Events - Fat Girl Fit

Full Day Bootcamp with The PT Barn

Yesterday I took part in a bootcamp. Not just any bootcamp but a full day bootcamp and by full day I mean six hours long. Yeah….that. A lot of people asked why and the answer is that I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could make it through the day without breaking.

This was put on by Scotty PT from The PT Barn, the same coach/company from the body transformation course I have previously blogged about (I’m on the second course as we speak so there will be another blog post about that in the not too distant future).

The full day event was described as 6 hours of full on bootcamp fun! I read into this a little more as I was pretty sure that Scotts idea of fun and mine could differ. We were to expect a wide range of exercises and activities and these would range from individual performances, team fitness challenges and a range of cryptic puzzles to get the most out of your body and mind giving the perfect mix of fun and fitness! Sounded fun, but I knew how intense the bootcamp sessions can be and so expected six hours worth to be more than just hard, especially given the cold weather and the fact that I had already had a hard hour and a half bootcamp session with Scott the previous day.

We received a wristband with a barcode and it had a number on it – I was 123280. We were to memorise that number and would be asked throughout the day – this was one example where if you gave a wrong answer you would get a punishment of some sort. I was last back to the field in a group of five and this saw me doing 50 burpees. I was asked what Scott’s favourite colour was and I said black because at the time I was thinking like your soul (I hate burpees) and this left me with another 10 burpees.

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We had not one but three coaches and the first part of the day was pretty much a three hour beasting! No one is exempt from this – everyone is treated exactly the same. There is screaming and shouting from the start from all coaches. I knew this would be the case in advance and also knew that I would need mental strength to get through and that is weaker than my current fitness levels. The ploughed fields are relentless, making everything harder work, zapping your energy in the process.

Now my blog posts are about my journey trying to get fit and lose weight and are brutally honest (I’ve got a long way left to go) so I will admit that I go into most events assuming I will be the slowest and least fit so not exactly positive mental attitude but something I am working on! That being said I was worried that if anything would break me it would be the first half and I am not too proud to admit that it almost did! I thought on more than one occasion I really shouldn’t be here but there is a massive mix of abilities and it was the support of fellow team mates that really made me dig deep and push on.

The moment when you want to quit, is the moment when you need to keep pushing.

After changing into dry clothes and getting some much need refuelling around a fire and some hot drinks in us we go to the second half of the day, which was structured around team activities and saw us working together pulling a van out of a field, climbing in and out of trenches, huge tyres, through tables, stretcher carries and much much more.

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I almost don’t want to give too much away for those that may be interested in signing up for a future event like this. And you should. It’s bloody hard work, it’s testing both mentally and physically, you will not like the coaches on more than one occasion in the earlier session I am sure, but then the team work builds you straight back up again and I am grateful to have been on this with so many amazing people.

I feel like I achieved something pretty big by completing this and if I am totally honest it left me a bit emotional both during and after (also slightly broken). I did it, and to give a taster look how we finished the day off – pulling a monster truck up and down a field!

https://www.facebook.com/www.theptbarn.co.uk/videos/1843842145861495/

Category: Events, Running

London Winter Run 10k

Yesterday I took part in the Human Races Winter Run 10k in support of Cancer Research UK.

I’ve managed to do this event every year since its start three years ago and have enjoyed it every time and would definitely recommend. This year there was a record 16,500 participants – an amazing amount of people raising important funds for Cancer Research #cancersucks

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It’s a closed road 10k run through the city of London. As I work in the city and this route goes past my office I always find it slightly surreal being able to run rather than dodging people as I am used to Monday to Friday.

It is a slightly different run where you start off entering the starting funnel where you can see snowmen with snow machines to get you in the mood. On course you will also see penguins and husky’s (people in fancy dress just to be clear). Lots of high fives as you go – I always love the little children on the side supporting holding their hand out so tend to stick to the left to high five them.

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The route is marked every 1km you pass so I made sure I stayed comfortable and steady and didn’t look at my watch just decided to enjoy it.

