A cold wind was blowing in from the Fal estuary but that didn’t deter more than 150 runners to decide to enter on the day.
This made for some big queues at the registration tent. Organiser Ben and his team were stretched to breaking point.
The sheer amount of runners wanting to enter meant that the race start had to be put back by 15 minutes.
Despite the bright sun, the conditions were pretty Baltic due to the wind. Keeping warm for an extra 15 minutes was hard work.
The Carn colours were in evidence with a quality turn out from a few of our quicker boys.
Paul Sawford and Pete Kearney (below) were spotted warming up across the fields together with George Williams who’d been there from daybreak getting in a few extra miles!!
Steve Phillips was just coming out of registration as I got there and Tim Rowe was also there despite being laid up with illness recently.
Helen Thomas was our only lady runner today. Was it too cold for the rest of you girls today? When the going gets tough, eh?
The lads were ruling the roost!!
At 1045 we were on our way across the first field and true to form the annual Runners versus Sheep battle began in earnest.
They’d been training all year for this and were clipped ready for action against the two legged, lycra-clad species!
Oliver Cromwell would have been proud of their tactics. As soon as messrs Dunn, Waumsley and Co had gone past, the crack Mint Sauce battalion appeared over the brow of the hill charging into the mid-section of runners with devastating effect.
There was wool and energy gels flying everywhere in the melee!!
The runners had soon had enough and were racing back to the start area with the victors bleating such things as “stick to turkeys, you losers” and “you got roasted”!!
Out of the danger zone, we headed back past the start area with the spectators thinking that the brown stains down the backs of our legs were from a muddy section of the course! We knew better!
We now headed down to the waters edge and followed the undulating path towards the King Harry ferry.
Things were warming up and many of the runners were soon stripping off as we reached the ferryhouse.
The path headed up towards the National Trust hut and straight through it, in one door and out the other! No time to wipe our feet, sorry.
Passing loads of walkers, I suddenly heard one of them calling out my name. It was Linda G. Resplendent in woolly hat and sexy wellies I didn’t recognise her quick enough to wish her season’s greetings.
I was soon passing the time of day with Tim as we were both taking it easy and letting the other Carnies ‘have their day’. Well, you’ve got to give those slower runners some encouragement!!!
The talking had to stop for the two main bits of uphill running near the end. I managed to pass Santa Claus and set off in pursuit of his little helpers! The Tin Man was probably ahead of me as well. Just as long as I managed to hold Long John Silver off for the final kilometre I’d be happy!!!
.JPG)
Soon we were back into the Trelissick estate and waving to our ‘adoring’ fans as we reached the finish.
Another great run from Ben and crew. Nice T Shirt as well. Decent colour, mate (we don’t do pink and lime green etc!).
The views were magnificent. As we got our breath back and looked over the fields towards the sea we just caught sight of the massed ranks of gloating sheep.
“Better luck next year, suckers” they seemed to be saying.
WE'LL BE BACK!!!
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