Wolf Run - Spring 2017

Just back from the Spring Wolf today, and what a great start to the Wolf Run season, the hottest, sunniest day this year!

I got there around 11:00, even though my start time wasn't until 12:50, so that I had plenty of time to orientate myself and get registered. It also meant I could see a bit of the course and watch the first waves coming in.

After a quick 5-minute warm-up with the Wolf Run team, we were off. The first obstacle was a simple tyre-vault, 50 metres past the start line, followed by a net crawl over dry, stony ground - tough on the knees!

This was followed by a run around, up and down through the fields until entering some woods. The pack started to spread out and I was pleasantly surprised to find I was on my own a lot of the time - not the crowded, jostling-for-position I had expected.

The wooded sections provided plenty of natural obstacles, tree-trunks, twisty through-the-branches sections and mud, steep inclines and the like. There was another crawl through a long plastic pipe, so that's a new one I think for this year. There were a few watery sections but nothing big until the 'Alpha Lake' - I gave this a miss as I hadn't swam a stroke in over 7 years, so took the quick run around the outside.

It didn't seem to take long to reach the half-way stage, and a welcome cup of cold water awaited, before a long'ish uphill section through some fields. The 6km marker acted as a motivator to keep the pace going, and a couple of climb and jump obstacles appeared to break things up.

Another running stretch, slightly downhill, and the water slide appeared. I'd seen this in the distance from the car park, and it looked pretty awesome - up close it certainly was! I took a run-up to the slide, launched myself down it and...it was seriously fast! I didn't see much as the water was spraying up into my face, so focused on keeping in a straight line and not sliding off the edge! I hit the pool at the end at what seemed like 50mph, and scrambled out quick to avoid the next runner (slider) coming down behind me.

Nicely washed, I started running again, with not far to go. A quick scramble over the A-frame cargo net (although I can't remember exactly where this was, just that I did it), and into the home run with the high-wall rope climb.

This was followed by a new feature, the climbing wall.

Once over that, it was a few water-filled trenches...

and on to the final mini half-pipe/ramp and cargo-net.

Over the top, a final net-crawl and..

...jump into a muddy pool to the finish line!

Into the finishers tent to collect a welcome bottle of water, and a goody-bag with the much coveted Wolf Run T-shirt, and a Clif bar (which was great as I'd only brought bananas), and then off for a quick shower.

Back to the car to clean off properly (had 5 litres of water for such an occasion) and warmed-up in the excellent sunshine. A great day, loads of fun, and a great atmosphere. It took me 1 hour 30 minutes exactly, which I was happy with, given I hadn't done as much running training as I'd have liked - still my weak spot.

Many thanks to my friend Sarah from work, who came along to get some photos of me at the finish, and looked after my car keys and goody-bag, and who'll also be doing the Summer Wolf with me in June.

Also, many thanks to all the Wolf Run team of marshals and organisers for making such a great day.

So, three more runs to go for Alpha Wolf..