Slaughterford=20 9=20 27^th=20 January 2002=20 Race Report =96 Eric =91the eel=92 = Downey

A=20 multi-terrain running race over 9 miles of steeply undulating = countryside.=20 Whilst tackling the 900ft of ascent and descent, runners = encountered very=20 wet, slippy mud, running water above our knees, standing ponds of = water,=20 flooded fields, stony paths, fields, slippery bridges, treacherous = wooden=20 styles with barbed wire on them, steep hills only climbable on all = fours=20 and holding on to branches, farm tracks and the odd lane.

The=20 weather summed up my feelings, very wet, misty and drizzly. My = wife=20 thought I was mad giving up a nice warm bed to expend some energy = in the=20 rain.

The=20 =91hut=92 where we all met up was nice and warm and I bumped into = Allison=20 Lucas, Gordon Robbins and Paul Calabrese (who believes he is up = for=20 joining us) of Bitton Road Runners. Ian Gillard came as our = support team,=20 unfortunately not running as he had the leftovers of a Cold! It was rumored that Ian = Barter was=20 there but I missed him =96 sorry!

The Course

The=20 first mile started downhill on tarmac before descending further on = a rough=20 stony track through woodland. I did glance down at my watch to see = how I=20 was doing and ended up with my face in the dirt! It hurt!!! My knee and hand bore = the brunt of=20 the fall. I was = informed, by=20 a fellow runner how stupid I was to look at my watch while on a = steep=20 slippery track!! and that I would not = be doing=20 that again!! As he leapt over me! =20 The 2nd and 3rd miles, after some deep mud, emerged from = the=20 woodland via a lane descending towards the hamlet of=20 Slaughterford.

I=20 looked at my watch again (this time on firm ground) and could not = believe=20 I still had half as much to do again. Mile 4 takes in a short = shale path=20 before crossing two narrow wooden bridges into open flooded = fields. The=20 path follows a fast flowing stream before turning left to = successive=20 styles leading to a grassed ascent out of the valley. This was = murder to=20 get up and I had to do it on all fours! The branches came in handy = to hold=20 on to as well! The Saturday Morning Sheep Track had stood me in = good=20 stead!

Miles=20 6, 7 and 8 are across fields and included a steep muddy descent = into a=20 water splash (40 yards of above the knee fast flowing water). Mile = 8=20 continues by descending on a green lane bridleway of increasing = severity=20 towards Widdenham wier.
The last mile commenced on the = bridleway then=20 joins a steeper downhill section of compacted hardcore farm track. = A=20 concrete bridge is crossed before a style leads to the sting in = the tail,=20 a long and extremely steep grassed bank. A further style and right = turn=20 leads to a stony path which breaks out right onto a tarmac lane = initially=20 slightly downhill, but then uphill to the finish.

In=20 conclusion- It = was a great=20 race, very wet and muddy but good fun - Every body was very = friendly and I=20 am starting to recognize a few faces from some of the other local=20 events. Sorry there = were not=20 more from the Club, but it is still early in the season.

This year=92s race had 382 entries, with 344=20 finishers. Well = done to all=20 finishers it was a difficult race and a quote from Gordon = =91Bitton RR=92=20 =91harder/worce=92 than Dursley Dozen.

I finished 33^rd in 1:07, Allison came in = at=20 111^th in = 1:19 and=20 Paul Calabrese finished in 208^th in 1:33. Thanks to Ian = Gillard for=20 his support on the day.

The Slaughterford 9 is rapidly getting a reputation as a solid = race=20 with plenty of challenges. As the course description indicates it = is set=20 in some of the best countryside in the region with plenty of = challenges=20 along the way.

Lets see you there next year =96 I hope the weather will be = better!

CU soon - Eric