Buntingford Brewery Boxing Day 3.2
We were going to be in Hertfordshire over Christmas, so consulted Runners World for a Boxing Day race - and found the Buntingford Brewery Boxing Day 3.2 in Pirton - a trail race just up the road from the "in laws". With a bottle of race beer to every finisher (and the option to buy a crate) it had to be good! There were also U7 and U13 fun runs and walks for anyone who didn't feel up to racing - all very relaxed.
With the recent cold weather the course was completely covered by 6 inches of snow just a few days before the race, but by Boxing day most of it had gone, so the race was on.
First up on the day was Tommy (age 7) running in the U13 fun run - twice round the recreation ground, a distance of 1k, and including slippery mud on the corners and a patch of snowy slush! Cheered on by myself, Ann and Alan (his Grandad and chief Stubby supporter for the day) he finished in 11th place in 5:01 and second U8 - an excellent result. The race was won by Joshua Angell (U13) in a time of 3:44, 49 children took part.
Ann and I took part in the main race. As part of the course was still icy, we used the bad weather route - twice round the recreation ground, to the top of the hill and back. It was tough underfoot due to the mud, snow and slush, and quite busy as runners were on the path in both directions. However, the sun came out and it was a lovely day for running. I finished in 81st in a time of 23:26, just pipped on the line by a man whose choice of sherry trifle instead of christmas pudding appeared to have given him the edge. Ann finished 190th in 28:20, and with a cheer of support from Tommy, Alan and I put on a fine sprint to overtake three people on the finish straight. The race winner was Adam Searle of Stevenage and North Herts AC in a time of 16:50, first lady was Natasha Pitman of North Herts Road Runners in 20:42, 323 people took part.
All in all an excellent Boxing Day race.
John Blake.