27th January 2002

If anyone classified this as a road race, they couldn't be further from the truth.  With the exception of an obstacle course, I would classify this race along with the 'tough man'.  A cross country of the most muddy proportions!

A race ran principally along the sea wall both sides of the Thames on Canvey Island and between Benfleet and Old Leigh.  The tough part came running along the downs that was covered in more mud than... than... well anything!  Along with that came the slant of the hill meaning that many of the runners had their left sides caked in the stuff from slipping over.

Luckily I wore my cross shoes, but with the excessive mud the grip all but disappeared as your shoes had a thick layer compacted in the tread.  On top of this a certain hill was so slippery so you had to run on the farmers clay field.  Clay weighed your shoe down now that the mud was sandwiched between the clay base and the upper sole.  To add further insult the route soon after went over wood chippings!...   Yep - you guest it!  This stuck on too and we had may as well been running in our Wellington boots!

Anyway, finally back to proper paths and deliberately running through large puddles helped relieve the muddy burden.  A slow middle section from me that was made up by a satisfactory strong finish. 

Rich

The Stowmarket Striders results are:-

There were 291 finishers.