You finish to lots of polar bear hugs before you collect your medal, coconut water and lindt chocolate bar which was much appreciated! At the end there was even a St Bernard for a photo (both fancy dress and real) – she was called Isobel and such a cutie!

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Now from previous blog posts you will know I find running tough and don’t particularly enjoy it (unless there are mud and obstacles at some point), however, I really enjoyed this run. There’s always loads of support on course and I will be eagerly waiting for the official photos, which will hopefully show some smiling and also my funky leggings from Tikiboo that I am sure helped on the day!

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I clocked up almost 6.7 miles on this event in a time of 1 hour 1 minute meaning that I managed some personal bests as can be seen below from my strava – all in all I was one happy lady!

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I will absolutely be back next year and as I said earlier if you are interested I would definitely recommend.

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My race entry was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Category: Events, Fitness, OCR

6 week Body Transformation course with the PT Barn

I’ve not posted in a while and the reason is that I have been absolutely knackered!

Six weeks ago I started a 6 week body transformation course with Scotty from The PT Barn. The 6 week course is an intensive course with four sessions a week; three of which are bootcamp sessions and one is strike, which I have described to people as cardio boxing (pad work). I knew this was going to test me and push me way outside the limits of my comfort zone but I hit a plateau earlier in the year and was determined to change things up so signed up for the challenge.

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I knew Scotty from Nuclear and so I knew fun Scotty, I knew Scotty covered in mud playing at the Nuclear summer party running around and going head first down the Death Slide. I am not sure I was prepared for Scotty PT who is there to get results for every member of the group. I feel like Scotty PT is Scotty’s alter ego – he is harsh and he shouts and means business. Scotty we can put Christmas baubles in his beard and he smiles.

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I am the girl who doesn’t like to go to the weights section in the gym because quite frankly I have no idea what I am doing, I won’t go to a class for the first time on my own, I am easily intimidated and I am also generally telling everyone I am the slowest etc so even signing up to this for me was a pretty big deal.

However, there were 22 people on the course and one massive thing for me was that they were all lovely! The course is really geared around teamwork and is done in such a clever way that it caters for people of all abilities so you never end up in a situation where you feel you are always last or people are waiting for you. For me in terms of confidence this made a huge difference. Now obviously you know who is stronger, quicker etc so I didn’t come away thinking yeah I am like Usain Bolt but I didn’t come away thinking oh god I’ve held up 21 other people – this matters!

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Over the 6 weeks there were 24 sessions and I missed two but this was due to an OCR (Nuclear Fallout 12k) and a duathlon, both of which I was already signed up to. Out of the 24 sessions not a single one was the same. Every session was structured differently so you had no idea what to expect aside from knowing you were there to work hard and push yourself. The bootcamp sessions are held on a rec site and surrounding woods so involves running on grass, hills, trails, difference exercises, intervals, weights, stretchers and many more.

Never before have I played ultimate frisbee – its frisbee but not as you know it! A coded message to navigate through the woods for clues using a map and walkie talkies doing exercises as we got to check points before collecting tyres of varying sizes and stretchers and navigating back.

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It’s not just about weight loss, or strength training, its also about getting healthier all round. There is a private facebook group for those on the course including those past members and so there is a lot of chats, exchanging of hints and tips, general chat and food ideas and again really supportive. Scotty is also part of this group and available for support whenever you need it.

In addition to the sessions there are sets of exercises to complete daily in the morning and evening and access to some equipment should you need to borrow it. There are stretches to be done in addition and you are given a therapy band to use for some of the sets and stretches.

Prior to starting the course everyone completes a consultation with Scotty and you go through what you want to achieve, set goals and also get weighed and have body measurements done – such a lovely process that anyone who has had done will know involving callipers to check body fat and if that did not motivate me then I don’t know what will!

