Andy Mellor reports
The Hardwick Hobble takes place – perhaps unsurprisingly – in the grounds of Hardwick Hall.
As is traditional with a Rasselbock Running event, the event features a lap (in this case just over 6k) and a six hour window. You only need to complete one lap to get a place and a medal – and that was quite tempting, but runners are encouraged to keep going until they lose the will to live.
The course skirts around fields around the grounds of the Hall – because this is a National Trust property, and to protect the grass, it appears that someone had removed all the turf and replaced it with 6k of mud. The main challenge seemed to be remaining upright, with runners impersonating Eddie the Eagle on the descents, whilst moonwalking their way slowly up (and in some case back down again) the ascents.
I was entirely unprepared for any long distance, but having reviewed the Strava feed for the club secretary I concluded that you can indeed run a marathon provided you’ve run at least 5k in the preceding weeks. That was all good – so I decided to adopt a steady low heart rate pace and just keep going until it was out of the way. Also, I was running with some work colleagues and raising money for the Derby Hospitals Charity, so when I wanted to stop (AKA every time I got to the race HQ) I resolved to stop being a wuss and jog on.
I completed seven laps and a new record for my slowest ever marathon. But I stayed dry, my legs were only a little hurty and I didn’t fall over. Result!
Results will be out soon at https://rasselbock.co.uk/live-result/. I really don’t care – I’m just glad it’s over. If anyone hasn’t done the Rasselbock events – and you can cope with the excitement of a lapped event – they are well priced (and the more you run, the better value it is)! The event team are really enthusiastic, the refreshment tent is well stocked, and there are plenty of events around Hardwick, Home Pierrepont, Sherwood Forest so nice and local.
