Rasselbock Winter Race (Day 2) – Race Report and Results

By: James Lawrence

Race Date: 12th January, 2025

Venue: Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire

Rasselbock Running are a relatively new run organiser that won a best grass roots race company award last year, and focuses on sustainability and inclusion at all their events. After attending their half / full marathon event last year I was impressed with both the event and what Rasselbock stood for, so when Ash Mellors mentioned this event on a Monday run in November, I thought it would be a good test of my readiness to start training for the Manchester marathon at the end of April.

The course is 5.79km round Sherwood Pines via forest roads, paths and trails, and you have 6 hours to complete as many laps as you can. That means 2 for a 10k, 4 for a half marathon, 8 for a full marathon or 9 for an ultra. There is a tent at the start/finish line where you can leave drinks and food, as well as a large table of baked goods, sweets, fruit and even pickles. The event fell the week after the RSR, but as it’s in a forest the snow and ice had mostly melted away from the paths, and the event was never really in danger of being cancelled. I didn’t know if any other Striders would be in attendance but it was no surprise when I pulled into the car park opposite three familiar faces in the long distance arm of the club wrapping themselves up warm; Cara Hanson, Andy Hinchcliffe and Brian Jenkins, who between them managed over 1000 miles in LDS 2024 (I was a rather pathetic by comparison 81!).

On the way to the start line I asked them what their strategy was and I was pleased to hear their hoped for timings were similar to mine which was 40 minutes per lap, which allows for some faffing at the end of each lap to replenish drinks, eat something, go to the loo etc. I also learned that Andy had never done an ultra before despite having done numerous ‘regular’ marathons so this was hopefully to be his first. After picking-up numbers and double-checking gloves and hats we all headed to the start line where I made the rookie move of forgetting that there are no chips in the numbers so the 90 seconds I let go by before heading off was all time wasted!

The course went downhill at first through the forest dirt trails and onto a road, then onto a path, then a road, then a path, then another road, then another trail etc. (see attached video for the whole lap!) It was a reasonably undulating course but none of the hills were too dramatic, and the change in surface and scenery were all very helpful in keeping it interesting. The occasional sign that Worksop half marathoners are used to seeing were in the woods over there (bonus points for anyone who understands the goose one) helped to keep runners amused on their laps as well.

I prefer running with my headphones in so was generally a way behind the three others at the start of each lap, but would catch them up by the end, so there was opportunity to have a quick chat on how we were feeling while grabbing a drink, snack. After lap two Cara revealed that the course wasn’t hilly enough for her liking, as her typical strategy is to walk up the hills and run down, so the unhillinmess meant that there was more running than usual. Also after some laps, some de-layering took place as whilst the temperature wasn’t changing that much, it was certainly getting warmer! Hats and gloves came off quickly, followed a bit later by the long sleeved top.

Everyone was still reporting feeling good, and whilst I’d wondered how long I might be able to keep going at the start, at about lap four or five I decided that I was going to do the whole nine laps. Having the others just in front of me was a real help when it came to pace, and each time we chatted it was a real boost to hear that we were all getting tireder but still feeling like we’d finish. The start/finish area was also really useful and the atmosphere on the whole course super positive. The marshalls (who I found out later had all run the day before!) were there for the duration and all so friendly and encouraging I actually looked forward to saying hello to them each lap. One guy nearish the end in particular always looked super-impressed to see me (indeed everyone I guess!) and the more laps that went on the more excited he seemed to get.

At the end of lap 8 (so officially my second ever marathon) we had a few minutes in the bank and could take a more leisurely 45 minutes to get round, and since there was no faffing at the end to do, it would be even more leisurely! We set off as a Striders team and walked the first 500 metres or so before jogging for a while. We had thought that there was a ten minute grace period at the end, so you essentially had 6 hours and ten minutes to finish, so imagine our horror when walking halfway up the hill to the finish (at about 6:04), a fellow runner had come back down the course to tell us that we only in fact had five minutes grace. With herculean effort, we dragged ourselves up the last couple of hundred metres to the line in triumph. It later turned out that there was in fact fifteen minutes grace so we suspect that guy was either being over encouraging or was a marshall wanting to go home!

This was a great event and for both me and Andy, a first ultra marathon, and indeed a few kilometres extra on top of the requisite fifty. I’d definitely do another one of these, if not just for what might have been the best bath I’ve ever had when I got home.

Link to timelapse of one of the laps – https://www.facebook.com/share/v/12KyfeixK13/

The race was won by: Matthew Fletcher (of no identified club) who completed 11 laps (63.69 km) in 05:55:41, and Nicola Blatherwick (of no identified club) who completed 10 laps (57.90 km) in 05:41:02 .

Striders’ results:

Place Name Laps Distance Time
28 Cara Hanson 9 52.11 km 06:04:44
29 James Lawrence 9 52.11 km 06:04:45
30 Andy Hinchliffe 9 52.11 km 06:04:48
31 Brian Jenkins 9 52.11 km 06:07:12

Full results:

https://rasselbock.co.uk/live-result/

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