It was not easy and I am not going to say it was as that would be a lie. It was intense, it was hard, I am not sure I have ever sweated as much as I did in some of the sessions, I got used to that feeling of thinking I may be sick at some point during most sessions and I may have had a complete wobble at the start where I messaged Scotty worried I was not good enough and was out of my depth to which I had a lovely reply reassuring me that was not the case and so I gave myself a mental slap and got on with it.

Pad work for me was something totally new and I am still looking for where my power is hiding but I am giving it a good go and pads and gloves will be purchased soon so I can work on this at home too.

At the beginning of the course I ran 14.5 lengths of the football pitch in ten minutes and on the last week I was 1 meter short of 16 lengths in the same time.

In the last session at the barn we tackled monkey bars – before the course I could basically hang, literally no movement and in the final session with a lot of encouragement from my team I managed three in the barn and whilst I realise a lot of people can do loads more I was chuffed with that as it is progress and I moved and didn’t fall in a heap on the floor or on my arse!

All of the above for £150! Have I sold it to you? I’ve signed up for the next course in January as I am still part way through my fitness and weight loss journey – lets do this!

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Category: Cycling, Events, Running

My first ever duathlon

Just realised I titled this my first ever duathlon which would give the impression that I may do it again – maybe I will?

On Saturday I headed to Dorney Lake with my friend Helen as we were both taking part in the F3 Events Autumn Classic Windsor Duathlon. It meant another 5am alarm call, which is never welcome though over the course of this year Helen and I have taken part in so many events it seems the norm to work all week and have an alarm call that early at some point over the weekend for an event we have signed up to.

So it was early and it was cold, very cold.

The event is held at Dorney Lake, which a lot of people will know from the Olympics where the rowing events took place. I’ve been there a number of times before to support my husband in various triathlon events and so knew the course would be laps and go up and down or around the lake. The benefit of this venue is that it is closed roads all held within the ground and for a first duathlon attempt this seemed to make perfect sense.

There were three distances, super sprint, sprint and standard. I was originally signed up to take part in the standard distance though found out afterwards that there was a cut off time and so I decided to reduce the distance to the sprint. This meant I would do a 5k run, 20k bike, 5k run. I’d never done anything like this before where an event is multi discipline and so transition would be a first for me also.

There were quite a number of serious looking athletes, a number of Team GB participants and a whole transition area full of impressive TT bikes. I felt pretty intimidated. But I was there and would take part and complete, of that I was sure.

Normally in a run event I get caught up with the group and start off too quickly, at a pace I cannot maintain, but was conscious that I would not do this on Saturday and was not overly fussed about my time or pace providing I completed having run both legs without any walking breaks as i have been struggling a bit with my running.

The run leg was a 2.5k lap and so I had to complete two laps before I could get on my bike. The first lap was fine and I was not surprised, but impressed, to see the runners at the front taking quite a lead and I even smiled when I saw my friend Helen and she shouted and waved hello.

I finished my second lap and took my time taking a quick drink as I had stupidly forgotten to fill my water bottle so knew there would be no drink for me (silly mistake but not a huge deal with the distances I was completing) then headed into transition. Now this was an odd feeling! I put on my helmet, I had run in my gloves and glasses and started to unpack my bike before realising I needed to put on my cycle shoes so with some pretty cold and numb fingers I took off my trainers and put on my cycling shoes, turned on my garmin and was reminded by a kind marshall that transition time was counted to which I replied “I know’. Having never done this before I was going to take my sweet time so I didn’t make any stupid mistakes.

The bike course was four laps and although it is flat and closed the wind made you work for it for sure. I genuinely thought it would be much easier than it was but soon got my confidence as I overtook a number of people and got into my stride on the bike.

Coming off the bike and getting ready for the final leg was funny. I almost forgot to take off my helmet and then nearly left transition in my cycling shoes. Again I took my time and with even colder fingers got on my trainers and headed out for the run. I say headed out for the run but I walked out of transition fiddling with my watch.

