The Longhorn race report
On Sunday I took the 45 minute trip over to Thoresby Hall, Newark for The Longhorn. This is a popular trail event traditionally taking place in April and October with various distances from 5k to 60k catering for runners, cannicross and Nordic walkers. Conditions were as grim as it gets with torrential rain, wind and low temperatures. Together with it being a lapped event the ground was nice and churned up making for an almighty mud fest.
On the start line the organiser almost proudly announced that someone had already gone to hospital and there was knee deep mud on the course. I was hoping this was an exaggeration but a friend who had just completed the cannicross corroborated this. I was entered in for the half marathon but a start time mix up on my part meant that I ended up in the 10k instead, which I saw as a blessing!
The course was a mix of woodland, fields and uneven paths but was largely a muddy quagmire. One especially dedicated marshal sporting a full body inflatable horned cow costume was a particular highlight. Passing some very downtrodden looking ultra runners I felt like a bit of a fraud doing just the one lap. But with people falling all over the place I was very pleased to have stayed on two feet and made a very quick exit to the safe confines of the car.
It was good fun given the conditions and I even managed a sprint finish encouraged by a Dryrobe clad spectator shouting “go on girl you can take those blokes”. I dutifully managed to pass a pair of male runners ahead of me and gave her a telepathic high 5. I Finished in 55.14 and received some of the most impressive race swag I’ve ever had.
This was the last ‘Longhorn’ as the organisers are retiring but Wild Deer Events are now hosting there under a different name in October. A stunning location and varied course which I highly recommend.
Winner of the 10km was Oliver Matharu of Holme Pierrepont RC in a mind blowing 38.05
