This was going to be like the famous fight between Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston. The big talking new boy to the Obstacle Race scene versus the seasoned professional that takes some impressing.
The fight venue was set, a disused airfield just outside Newark used in the 2nd World War. A great location to get to and the event village packed a punch, giving spectators a view of the obstacles in action. Two huge marquees stands selling kit, RAF paraphernalia, a bar, hot food stalls and the RAF also brought along some planes (well the cockpits) and a huge climbing wall for the kids.
Round 1 - The First 750m
The young upstart showed its innovation by making me get into the ring by having to crawl through some water collectors.
We began by running around the big marquee over some hay bale hurdles, and then 50m of tyres just to try and trip me up. I’m still jabbing away and used to this. Over and under hurdles next (around 7 or 8) and a little run to the man-made hills.
Now if you know Newark, it is flat, (when a mole pops up then it’s a mountain) well these hills were made of hay bales between 5 and 10 feet high just like 2 pyramids. This was followed by some mud hills, single and double hay bales and a little suspended cargo crawl to negotiate. These group of obstacles within the first 750m was just what it needed to string the field out. Airfield Anarchy is doing well, round one is a draw.
Round 2 - Water time
A few months ago Airfield Anarchy invited a few people from the OCR world to test a few of their obstacles and although I wasn’t invited I had seen the video so knew what to expect. It started with a fireman’s pole into waist deep water, a short run through knee deep water then up the bank with the help of a cargo net.
20m later we had to get back into the stream but this time had to negotiate a spiders web first before plunging down the bank back into knee deep water. A short run then back out and through some very narrow 3m tubes before the same again.
Stepping up the pace now, there were a few huge tractor tyres to crawl through. This featured not one but two tyres. So you had to do a bit of a crawl, under the cargo net and through another set of double tyres.
It was a nice combination from the young upstart but I’m no push over and just rolled with the punches. They tried the knock out with 5 logs stretched across the stream, iced off with barbed wire on top means it’s full submersion time. By this time I was on the ropes. Luckily the bell went and it was time to run around some fields and through a few small plantations. Round three is mine.
Rope Swings, Water Slides and Cargo Nets
The next 6 rounds Airfield Anarchy and I traded punches with lots of running but also some great obstacles. This included around 10 meters of monkey bars over water. The 6 inch step up at the half way point almost caused the towel throw. I almost made it, and rumours are that all but 20 have been knocked out by this upper cut.
A rope swing that wouldn’t look out of place on Ninja Warrior tested my rope capabilities. The hale bale in the middle of a pond acted as the landing point. Another almost knockout punch.
A water slide followed, into a muddy pond with a balance beam to get across.The Nuts Challenge style tyre wall was next at 20 feet tall. To add even more obstacles a huge cargo net that was suspended 15 foot high between 4 huge oak trees provided something a little bit different.
The Final Few Rounds
Round 10 arrives and we cross the motorway bridge back into the home stretch. They step up the mark here with a small 5ft wall to climb over whilst going downhill, but the drop the other side was more like 12ft. After a jog through the woods with a good size crowd to cheer me on I climbed the 10ft wall in front of me.
20 meters of tight cargo netting to crawl through followed, ending with the first wall’s twin. I had to take a breath here. I’m almost out for the count but the crowd cheer me on and I feel my legs moving. I’m up and over. That round was definitely to Airfield Anarchy.
Round 11 and they let up with a kilometre of running featuring just a cargo net to crawl under. I’m back in the game I thought.
This led to the final round and it’s back onto the old airstrip where the crowd awaits. Airfield made the first move by giving me two meter leaps over fire pits. Then it looks like a car crash. I choose a car, enter through the boot and out through the wind screen. Not hard I hear you say, except they left all the seats, steering wheel and the part that almost took me out, the gear stick.
Finally, I was greeted by a 12ft wall ahead. I couldn’t see any hand grips and I’m on my own here I thought. I am now well and truly on the ropes, then out of nowhere a RAF soldier steps out, bends down and gives me a leg up (whoever you where thank you).
The finish line follows with a battalion of RAF cadets whom whip off my timing chip and give me a goody bag ( a medal and a few other bits ) a silver foil wrap to stay warm, a quality shirt and a well-deserved bottle of Airfield Anarchy’s very own beer.
After all that it’s party time. Hot showers with minimal queuing (around 5-10 mins), Newark radio broadcasting all day from the site, several live bands, firework display and the bar open until gone 10pm. Around 50-100 stayed back but I am sure next time this will be much bigger.
Then comes what I think is Airfield Anarchy’s supreme achievement. We didn’t race with the usual race numbers, but just a chip and no more. The chip timing system at each obstacle registered you and then you are tagged in the pics!
At several points I did feel like quitting..
The Verdict
This fight didn’t end like the Clay – Liston fight but trust me at several points I did feel like quitting. I think it is fair to say it was a draw. Will Airfield Anarchy get better? After talking to one of the directors, yes they will.
Talking to many other racers on the day, the consensus was that it was a great course and the facilities were amazing with some great ideas both on and off the course. The only negative I heard on the day was one lady who was running the 10k didn’t run it all as she missed one of the markings that said 5k one way and 10k another. This is sometimes the problem when there are 5km and 10km over the same course, but made more of an issue at Airfield because they strived to give the 5km just as much enjoyment as the 10km so they crossed each other a few times.
This is one to put on your calendar. The Airfield Anarchy course did not disappoint.