I left transition at the same time as another man and after one lap he was still behind me but came up to the side and asked if it was off putting that he was just behind me, to which I said no and if I am honest if he was not there I would probably walked at some point so I was grateful. As I said it was my first duathlon and I have never done a brick run either. A brick run is a run straight after being on the bike and it was an odd feeling. I felt like my legs were not my own and made of jelly and it took a while to settle into a slow and steady rhythm whilst still focussing on running the entire thing.

The guy I was running with was called Tim and he was a cyclist and this was also his first duathlon and we stayed together for the rest of the run crossing the finishing line together. I had completed it!

Duathlon done! Maybe not the quickest but I am pretty pleased with that and it is another goal for 2016 that I can tick off my list!

Category: Events, OCR

Nuclear Fallout

As you know I absolutely love Nuclear Races. I love the events, love to participate, love to marshall, love the atmosphere – literally can’t get enough of it (in case that wasn’t clear – I love it).

This time last year I took part in the 12k Fallout event and at the weekend I went back for more.

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Once again I was part of the amazing team Scrambled Legs – an amazing group of people and I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else. We start together, we laugh our way round and we finish together.

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The 12k course has 100 obstacles and the route had been amended by the Nuclear family to allow for what was feared to be pretty rubbish weather. So it was no surprise that as we arrived it was raining. And cold, I guess I should mention it was cold.

Parking up, registering, bag drop, collecting ordered items everything is always easy and hassle free at Nuclear and so after parking up we were in the event village with the team in no time.

When our wave was called we headed to the start pen and joined in with the warm up and off we went.

Nuclear is known for its mud and as usual (especially with the rain) there was mud in abundance! A couple of our team were new and wearing road trainers so were sliding around like bambi on ice, not that we laughed (much).

Really nice touch to have a couple of fire pits going, jelly babies being given out and hot juice as well – we started dancing whilst drinking those next to the fire and almost didn’t want to leave – was a nice warm up after a plunge in the lake following the Death Slide, which was really cold but my favourite obstacle so no way I was missing it!

Was also following an obstacle being run by Scott from the PT Barn who I am currently training with as always good to see a friendly face and some words of encouragement.

As always there were many Mudd Queens either running in the event or marshalling and as I’ve said before this is a group I am part of for ladies who take part in OCRs and such a supportive group of people, many of whom are now friends, that the Mudd Queen love was amazing as we made our way round the course.

I am a tad gutted with myself that I didn’t even attempt the obstacle Isotope but it freaks me out – one day I will have the courage!

I should apologise to my team members for any feet to the face moments – I am very grateful to their help in getting my up and over a wall or two and don’t intentionally kick them in the face (Adam) – next time I will have more control over my feet.

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Some of the team were lucky to collect their Mudallion medal as well as the medal for the event as they had completed all of the Nuclear events this year (I missed one due to holidays) but I will get that next year!

I am now aching and covered in bruises – possibly too much information but most sore part is always my legs and arms that take a battering but also my stomach and boobs! I think I land on my stomach a lot and boobs just get in the way! They seem to perch going over things and then get stuck as you’re trying to get down the other side – and that’s just on the obstacle course then you have the whole other issue of trying to get off a sports bra whilst muddy and wet, which is a whole other ball game that should get its own medal – pesky boobs! But as always it was definitely worth it and I cannot recommend it enough!

Thanks as well to all the marshalls at the event without whom it would not be possible but their encouragement and energy is so very appreciated!

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#LOVEMUD

Category: Events, OCR

Mudd Queens Hit The PT Barn

At the weekend I signed myself up for a day of training with the amazing Mudd Queens and it took place on Nuclear Races ground at the PT Barn.

Now I’ve spoken before about Mudd Queens – they are an all female OCR network and the most positive and supportive group I think I have ever been part of. Nuclear is one of my favourite places to spend the day and so I need say no more on that front. The PT Barn I had not been to before and so was pretty excited. I know Scotty, who runs the barn, and he is lovely but with one thing and another I had never been to the barn, but wanted to so this was perfect. Their website says if you’re bored of conventional training then this is the place to try and it is true.

