Adam in Runderland

If you had ever told me that I would win a running race of any length, I would have laughed. But that is exactly what happened last weekend. I still can't believe it. My friend had booked a place in the C2C Railway Children Ultra 50 mile event. Unfortunately he wasn't well enough to enter and so offered me the place if I would fundraise for the charity. I was keen to do so, as helping street children is a cause close to my heart. Railway Children work in Tanzania and India, both countries I have visited in the past and have experienced first hand the plight of such children. It was just one week after my Man v Horse run over 24 miles in the South Wales mountains. I wasn't feeling at my freshest. The route was pretty uninspiring too. Although billed as 'The Essex Riviera', it basically took in the north bank of the Thames. Rain was forecast. I wasn't looking forward to it. Despite my misgivings, I arrived in Upminster for the start. The race was being organised ...

The trail is ankle deep in mud. There are large U shaped holes in the ground. My brain is working overtime to relay information from my eyes to my legs to avoid breaking an ankle. I'm descending at speed through pine forest with shouts of 'Horse!' echoing behind me.  Moments later I hear the heavy breathing of a quadruped moving at speed. The drumbeat of hooves on turf are replaced with the splashing and squelching of the sodden earth. I feel a warmth on the back of my neck, almost imperceptible, likely imagined. Turning my head I risk a fall, but I need to see my foe. I glimpse the auburn mount bearing down on me, helmeted rider perched atop. I dive to the side of the trail just in time. The speeding steed is past in a moment. I watch as horse and rider gallop on and vanish into the shadows.  This isn't a recurring nightmare - that's the one about leading parkrun and then getting lost - nor is it my experience of participating in an anti-hunting protest. This was h...