Race Report: Halloween Hellraiser 26/10/2014

The Halloween Hellraiser is organised by South Cheshire Harriers.  It is always good to support local races, and this year’s event was as enjoyable as ever.  

Frankentom emerges from the graveyard

The main event was preceded by a 1 mile fun run.  Adam had bought a skeleton costume, hoping to wear it for a school disco that never happened.  So he volunteered for the fun run, having to be accompanied by Amy.  As it turned out, Adam was so quick, Amy couldn’t keep up and had to cut her run short (cheat!) to stay anywhere near him.

The main event is an undulating 9 mile course, predominantly off road.  The race starts close to South Cheshire Harriers HQ at the Crewe Vagrants Sports & Social club near Willaston.  Although the start is on a quiet country lane, the course leads you quickly into open countryside.  We ran across fields (with occasional muddy patches in field entrances) and across stiles to eventually arrive at Wybunbury Church.  At this point there is a sharp climb, followed by descent on slippery stone steps.  

Heather was second lady home

This year I had decided to run in fancy dress, with a Frankenstein mask and remnants of my Medoc morris dancing costume (minus ribbons and straw hat!).  I had to remove the mast at this point because I couldn’t see where my feet were going.  Leaving the church grounds there was a lengthy run along the road (uphill), turning right to loop around fields and retracing our steps along the road back to the church.  The last 3 miles were across fields and horse paddocks, crossing back over the A500 to finish opposite the sports club.  It’s a very pretty course, very well marshalled with lots of encouragement (and sweets!) to keep you going.  I would thoroughly recommend this to anybody wanting to undertake an off-road event but reticent to attempt a fell run.

Tom on the approach to the finish

Heather Carter was 2nd lady home. I had a steady run (feeling rather off colour, and hoping my costume would cover up my lack of pace). Christiane Bunte was next home, followed by her daughter Sophie, who had come home for a restful weekend away from University, only to be suckered into a completing a Parkrun and cross country run!

For further details, consult the website http://www.southcheshireharriers.org.uk/clubraces/hellraiser

Tom