Filled with waist deep mud, walls, nets, water and hills galore; I honestly underestimated the stamina it would take to take on this course at Rockingham Castle.
A 19 year old newbie, beginner, rookie and recent Team Muddy Race recruit, I was the apprentice along side Team Muddy Race man Mark Mud Mad Turner to undertake my first obstacle race. I was in good hands he said…Well before you read on, watch me get on in my video!
I was a little worried before the race because I had heard that The Suffering was advertised at 5k but more like 7k. Knowing this would be the longest distance I’ve ever done, I didn’t feel the need to go for time, just to get through the course and make it round in one piece! I wasn’t the only one and that made me feel so much better once I got to the start line.
Overall The Suffering was so much more than a physical challenge, it was a mental challenge too. I frequently had to tell myself to ‘pick up those feet’ as I was climbing a hill.
What I did notice was because the Reapers (the marshals) weren’t giving a helping hand the rest of the runners were, everyone was helping each other and giving advice on how to tackle each obstacle. This made it so much easier and I was surprised by this.
The obstacles weren’t easy. Far from it. Having to carry filled water cans weighing 20kg up steep hills was tough (and not just the once either). Mark actually had to take it off me at the end because the weight was just dragging me down the hill!
Tackling tunnels and nets has surely left my knees battered and bruised, but I’m definitely wearing those bruises with Suffering Pride! Trying to lift your body weight repeatedly is no easy job but at the end of the course there’s 4 beautiful walls smiling back at you and I could look back to say ‘I got over those!’.
For a new challenge, I chose The Suffering as my first OCR and it exceeded all my expectations of what was to come. I enjoyed every second, even when I was suffering. Next to the 10km I think!
Not forgetting the mandatory selfie!
Video thanks to Mark Turner