On a sunny spring Monday evening we set off up the M1 to take on the first Trunce race of the year. Having read about this race over the winter we were looking forward to giving it a go. With a couple of big climbs and three river crossings in 4 miles it sounded like exactly the kind of race Dom would love and Ryan would love to hate.
We beat the crowds getting to the field so avoided the queue, paid our £3, pinned on our homemade race numbers, warmed up and were ready to go racing in our new KADS vests for the first time. Mile 1 DD - After a delay to the start the whistle came out of nowhere and we were off. A fast start with a couple of gates, which didn’t slow me down as much as I thought, then after a short climb a downhill section through the woods, I was a bit held up here on the narrow track to the famous kissing gate and down to the first river crossing, they say you shouldn’t use the stones because of the slip risk but they were dry so I bounced across them no issues, down the short road section and on to the first hill RS - "Don't recce t'route, it's on private land'' was the start brief in a booming Yorkshire twang and we were off. Unlike Dom, we had fights to get over the first sets of various gates. Nice downhill through the woods and across the river (I went through it) and was feeling relatively comfortable. Mile 2 DD - Probably the best section of the route, up to the top of the hill along and along quarry top, it’s a bit narrow but an interesting path and very runnable. I did end up getting held up a little along here and on the path to the second river crossing. This one was a little deeper and catching my foot on a tree root on the bank meant a stumble and wet shorts for the rest of the run, luckily managed to stay on my feet though. RS - Shoelace came undone at the start of mile 2. Tied it, looked up, saw the hill, immediately stopped feeling comfortable and said a few profanities whilst approaching it. And going up it. I was then informed this wasn't the worst of the inclines. A few more profanities. Got held up when eventually we could run so a couple of us had to make our own routes across a tricky ridge. Probably the best downhill section through the woods and onto the deep river crossing. Vertically challenged people like myself might have needed armbands. Mile 3 DD - Starts off on a fast downhill road section all the way to the final river crossing followed by a tough hill. Admittedly I walked here and there on this hill because others around me were, I probably should have been able to run the whole thing though so will be next time. RS - Half mile or so of tarmac running was nice down to the next river crossing. Fella in front of me took the stepping stones and stacked it completely. Bloody arm and face, he said he was fine and carried on. Then into 'Parliament Hill' style mud and the hardest uphill which felt never ending. Walked all of it, probably the lowest point for me and got annoyed with myself. Single track path also made overtaking difficult. Mile 4 DD - Fantastic finish to a race with a very quick downhill, followed by a flat path. I ran hard down the last straight and managed to hold off the guy chasing me who I could hear the whole way, but wasn’t quite able to catch the next guy in front who had came past earlier though. All in all a very enjoyable race. RS - Downhill finish, ran hard, no idea where the finish line was, so I was clinging on for dear life. Play the game though, every PB is worth points here. Immediately crossed the finish line for a tactical chunder like several others. Tough but unique course. Overall result: Ryan 67 in 34:09 Dom in 89 in 35:58 out of 341 in the senior race. The next Trunce race is 21st April and there are 7 more after that as well if anyone wants to come along. In terms of difficulty it’s probably similar to our cross country league races. Sure what else would you be at on a Monday evening? Dom and Ryan
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