The 2nd of January brought surprisingly mild weather for the Greenmantle Dash, meaning there was a great turnout from the junior competitors, which Euan and I ran, as well as in the adult race.
However the ground underfoot made up for the lack of rain, as apart from the river crossing at the start (n.b. do not take part if you are not a proficient swimmer), the majority of both ascent and descent could be accurately described as a ‘mudslide’.
After that it was a short tarmac slope down to the finish line outside the Broughton village hall. Euan managed to scare the spectators with his unnoticed nosebleed looking like an extra from a Hannibal Lecter film. Inside we were greeted very warmly with soup and tea and biscuits, and of course prizes! All the juniors racing received posh notebooks and pencils, as well as chocolate and a couple of bottles of Broughton’s Greenmantle Ale!.
I must say, my dad was particularly pleased about the last part We told him next time he has to run faster to get any himself!
Holly Burns