The day was structured so that it started with a class to develop skills in the barn, then a bootcamp session, then a team building session and then afternoon tea.

Now whilst I love OCRs I am the first to admit that without friends by my side there are some obstacles I will just not complete. Scotty said something I can really relate to and something that is part of the reason I love Nuclear. There are no egos and there is no shame in not being able to do something. They have a real family feel and are really supportive and so much fun. Scotty said everyone has their own goals and that could be to either compete or to complete. I am the latter. I do these to complete them. That in itself is a challenge and I have great fun doing so and I am perfectly happy with that. I also have huge respect for those that compete and think they are amazing too!

In the hour session in the barn I learned some techniques that I will use going forward at OCRs. I managed to move across the monkey bars – usually I am pleased if I can just hang. But I moved! I actually moved across! I also learned how to climb a rope – an actual rope. If you see me any time this week I may tell you I can climb a rope. Do me a favour and look impressed – thanks.

If you do get bored with conventional exercise – I do unless I have my good friend Emma telling me exactly what to do and how – the bootcamp with the lovely Tracey was great fun. All outdoors, getting muddy. In and out of ditches, using tyres – amazing! I think there is an advert with Mo Farrah where he says if you have fun while working out it doesn’t seem like working out and its true! The team work session was all outdoors with different obstacles, all whilst carrying someone on a stretcher. Working together around a course as a team.

This was followed by afternoon tea in the PT Barn from Little Pinkie Vintage Afternoon Tea. Quite odd to see that place you had earlier been swinging across monkey bars and climbing ropes in have a long table with pretty china, tea pots and cakes laid out for us, once we’d cleaned the mud off of course.

Yet another amazing day with amazing ladies and amazing teachers!

I will be back to see Scotty and to the PT Barn and will let you know when and why in another blog post, watch this space…….

Category: Events, OCR

Spartan Beast complete – Trifecta done!

As explained in a previous post I had set myself a goal for this year to earn myself the Spartan trifecta. The trifecta is earned when you complete the Sprint, Super and Beast races within the space of one year.

The Sprint is a minimum of a 3 mile run (was actually 4.5 miles) with at least 20 obstacles.
The Super is a minimum of an 8 mile run (was actually 8.5 miles) with at least 25 obstacles.
The Beast is a minimum of a 12 mile run (was actually 16.7 miles) with at least 30 obstacles.

I’d completed the sprint and super and at the weekend the beast was waiting for me. Naturally I was nervous as this was the longest distance in the Spartan trifecta and would be the furthest distance I have ever run. I was lucky that yet again I was taking on this challenge with my two lovely friends Helen and Stacey.

The beast was set in Windsor Great Park a stunning setting that provided nicer ground underfoot than the super in Peterborough. This was a trail run through the forests on bouncy ground for the most part aside from the tree roots and rabbit holes to dodge. Gorgeous park I will make sure I go back to visit – only managed to glimpse the deer briefly as we ran past and to be honest they paid very little attention to us as if a bunch of crazies running through mud and taking on obstacles was something they saw every day.

Most participants of obstacle runs know vaguely what they have in store when signing up and by that I mean Tough Mudder sees large quite extravagant and fun obstacles, Nuclear sees mud and fun with lots of obstacles making use of all the land they have in the best way and Spartan sees obstacles that require upper body strength and the beast did just that with quite a number of carrying obstacles and lots of walls.

The biggest thing I love about OCRs is how everyone comes together to help – I am lucky to complete such events with friends and have no shame in admitting I would not complete half the obstacles without assistance but complete strangers help where they can as well – I stood on some poor bare chested mans shoulder to get over an 8 foot inverted wall (poor guy) and was helped down a 9 foot vertical wall by a kindly gentleman – neither of whom I know but both of whom I am grateful to.

