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RUNNINGThe Wolf Run combines mud,trail and obstacles for anextra fun way to cover 10K.Fiona Bugler reportsOn the wolfrun.com website, itsays, “Running in a pack, or as alone wolf, you’ll tackle a series ofseriously tough obstacles - bothman-made and natural - designed totest your mental and physical strength,skill and stamina. You’ll run, climb,jump, wade, crawl and swim through acourse designed to challenge you onevery level.” This translates into oneword: FUN!And fun it was on Easter Saturday for1200 runners who braved the rain andthe mud for some serious splashingabout and clambering around – and ofcourse running through the picturesqueWarwickshire countryside.The Wolf Run is the brainchild offarmer, Charlie Moreton, and KarenArcher, a former lawyer. They formedLionheart Events Ltd and their passionfor the race is clear. “I’m passionateabout sport in general and I loverunning,” says Charlie. “Trail runninghas been the style of running that I haveconsistently loved,” he adds. “I have runacross the farmland, through thewoodland and swum in the lakes on ourfarm. The stimulating experience ofrunning through this varied terrain hasalways given me a buzz – the full-bodychallenge of pushing through thickwoodland, over and under fallen trees,through thick mud and up and downsteep slopes is incredibly tough butalso seriously good fun – a raw andnatural experience.”Charlie designs the course fromscratch, carving paths through thickwoodland, creating green tunnelsthrough willow stands and digging outmud scrapes to crawl though. He placesa diverse range of obstacles throughoutthe course allowing Wolf Runners timeto recover between efforts. “Every WolfRun is different - our team builds newobstacles and we also change theroute,” explains Charlie.And the course is designed to giveyou the ultimate cross training workout.Karen’s sister, Genefer Archer is apersonal trainer with a Master’s insports science and she has tested thecourse with a view to identifying themuscle groups used as well as offeringtraining tips for participants.BACK TO NATURECharlie uses natural materials for theman-made obstacles, such as the seriesof straw bale pyramids or the 50 meterwater slide! The balance beam sectionuses recently felled trees that add atricky springy quality to the beams,which are suspended over a section ofnatural swamp.50% of the course is made up ofnatural obstacles, like the lakes (whichcan be swum across, or waded around)and the DeadWood obstacle (a mass ofhuge fallen and lightening-struck trees).ENTRY FEES:Seriously Early Wolf £32(from 26 March to 7 May)Early Wolf £36(from 8 May - 25 June)Wolf £40(from 26 June - 27 August)Skin-of-Wolf-Teeth £45(from 28 August - 21 September)Find out more at www.thewolfrun.com Having already done a Wolf Run,Martin made his own training videowww.youtube/3jN6MNwQy6E andhe’s also created a Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/Martins.Spartans“The camaraderiebetween runnersis great”THEWOLVES“The bestthing aboutthe raceis... it’s nota race”Martin Boyce, 31, is fromLeicester.“I like doing a bit of everythingand as well as running I do a bit ofstrong man training (lift cars andflip 350kg tyres). I really fanciedsomething different and when Ispotted the ad on facebook, Idecided to give the first race, heldin September, a go!The best thing about the raceis... it’s not a race. It’s not aboutbeing first or being fastest. Nothaving chip timings and releasingin waves dispels elitism and as aresult the race has built areputation for camaraderie.”Charlotte Kissack, 33, is a PRexecutive from Aviemore“I’ve been running for about sixyears and joined CairngormRunners about three years ago. Idecided to enter Wolf Run becauseit looked different from the usual‘growling-men-hard-nut-off-roadraces’that are pouring into thecountry. After doing the Wolf Runin September and having a realblast I decided I had to enteragain! The race was so wellorganised and the friendlymarshals really stood out for me.Race wise the course was greatfun - varied and challengingwithout being exhausting andimpossible. The camaraderiebetween runners is great. We allrun round, helping andencouraging each other.PHOTOGRAPH PEACHYSNAPS38 www.runningfreemag.co.uk