacon and beans and although I was slightly envious I knew that they could be looking at that again later that morning...not what you need before a race.
Just like last year there was hundreds of cars all queuing for a parking space but with military efficiency everyone was moving quite quickly, after parking in the lower field (no no no parking is allowed in the upper field) we headed off with our bergens for the weigh in. Bergens checked, boots checked time for another cuppa before the big bang...the race is started by the firing of a field canon.
We had a minute's silence at 11am in memory of the tragic event which occurred 10 years ago...of course 9/11, then it was stand by, stand by.....BOOM! and we were off.
Peter completed the race in 1hr 40mins including stoppage time for assisting a wheelchair bound veteran up one of the courses many treacherous hills. I completed in 2hrs 6mins thats 10 minutes faster than last year. I'm a minute a mile fitter than last year. The first three miles go on forever as it is all up hill with only a few places you can get a shuffle on, mile 4 is mainly straights and downhill leading into mile 5 around the woods and back into campus for mile 6 back up hill for mile 7 where you can get a good jog going before you hit mile 8....tank hill where you have no choice but to crawl up it..last mile 9 is flat but with a couple of horrid water features, which I ploughed through again this year...the guy in front took a nasty fall and ended up arse over head and covered himself in ditchwater....eeeuwwww! Theres another nasty little surprise at mile 10 as there is another hill which I completely forgot about this year and then the final straight home where you can finally open up your stride and by the time you get in to the field to the finish line everyone is cheering you on and you're positively running just to get it all over with.
Just time to collect a medal and a finisher's t-shirt, another quick cuppa and then back to the car to de-gunge and get those bloody boots off....ahhhhh the relief.
We headed back to the campsite for a shower and a quick kip..last year we headed straight home after the race..not a good idea when you're tired and also TLH suffered something rotten with calf cramping and we suffered with ear ache all the way home :)
This year we decided to stay an extra night....oh, what can we do to kill some time? I know lets head off to Richmond and sink a few. We hooked up with the paramedics and headed off to the "Castle Tavern" for a few beers. Unfortunately most of the eateries are closed on Sunday night but we finally managed to locate the "Black Lion" and settled down to roast chicken with all the trimmings. Fully fed we set off for the Castle again who just happened to be running a pub quiz and a FREE chilli buffet, how could we refuse...We came third in the quiz (there was only 4 teams)
It was 10.30pm and it felt like it, I was knackered, we left the Castle just before closing time and crashed out for the night, well Peter did, his head hit the pillow and he was snoring...me, Not so much, the gales had struck and was battering the side of our tent and then the rain kicked in...finally I drifted of to la la land.
Morning came, we packed up and had a full english at a local cafe, then we were off home..A GREAT WEEKEND INDEED!
I'm leading by example (from the front) and we WILL be participating again next year so start training for it now, senior grades I'm talking to you... :)
The race involves running (or in my case shuffling) whilst carrying a 35lb (2 1/2stn) bergen across 10 miles of rough terrain at the Army training grounds at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire.
We drove up on Saturday morning and arrived at the campsite early afternoon, after pitching up the tent we headed off to purchase some provisions, mainly essential fluids and sustenance consisting mainly of Directors, Black Sheep and Speckled Hen and of course a packet or ready salted crisps.
Provisions bought, kit sorted and a cuppa on the go we sat down and chatted to the new neighbours, a couple of Paramedics from Bucks who also just happened to be there for the Paras 10. To kill a couple for hours we decided to head off to the nearest town, Richmond, for a few beers and some supper. We remembered the Castle Tavern from last year sold Black Sheep on tap and had a rather decent pool table..unfortunately there had been a change of hands and alas the pool table had gone but the Black Sheep had remained...sorted!
After a couple of pints we needed to soak it all up with some proper scoff, we were directed to a place called the "Turf" and we treated ourselves to the best steak & ale pie I had ever seen..the portion was huge and the steak wasn't shy, fantastic. Food done it was time for some more beer, to carb up of course ready for the race :)
After a fairly restless night courtesy of a couple on the other side of our tent talking all night until 4am (gits) it was rise and sine early on and get breakfast on the go...a healthy size portion of porridge and a big boys mug of tea, I glanced across at the paramedics next door and they had made a start on a full english breakfast, Sausage, Bacon and beans and although I was slightly envious I knew that they could be looking at that again later that morning...not what you need before a race.
Just like last year there was hundreds of cars all queuing for a parking space but with military efficiency everyone was moving quite quickly, after parking in the lower field (no no no parking is allowed in the upper field) we headed off with our bergens for the weigh in. Bergens checked, boots checked time for another cuppa before the big bang...the race is started by the firing of a field canon.
We had a minute's silence at 11am in memory of the tragic event which occurred 10 years ago...of course 9/11, then it was stand by, stand by.....BOOM! and we were off.
Peter completed the race in 1hr 40mins including stoppage time for assisting a wheelchair bound veteran up one of the courses many treacherous hills. I completed in 2hrs 6mins thats 10 minutes faster than last year. I'm a minute a mile fitter than last year. The first three miles go on forever as it is all up hill with only a few places you can get a shuffle on, mile 4 is mainly straights and downhill leading into mile 5 around the woods and back into campus for mile 6 back up hill for mile 7 where you can get a good jog going before you hit mile 8....tank hill where you have no choice but to crawl up it..last mile 9 is flat but with a couple of horrid water features, which I ploughed through again this year...the guy in front took a nasty fall and ended up arse over head and covered himself in ditchwater....eeeuwwww! Theres another nasty little surprise at mile 10 as there is another hill which I completely forgot about this year and then the final straight home where you can finally open up your stride and by the time you get in to the field to the finish line everyone is cheering you on and you're positively running just to get it all over with.
Just time to collect a medal and a finisher's t-shirt, another quick cuppa and then back to the car to de-gunge and get those bloody boots off....ahhhhh the relief.
We headed back to the campsite for a shower and a quick kip..last year we headed straight home after the race..not a good idea when you're tired and also TLH suffered something rotten with calf cramping and we suffered with ear ache all the way home :)
This year we decided to stay an extra night....oh, what can we do to kill some time? I know lets head off to Richmond and sink a few. We hooked up with the paramedics and headed off to the "Castle Tavern" for a few beers. Unfortunately most of the eateries are closed on Sunday night but we finally managed to locate the "Black Lion" and settled down to roast chicken with all the trimmings. Fully fed we set off for the Castle again who just happened to be running a pub quiz and a FREE chilli buffet, how could we refuse...We came third in the quiz (there was only 4 teams)
It was 10.30pm and it felt like it, I was knackered, we left the Castle just before closing time and crashed out for the night, well Peter did, his head hit the pillow and he was snoring...me, Not so much, the gales had struck and was battering the side of our tent and then the rain kicked in...finally I drifted of to la la land.
Morning came, we packed up and had a full english at a local cafe, then we were off home..A GREAT WEEKEND INDEED!
I'm leading by example (from the front) and we WILL be participating again next year so start training for it now, senior grades I'm talking to you... :)
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