SO Evening Event – Devil’s Dyke Trail Challenge
This event is designed to be a physical challenge in an amazing piece of landscape. The navigation is kept simple to attract runners as well as orienteers.
The weather was not helpful. It was cold and we were hit by several showers, some of which dumped impressive amounts of water on us. There was a moderate wind too and the cloud meant that it was going to be dark earlier than expected.
The mass start was an unusual experience. About 50 people all running straight down the Dyke with most holding back in fear of falling on the chalk and gravel but a few brave souls pulling ahead by almost flying down the steep slope. The kilometre to the first control went by quickly for everyone – about 6 minutes for me and I was towards the back of the field. Then the course took a sharp turn along paths to the left, uphill across a small field and then along in woodland before crossing a relatively small (but still challenging) hill and then the killer – over a kilometre of relentless uphill: never too steep but maxing out heart-rate and hurting lungs and legs. Proper runners then went across the relatively flat hilltop before dropping down again and having a punishing uphill to the finish. People like me were able to cut across the top of the Dyke after control 5 to finish the short course. I was fairly pleased with my time, though I had hoped to break 30 minutes and did not do so – I went too high in the woodland and I just could not run all the way uphill. Nick Barrable, with several runners in hot pursuit, finished about a minute after I did, only he had run the full 8km. Rather put me in my place!
What should have been a cheerful time for banter became very anxious when students I had brought from school did not arrive within the expected time. Two were found quickly but too had been determined to navigate themselves out of trouble and so took themselves out of the immediate area, though they were not in any danger and had not left the “bounded area” formed by roads. We had to start a proper search and found them just as it was beginning to get dark. It meant a late night and lots of worry, but thankfully it was just a memorable adventure for them.