Irchester Dirt Run: Getting down and dirty with the trail team
Mud. Surrounded by modern appliances, warm homes and running water, many of us in the 21st Century might not get as cosy with it as our ancestors did.
In the good old days, mud was a cure for everything from skin disease to arthritis. Cleopatra bathed in it, the Romans used it in their expansive bathhouses, and legend says ancient Brit, Prince Bladud, used it to cure his leprosy in 863 BC.
So, what better way to shake off the winter blues than embracing the mire, muck, sludge and slurry of Irchester Country Park.
I’m not sure about the healing properties of taking on 15k at Go Beyond Challenge’s Irchester Dirt Run, but it was certainly good for the soul.
The event, which took place on Sunday, featured 5k, 10k and 15k distances; each equating to various laps of the park.
Every year, the course switches between uphill and downhill options, which basically refers to the direction in which runners take on one particular muddy, grassy and fearsome hill. This year was the uphill route, meaning I’d opted to climb said hill three times.
The good news is the country park provides a beautiful backdrop to the run. This is a trail runners’ dream, and the really muddy, puddle filled sections are accompanied by some well maintained paths where you can put your foot down if you want.
There is a really good spirit on the course, with runners laughing and joking about the muddy predicament they’ve got themselves into. The lapped nature of the race also means you will pass people doing different distances at various speeds, allowing you to marvel at the gazelles at the front and encourage those further back.
Go Beyond’s race director Simon Hollis is at the centre of the fun and frolics, embracing his sadistic side by starting and finishing the race at the muddiest part of the course.
What is it about race directors and their twisted ways? Are we being punished with hill finishes, muddy mayhem, or even steps on the course for leaving our entries to the last minute? (editor’s note: not all of those things relate to Irchester Dirt Run, but they do all apply to Go Beyond races!).
The best way to sum up this race is that everyone finishes with a smile on their face. Dirt, beautiful surroundings, laughing fellow runners, and a trail race more than hard enough to test you but that doesn’t last 45 miles.
Perhaps we all need a little more mud in our lives?
- Craig Lewis is a Northampton-based writer and journalist who works for the Running Tales newsletter and podcast: www.runningtales.substack.com
- The second round of Go Beyond Challenge's Dirt Run Series takes place on February 22 at Brigstock Country Park. Runners don't need to have taken part in the Irchester Dirt Run to enter. More details at Dirt Run at Irchester Country Park Wellingborough Multi Terrain | Go Beyond