Shobdon 6 mile 22.4.12 Posted by Jo

A good turn out for Croft Amberys classic gallop through the bluebell woods...or rather a long hard slog up forest trails before the very welcome bluebell descent. It's a little toughie this race and everyone forgets how steep and endless the trails are until you start climbing them. Martyn (the elder) totally forgot about the last hill which came as a nasty suprise! Ange had a briliant run who knows what she's capable of. Watch out Conistion
Photos click here

Sugarloaf Fell Race Abergavenny 15.4.12
Whilst Imme and Jo were navigating their way across Waun Fach in the snow, another shorter but non the less arduous race was taking place across the valley. A fantastic run by Ange who seems to have have been secretly training for fell races, who came in at 01:16:21 ahead of the other Hotfooters John and Martyn (the elder).

Meanwhile over at Eastnor Castle, Martin the younger was storming round the Magnificent Eastnor 7, coming in placed 19th in a time of 0:49:13. well done to eveyone who took to the trails on a very wet, snowy and cold weekend! Photos here

Mudrunner Icebreaker Posted by Rachel and Jo
It was a cool crisp February morning, and I found myself again at Eastnor Castle, along with Jo. Our mission, which we had decided to accept, was Icebreaker; a 10km off-road run on the route they test and develop Landrovers on, 20km MTB on the edge of the Malvern Hills and then a cheeky little 3km run around the castle grounds to finish. What could be simpler? The last time I’d run at Eastnor, it had been a very dry autumn and the mud was a little on the lacking side, the same couldn’t be said of the course this time. There was thick mud, thin mud, mud right up to your gluteus maximus! It was great, but this time I held a little bit back on the 10km run for the unknown challenge of the bike ride. I really didn’t know what to expect, and kept trying to convince myself it couldn’t be too technical could it? I mean people do Mudrunner events in fancy dress… ah, except for Icebreaker, there was a distinct lack of Nuns and I didn’t see one super hero. I’m not going to kid around here, the mountain bike section was hard, very hard, I mean really hard, like I’m comparing it to 44 hours in labour (but without the hallucinations). I’m not your natural mountain bike rider, the nearest I’ve come to mountain biking is cycling round centre parcs; this wasn’t quite the same type of terrain. It was hill after hill after hill, and most of them with thick, gruelling mud which meant lots of bike pushing, a grim determination set in, the Mud Master status would be mine, I would achieve the fabled black hoody. I pushed on and eventually hit tarmac. Smooth, firm, tarmac. It was wonderful, my wheels spun under me, mud flying in all directions, a grin spread across my face, the last 3km was in my sights. It was bliss, after the mud and hills the castle grounds were a dream, even the stream was a welcome relief to my aching legs and I cantered through confident that I would make it to the end. A doorway in an old brick wall opened onto the magical downhill finish to the end. I’d done it; we’d all done it. It was hard, it was muddy, it was hilly, it was fantastic. It was Mudrunner Icebreaker. Rachel
Pictures of Rachel to follow

Well done Rachel...Mudmaster! 2 more races to go and hopefully there will be 2 of us!. I haven't got much more to add to Rachels report except by the time I got to the 3k I wouldn't call my running style 'cantering' Anyone who has experienced triathalon bike to run transition will know the tired jelly legged feeling. I'm not even sure if jelly legged describes it as I had absolutely no feeling from the knees down! It took about a mile do anything that resembled running. The most astonoshing thing the next day for both of us (despite being wiped out) was the lack of aching limbs. spending so much time in icey water, especially the stream at the end must have really aided recovery...enough for us to be thinking about next year...more cycling...better bikes...more kit...Oh no here we go again! Mudmaster beckons.......... Jo click here for photos

Muddy Woody 6ish country miles Posted by Emma B
Well this was my first Muddy Woody so I kind of guessed I would have to write the race report despite my protests! There was no getting out of this years race as I had used my only believable excuse last year! I am so glad I turned up, what an excellent run and a brilliant turn out from the hotfooters. It was a beautiful clear day and about 3 degrees. I was really nervous at the start (and cold). I had heard so much about the route but nothing prepares you for that first hill, everyone was literary crawling and slipping up it, thank god for the mud claws. Apparently it was a lot muddier last year but I thought it was plenty muddy enough. And then there are the ice patches and hard ruts – really tough on the ankles. Just when I thought I had warmed up they throw a river crossing in, it was freezing and then they put another one in just for good measure! Anyway 6.7 miles of very undulating terrain through Haugh Woods but absolutely great fun, I loved every minute. I ran the race with Paul (newbie) Smolas and we completed it in a very respectable 61 mins – well done Paul on your first ever race
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