#Wolf Run – Summer Wolf 2017
It’s that time of the year again friends, here I am getting ready to attend all the events, spend hours cleaning my trainers and dirty clothing, only to do it all again the following week. This year was different, I finally got to take part in my first ever Wolf Run, I liked it so much that I went back…
Do not underestimate the demand to be part of the Wolf Run pack, places sell out fast and there’s a good reason why. They’ve managed to balance the perfect mix of great locations, a large selection of food and entertainment (for supporters or happy campers from the night before) and a fantastic, varied 10km course.
So, you may wonder ‘What is The Wolf Run all about?’ The Wolf Run is Wild Running – a unique combination of three kinds of off-road running: mud runs, trail runs and obstacle runs.
You might ask, ‘Is Wolf Run suitable for beginners?’ Yes! As long as you are comfortable running 10km and you’ve got a positive mindset in relation to getting wet, muddy and taking part in obstacles you’ll be fine.
Personally, I love courses in scenic locations, both the Wolf Run events are based in trawling countryside and offer primarily trail running conditions. With some uphill’s and lush muddy downhill sections which were ideal for getting your breath back or testing your balance, it’s okay to fall over, we’ve all been there!
Some of you might wonder ‘Is The Wolf Run difficult?’ and I always find this such a hard question to answer, because frankly, we all perceive obstacles in our own unique way. If I’m honest, I couldn’t find the confidence to go head first down the slide. BUT I saved that energy and swam the lake, which was something I felt really terrified about. I’m comfortable swimming in say a bikini, however, I’d not swam fully clothed in over 25 years and I’d certainly never swam in my trainers, the good thing is none swimmers can run around this.
So, on the difficulty level scale, I’d rate this 5/10 as there’s plenty of friendly ‘opt out’ area’s which I feel is really important, the obstacles are varied between natural and straightforward, keep in mind there’s always friendly assistance along the way. I strongly feel that a smiling face or a positive comment/push in the right direction can make all the difference during this kind of event, after all, we’re all in it together.
Because there are several waves during the day, after the initial rush I felt that all the entrants could then spread out and this massively reduced waiting times on obstacles. Apart from one tiny niggle, they did place a photographer in a massively thick, muddy section which left us waiting waist-deep in mud for 25 minutes. On the bright side, it’s a good place to rest, have a chat and enjoy being a massive mud bath with 50+ strangers….
Personally, I don’t attend these to set a new personal best, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the company of my friends whilst pushing my limits and having a good time. I completed the race feeling accomplished, happy and ready to clean off my kit in the seriously handy outdoor showers!
Have you ever taken part in a Wolf Run before?
Katie
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