I am very pleased to say two obstacles that beat me at the super didn’t manage to do the same at the beast. I’d like to say I made them my b*tch but that was not the case. The slack line cargo net across the trees I got up and over (even if the crowd waiting to tackle the obstacle was about 20 people by the time I got to the top after exclaiming that the top line was in my vagina – classy as always)! And the rope climb up the wooden wall I managed (just) – this was the one I got to the top of at the super and then less than gracefully slid down the whole thing but not at the weekend (although nearly) I did make it.

We met a lovely lady part way through, called Kelly, who joined our threesome for the second half and we completed the event with her.

We met Tristan Steed who is part man part machine and generally wins these races. He had won the sprint on Saturday (again) and the Super on Sunday and we caught him at the second sandbag carry on his second lap – you know just for fun, with a weighted back pack too. Sadly he was not adorning the pink unicorn/rainbow leggings, which I told him was disappointing and he joked he didn’t want to get them dirty. He even stopped at a tree climb to offer assistance to a man who was cramping and offered to carry him down off the tree. This is the essence of obstacle runs. Tristan can run and race and win time and time again but stopped to help as it was needed and that is why I love these events.

The run was longer than we had originally thought and it was such a feeling of satisfaction to jump over the fire pit at the finish line and get our well earned medals. Even more so to do it with amazing ladies by my side.

I would also like to take a moment to remember the toe nail that was lost on this journey – totally gross but totally worth it. It survived the sprint and super but the beast claimed it – RIP toenail we had good times together.

Category: Cycling, Events

ICAP L’Etape London by Le Tour de France

Yesterday I took part in the Human Race cycling sportive L’Etape London. I was due to take part in this ride last year and due to injury I was unable to do so. I had hurt my wrist by falling off my turbo. Yes you read that right I basically fell off a static bike and whacked my wrist against a wall in the process. Impressive right? Not really I know!

So this year I was signed up and ready to do the long route. I’ve only been doing shorter rides since I had an accident on my bike in August leaving me unconscious and I am still pretty nervous so when I woke up and saw that it was torrential rain outside I started to panic and worry I would come off again. I had seen some other people I knew signed up on social media saying because of the weather they were giving it a miss. I was literally sitting at home in my dressing gown ready to get back in bed when a friend of mine who was doing the shorter route asked me to cycle with her and another friend and as the rain had cleared my husband quickly drove us to the start just in time to join the ride.

I would like to be able to say there was no rain but we got wet from the beginning and then as the rain stopped we promptly cooked like boil in the bag chickens in our waterproof jackets. However, then the skies cleared and I was so pleased I had gone after all.

I have had so many people ride with my and help me as I got into cycling and my friend Becky is relatively new to cycling so myself and Steve were more than happy to ride this for her. I will tell you something about Becky – she bought a bike last year and signed up to do the Prudential Ride London 100 mile ride and with relatively little training in comparison with most who participate in such a distance she completed it and went back again this year. She is someone with such determination and says she may not be quick but she is happy to get on her bike and put in the miles and that she did yesterday, smiling all the way.

We rode the 50 mile route and we laughed and chatted and had fun and that is what its all about – fun with friends on our bikes.

Steve was unsure as to why his banana didn’t taste nice – could it be because it was green? Clue is in the colour!

The ride starts and finishes at the Velopark in the Olympic Park and as you cycle on the open roads the route takes in some of Stage Three of the 2014 Tour de France. As you near the finish line you complete a 1k lap of the Velopark. It was such a good feeling to go through the finish line with two lovely friends and take our well earned medals and have a photo on the podium.

Chris Froome was also at the event and took part in the long route. I was keen to catch a glimpse of the man I had spent hours watching through various Tour de France’s on TV and as I saw a very unassuming man in jeans and a shirt be asked to sign a piece of paper I realised it was the man himself and so with my cleats on I ran over before he was surrounded by many people. Anyone who knows me knows I can chat for England and so I was not embarrassed to thrust my phone in front of me and him for a photo and I asked if I could be one of the many weirdos who asks to take his photo. He laughed and chuckled at my reference to weirdos before I took a quick photo and thanked him profusely.

