This was a ‘6’ hour, endurance event, where participants could run, jog or walk, as many 5.4K  loops as they wished. The Butterfly Effect started at 9:00am on a bitterly cold February morning. Runners had many options; to run continuously throughout, if aiming to complete a marathon or ultra distance within the ‘6’ hour time limit, run a few loops, take a break and continue, or run as many loops as they wanted to complete and have an earlier get away.

At 8:45am it was bitterly cold. Runners were greeted with showers of hail stones as they made their way to the race village. (Conveniently, set up next to the café, with facilities available). In addition, Rasselbock provided their usual aid station, with a selection of sweet and savoury snacks and drinks, including home made cakes. If you want sports nutrition, bring your own. Rasselbock offer real food.

Ready to begin, like most other runners, I dressed in layers, including a waterproof, hat and gloves. The hail gave way to drizzle, as the event was due to start.

The loop starts on grass and includes trail and tarmac paths before another waterlogged grassy section, which evolved into a mud bath as the day progressed. The route leads out onto a quiet country road, before turning onto another trail path to loop back around to the start. The heavy rain in proceeding days had left a few puddles on the paths. There was one unavoidable puddle at the end of each lap, where runners were treated to a paddle on each loop.

The weather conditions improved somewhat. The rain stopped and the sun made an appearance. My gloves came off, part way round loop 1. At the end of the first loop, I stopped briefly to remove a layer.

The event is relaxed with opportunities to chat to other runners, dog walkers and families enjoying a family walk. Although, the course is marked, on loop 3, I got distracted chatting to a couple who were out walking. I missed a turn and ended up off course. Never mind, it is all extra time on feet.

I retraced my steps and rejoined the course. Lap 4 was uneventful, apart from negotiating deep mud through grassy fields and climbing up a muddy slope, rather like cross country. Parts of the loop were becoming challenging to stay upright, never mind run.

I decided that loop 6 would be my last loop of the day, as I hadn’t done any long distance running, for around 3 months. During this last loop, as I came out of the woodland section and turned onto the country road, I met a local resident who was out for his regular Sunday morning walk, with his dog. We started chatting. He wasn’t aware of the event and was in awe of the runners and their accomplishments. He told me that he had recently been widowed. He liked to get out every day with his dog, just so he could see people. I didn’t have the heart to jog on and leave him. We walked up the country lane, chatting until I needed to take a left turn onto the next trial section. He was continuing up the lane to his home. We said good bye and parted company.

Although, I had just walked about 400m on one of the few remaining runnable sections of the route, connecting with the dog walker was more meaningful. These events offer friendship, connection with nature and connection with others, whether they are running, walking or watching the event.

Such a fun and friendly event, next years Butterfly Event is already booked.