Last Saturday 21st I walked / jogged the Pett Pudding Dash along with all sorts of Santa’s, Elf’s and others dressed in Christmas attire. Holly also ran but didn’t dress up but I suppose with a name like Holly we will let her off. This was my first race since my hip op and I only attempted it as I knew the going was going to be soft, it is not really and race and I knew I could walk / jog it comfortably – and not come last!
This run has become a yearly favourite of mine. It is a bit of a mud fest which begins just up the road from Pett Village Hall. The run goes through Pett and Burnt Woods where the trail is very boggy and with people slipping all over the place. On exiting the woods, the course takes you through the fields round Pickham Farm with the lower fields near the stream being rather boggy. There is a bit of respite for a while when you climb up a gravel track, over the road and round another field prior to entering Guestling Wood. Once again more mud and slippery slopes as you negotiate up and down in the wood about 3 or 4 times. On exiting Guestling Wood the course crosses the road and from then on in is a muddy soup path to the finishing field adjacent to the village hall. It is suggested as 5 miles but it has been scaled back to just over 4. A great friendly event, Christmas medal, flapjack and of course a Christmas pudding when you finish.
Holly finished 4th Senior lady 62nd overall in a time of 48.32. I finished in 57.56 in 123rd place and believe it or not 1st over 70. Winner was Ashley Vora of Hastings Runners 28.43, there were 183 finishers.
Mark Taylor