Badger Farm CC6 - Race Report

I’ve volunteered at this race a couple of times – but this was the first time I’ve run it.  Louise, our winter race director, was working with Southampton AC and Winchester AC to organise this event & had agreed to supply 12 of the 36 volunteers needed.  The rules of the CC6 series allows the organising clubs to have a team of 3 running – so once Lou was sure she had the 12 required, she gave me & Claire D permission to run.  I think 1 more could have done, but the problem is that volunteering kit varies majorly to running kit - the former is all about staying warm enough to stand still for an hour or so in the great outdoors, the latter is about keeping cool enough!

So I felt very lucky to have a running place.  Conveniently, this CC6 was on 1^st December, the first day of Marcothon – a challenge to run every day in December that I am repeating, having enjoyed it last year.

Volunteers were sent off to various corners of the course, leaving Claire & I to set off – and Pat to hover by the funnel as a proper EA race official.

4.2 miles, one short loop, one big loop then a repeat of the short loop.  Looking at the route map before we set off avoided the “I thought I’d finished” crisis I experienced at the Alverstoke RR10 having completed the big loop!  Terrain was mostly chalk path, a little mud, many leaves and some field bits.  I was grateful that it hadn’t rained much in the preceding days so the mud was a little sticky as opposed to full scale slippery.

There was one big hill, Yew Hill, and apparently all runners were a bit subdued leading up to it.  Seeing a snake of runners working up it from my normal position towards the back was impressive.

What made a huge difference on this run was the quality of the marshals (yes, I’m biased!).  SRS marshals were fabulously enthusiastic – and I loved the extra encouragement from Daisy, Japser and Brandon – excellent cheerleaders.   And boy, we do cake well.  

Well done Claire, thanks to all the helpers - and nice work Louise!

39: Claire D

61: Me

Volunteers included: Louise, Sam, Sally, Rachel, Jo, Jasper, Tanya, Tess, Pat, Claire H, Brandon, Sarah N, Genie, Daisy, Marian, Siri, Vicky, Dee, Wendy and Claudia.

Photos: Paul Hammond