Glow in the Park – Night Run, Great Bookham

×

1 of 7

Expand

×

2 of 7

Expand

×

3 of 7

Expand

×

4 of 7

Expand

×

5 of 7

Expand

×

6 of 7

Expand

×

7 of 7

Expand

Polesden Lacey's running team

Polesden Lacey's runners don their high-vis: Gina Percy, Surrey Down Magazine writer Simon Akeroyd, Jo McKenna and Jane Fletcher

Prev

Next

We review the Glow in the Park Night Run at Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham

A 10 km running race through the glorious Surrey Downs countryside is not everyone’s cup of tea – least not in the pitch black at 7:30pm on a cold, miserable Saturday night!

Nevertheless, I joined nearly 200 people at Polesden Lacey for Glow in the Park’s inaugural 5 and 10 km race around the National Trust property’s Great Bookham estate at the weekend.

In its first year, Glow in the Park is a VOTWO event that also takes place in Eton Dorney (Berkshire), Kingston Lacey (Dorset) and Southampton. What sets this running race apart is that everyone runs in complete darkness, guided by the light of a head-torch (which is compulsory).

Driving out of London, I was horrified to see the skies aglow with lightning and rain hammering across my windscreen. On the radio, I heard reports of freak hurricanes on the rampage.

To say that I was wondering - in terms that ought not be repeated here - why I was foregoing the comfort of my sofa to spend my Saturday evening running around a muddy field, was to put it mildly.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a hugely enthusiastic rabble of runners congregating around the start area. Amazingly, their excitement was clearly not tempered by the ferocious winds that were whipping across the South East of England and had blown over the awning marking the start line, much to the organisers’ dismay.

Instead, focus was on the runners' outfits. Most taking part had dressed for the occasion in all sorts of eye-catching hi-vis gear. Fluorescent pink tutus, fluoro-painted faces and legs in neon yellow knee-highs: they put my humble efforts to shame (my boring yellow high-vis running top).

Glow in the Park was set up by Andy Blow and Ben Mason a little over two years ago, as part of their VOTWO adventure events company which is in its fifteenth year. Their idea to stage an evening running event was intended to help motivate people to train over the winter months and not be afraid of running in the dark:

“We wanted to provide running events in the winter when there are fewer chances to compete” explains Andy, who has run at night with the aid of a head-torch for many years.

Although it is a race, all ages and abilities are welcome:

“We’ve had families competing together and even a blind lady who ran with a guide,” continues Andy.

“Although I would say we get a lot of people running more for fun and fitness than for competition!”

I found the challenge of the terrain a real buzz. Apart from my head-torch and a few markers outlining the route, I had to put my faith in my feet and hope that they found me a safe path over the numerous roots and debris along the track.

But that doesn’t mean to say it wasn’t incredibly tricky navigating my way up three very steep inclines and down some equally hairy descents. One of the hills was like a gigantic slide – which would have been quite fun to slide down – except I had to go up it!

“We like to find a challenging route with mud hills and woodland that will be a genuine test for our runners,” Andy told me after the race. No joke, I thought.

The other director, Ben, summed it up best when he came over to say hello to me:

“It’s been a bit of a ninja course this weekend with the gales and heavy rain!”

Ninja - I thought; that will do it for me: The course definitely put me through my paces – whether it was intended to be that difficult or not - it was a running race with a ninja difference!

Back in the office for my usual Monday morning grind, the only reminder of my gallivanting across the Surrey Downs countryside is my somewhat tighter than usual leg muscles. Hopefully the last of the mud has now been washed off – until next time!

For further events see: glowinthepark.co.uk

The Polesden Lacey Glow in the Park will return in 2015, further races are being held on Feb 7, 7.30pm: Kingston Lacy, Wimborne (Dorset); Feb 19, 7.30pm: Southampton (Hampshire), and; Mar 8, 7.30pm: Boconnoc (Cornwall).

For other VOTWO events, including the Eton Dorney triathlon series see votwo.co.uk