Tring Ridgeway Run 2013

Since finishing our walk along the Ridgeway back in June I have been concentrating on my running. I did the Tring Ridgeway Run in 2012 and remembered it as we completed walking the Ridgeway - so I entered the race again this year. Here's my thoughts on the day ..

I’m sitting in my car at Tring Park Cricket Club, its warm and cosy, but outside people are scurrying around in the rain, some wearing that well known fashion item, the black bin-liner. Others are running around in shorts and vests – is it warmer out there than I think? 25 minutes to go – I emerge from the car wearing my jacket and realise the answer is no, it’s not! Any thoughts I had of not bothering with a jacket rapidly evaporate. A quick jog around the field to ‘warm up’ (literally) and I notice one or two men admiring the scenery through the hedge and make a mental note that the queues for the toilets must be long – luckily I didn’t need to find out. 15 minutes to go - I have warmed up a bit and the other runners are beginning to make their way to the start so I join them. 5 minutes to go - gallows humour is the order of the day as we stand in the wind and rain, spectators nearby wrapped up in coats and huddling under umbrellas. It’s cold, it’s wet and we are all about to run 10miles in this weather.

There is no hooter or whistle - people just begin to shuffle forward soon after 10am and then we’re off and running. The first mile is flat and along a farm track and I pick my way through the puddles. We cross a road soon afterwards and run along a grass verge. By now I am picking my way through mud as well as puddles. There is a delay while we queue to enter the first of many footpaths and begin a gradual climb through the woods. We emerge at the edge of a golf course and running on grass makes a welcome change. Then it’s over another road, through a farmyard and the mud returns with a vengeance. I’ve given up trying to avoid the mud and puddles by now and just splash through regardless.

Then it’s time for the first big climb up to Bridgewater Monument. I try to run up the footpath but the slippery mud and steepness defeat me. I walk as fast as I can and start running when I reach the top. My family are there to meet me and cheer me on. The first 3 miles have been done in around 37 minutes - about what I expected. We get some respite then and are running on a decent track through the woods along the top of the ridge. We reach the halfway point and I have settled in with a group of 5 or 6 other runners.

Just after 5 miles we start down a sloping footpath – the mud is worse than ever here and I feel my feet slip a few times. Then the inevitable happens and I go over. I land on my right side and slide in the mud for a metre or so. I get up, the other runners stop to check I am okay, I seem okay, so I wipe my muddy hands on the grass and we all set off again. 

Soon after that we reach Inchcombe Hole, a steep grassy descent. I feel my feet begin to slip again and am taking no chances so I walk until the slope lessens. At 6mls we cross another road and I can see Pitstone Hill ahead. The time is around 70 minutes so I still seem to be on schedule. My family are there again – I give them a quick wave and I try to run up the hill but admit defeat and walk (like everyone around me). I’ve lost contact by now with the other runners who were nearby and am by myself.

After another flat ridge section we start to slowly descend along the route of the Ridgeway Path through the woods. There are some flattish sections here but it’s mostly downhill on muddy paths and towards the end there are even some steps. I don’t take any chances and walk down them. A couple more muddy footpaths to negotiate and then we emerge onto the road and run back along the grass verge to the original farm track. The traffic stops for the marshals, I cross the road and am relieved to finally be back on solid ground.

I look around and see I am a long way ahead of the runner behind me. Ahead I can see the stragglers of the group I was with in the first half of the race. We’re all struggling by now and having to take short walk breaks. On the plus side the heavy rain has washed most of the mud off my legs. I eventually pass under the start banner and realise I am into the last mile. I have gradually been catching a couple of ladies ahead of me. I pass one as we take a left-hand corner and 100yds up the road I pass the other lady. By now runners who have already finished are making their way back along the route looking for their slower friends. They don’t get in the way and get growled at and I make my way through some trees and turn right onto the road leading back to the cricket club. I can’t see anyone ahead of me by now. I glance back and the ladies I passed are both walking again so I risk a final quick walk break.

Then I see the entrance to the finishing field across the road ahead of me and start running. I reach the entrance, the marshals hold up the traffic, I cross the road and run through the gate, their shouts encouraging me to attempt a sprint finish. After one final effort and I cross the finish line to the cheers of my family who have made their way back. I look at my Garmin and am amazed to see that despite my earlier fall and having to walk down the steep sections I have beaten last years’ time by a minute and I’m left wondering what might have been if the weather had been better.

The marshalling was excellent throughout and the signs everywhere meant there was no chance of going astray. I collect my tech t-shirt (a tasteful shade of day-glo orange this year!) and wander back to see my family and explain how the run went and about my fall. I am soaked through and it’s too cold to stand around for too long so I say my goodbyes and head back to the car thinking I’ll more than likely be back again in 2014.