Thursday 15 March 2012

The Grizzly - Every Hill Has A Silver Lining...

“You must be mad” is a phrase heard in the ears of thirteen keen Northampton Road Runners at the weekend. These crazy individuals made the long trip to Devon to take part in the iconic Grizzly, a 20 mile challenge starting from the pretty seaside town of Seaton. The route, which adds new surprises every year, headed along a half mile stretch of shingle beach before up and over a cliff into the neighbouring village of Beer. There was no time to stop for any liquid refreshment as more hills and cliff climbs greeted runners to sap the energy from the legs and you haven’t even reached mile three by this point.

The rest of the course includes a knee deep river crossing, the famous “Bog Of Doom”, also knee deep and the “Stairway to Heaven”, a cliff climb that is near impossible to walk up, let alone run. At the peak of the aforementioned stairway, the marshals take great delight in telling runners that they have completed the last climb only for two more to lay in waiting.

Despite the mental toughness required to complete this crazy challenge, the Grizzly is one of the best events on the running calendar. The Cub Run is a nine mile option and Jo Smith completed the challenge in 1:33:24.

Onto the Grizzly and Mark Nightingale flew around the course in an impressive 3:12:11. Former club member Rich (The Ambulance) House took advantage of training in his home surroundings of Dorset and finished in 3:28:55. John Fleming drove down to Devon on the morning and probably was awake enough to feel any pain as his was one of the stars of the show with a 3:36:38 finish. Seasoned off-roader Mark Garrettt also broke four hours in 3:48:37.

Debutants Jocelyn Granger (4:13:50), Mark Kennedy (4:13:53) and Darren Baldwin (4:15:37) shared a journey around the course before Jocelyn’s sprint finish to the line.

Suzanne Baldwin also had plenty of energy for a quick finish crossing the line in 4:18:32 just ahead of Jim Anderson in 4:19:35. Wendy Parker survived an early fall to finish with Ronnie Ambrose in 4:20:02. Another off road long distance veteran Mick Clarke completed the challenge in 4:30:55 and Jan Brawn completed the line up with a fantastic 5:05:19 finish.

Everyone who participated said this was pretty much the best event they have ever entered. NRR would encourage club members to try it out next year and you too can survive the Grizzly. Every hill has a silver lining!

Cub Run
Jo Smiff 1:33:24

Grizzly
Mark Nightingale 3:12:11
Rich (the ambulance) House 3:28:55
John Fleming 3:36:38
Mark Garrettt 3:48:37
Jocelyn Granger 4:13:50
Mark Kennedy 4:13:53
Darren Baldwin 4:15:37
Suzanne Baldwin4:18:32
Jim Anderson 4:19:35
Wendy Parker 4:20:02
Ronnie Ambrose4:20:02
Mick Clarke4:30:55
Jan Brawn 5:05:19

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