He did also then look at my like one of the weirdos I referred to when I asked to take the pic ha ha.

I’ve never been disappointed with a Human Race event and this was no exception – so well organised and will ensure I return next year for sure! I especially liked the little signs in the toilets!

My race entry was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Category: Events, Fitness

The job of an event marshall

Do you take part in events? Have you ever marshalled an event? If, like me, you have then I commend you and take this opportunity to thank you. If not I would recommend you do.

Most people assume the marshalls on events are part of the company putting the event on or paid to be there. A lot of people are rude to them. Not many realise those jelly babies or other sugary treats they hand out they’ve paid for out of their own money as well as giving up their time to be there as volunteers.

Don’t get me wrong when volunteering as a marshall you generally get something in return like a free race pass or item of merchandise for example, which is great, but given that it is a very long day, most people do it to give back or for the love of the sport involved.

I’ve done a number of events with different friends and we always thank the marshalls. If it’s a run then sometimes I’m struggling to breathe and run and stay upright so can’t always say thanks but if a bike ride or obstacle run always make sure I do.

I’m part of a group called Mudd Queens and you always see other Mudd Queens at most events but especially as marshalls during obstacle runs. They are always on hand with muddy hugs, jelly babies and a friendly face and that small of act kindness from them makes such a massive difference so those taking part in the event. In my recent Spartan Super when we got to the tyre flip obstacle and at the finish to claim our well earned medals myself and friend Helen were so chuffed to see a fellow Mudd Queen, Jojo, at both!

I thought of doing a blog post about this when someone I know made a comment about the role of a marshall with little gratitude assuming they were paid as an employee by the company putting on the event and not actually realising that is not the case.

A friend from my cycling club, Romford CC, is part of East Essex Tri club and they recently out on a triathlon event and club members are asked to volunteer and then they can race and take part. Local Tri club Havering Tri did the same recently at their aquathon. In addition my running club, Havering ’90 Joggers, are often found as volunteers at local Park Runs. These people regularly take part in events and are happy to do their part in return.

It’s actually very rewarding and I have previously done a blog post when I volunteered as a marshall for Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest urban obstacle run and I will be taking part in Nuclear Races Blast event this weekend then on marshall duty for the evening event Blackout and I know I will finish both with a huge grin on my face and either none or very few jelly babies left in my bag!

It’s not just my opinion either, I asked quite a few people who have either marshalled or compete in events for their opinions and they were as follows:

“volunteering was a major part in my ocr journey. i started back in 2014 at a Tough Mudder and then ended up volunteering all year for them as it built my confidence and also the understanding what was involved in ocrs. i still prefer to marshal than run. From a marshal co-ordinators side most people dont realise how much time is put into organising marshals for a race. My love for OCR running and marshal has found me lucky to work for some great race events. People also need to remember if they say they will marshal then its important to turn up, but also make sure they are prepare for the day ahead.”

“I love volunteering for the fun factor . I love encouraging the girl at the back the one with no self esteem who just wishes she hadn’t come to the race .she has lots of tears and fears and then she goes over that wall runs through the mud falls flat on her face she picks herself up and smiles . We laugh all the way round the coarse and the demons are left in the muddy puddle and this girl goes of and gets herself fit then comes back fighting them obstacles stronger than ever she then becomes a volunteer and helps the next girl that comes a long . I give up at least three Saturdays either helping at nuclear taster days or I do local Parkruns .i dont look at it as volunteering but just putting the belief back in people.”

“Only that it’s a saviour when a Marshal says well done or keep going etc.. I really listen all desperately to what they say sometimes & get comfort from it when I’m tired So so appreciate it.”

So next time you take part in an event, gratefully take a sugary sweet that is offered, helping hand over an obstacle, advice at a junction on your bike, claim a medal please say thanks as without these guys those events would not be possible!

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