"The Winter Tanners is a challenge walk (or run) of circa 30 miles (or 20 miles) on Surrey footpaths and bridleways with MINIMAL support in weather conditions which may be adverse. Only strong and self-reliant walkers & runners should enter."
After last years cancellation due to snow and this years weeks of rain and flooding in the area I was pleased that the event took actually took place. In fact the organisers already had a back up diversion in place in case flooding was still present on the course (it wasn't but it was still very muddy).
I do love LDWA events, despite being mainly walking events, they are are also open to runners. They offer a very stripped down pure form of running. For your entry fee (as a LDWA member it was £4, non-members pay an outrageous £6!), you get 3 check points (well stocked with biscuits, drink, raisins, bananas, etc.), and a very detailed set of route instructions to print out and follow. You start when you are ready, with the time being written down by a marshal (no timing chips here), all very retro.
As there are no route marking on the course you do need to keep concentration on those directions, there were a few people who got a little lost, but you can so tell if you go wrong as the instructions are very detailed.
There were a few occasion I thought II may have got lost - 300 yards on an open road flies by - but 300 yards on a narrow wooden track takes forever, and you begin to doubt if you have taken the correct path.
A pure version of running - no trail marking, you need to be responsible for you own route finding, a few times runners/walkers in front took a turning too early, missed it - or where happily following the 30 route, rather than the 20.
I even learnt a few new words - did you know that driveways could "bifurcate"? (me neither).
The course was muddy, some of the down hill parts were particularly tricky, but it all added to the "fun", I think the worst parts are always plodding along the edge of rain sodden fields - poor grip, and feet getting wetter with every step. It was nice to hit the fire break trail through Coldharbour and get some forward traction.
Weather was cold and frosty to start with, warmed slightly later but never too cold/ I finished and got in the car just before it started to rain, so avoided getting soaked.
This is not really a race, but as a training run it is fantastic - the mind is always active checking the directions and where the feet are going to land to avoid the worst of the mud, 30 miles in the second week of January - excellent start to the year.
All this for £4 - wow, remember that next time you stump up the cash for London or Brighton :-)
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