This was one of my favourite OCR events of 2014, we could not wait to head up to Aberdeen to do it all over again. More obstacles and a longer than 5k course this year with an added Ninja Challenge and Tyre flipping contest at the finish line, what more could crazy OCR people want.
Travelling to Aberdeen is about a 300 mile round trip for us, the furthest we have to travel to any Scottish OCR, our wave time is 12pm, the first wave of the event and the Elite wave, you had to race in this wave to be in with a chance of being the Glack Attack Male/Female champion. We had to leave the house at 8am, it was a glorious sunny day so the drive up was beautifully scenic.
We arrive at the event site, Glack Hill, at 11am. Car Parking is in a field and a short walk away through part of Glack Wood to the main event village. The walk is well sign posted and before we know it we are in the events village, John got to the event village before me, he was in desperate need of the toilet facilities.
The event village was well set out with everything we needed, toilets, changing, registration, bag drop, catering and merchandise. There was a great cheery atmosphere and we got to catch up with some of our OCR friends before registration. The registration process was quick and easy and all the volunteers were extremely happy and helpful.
Once registered we got our bags dropped off and our wave got called so we headed down to the start line. On the way down we passed the Ninja Challange, this got John very excited. At the start line there was a huge fire set up, a great way to help keep spectators warm and to heat up wet and muddy racers post race. A last call was made for wave one to make their way down to the start line then we went straight into the warm up. The warm up was done by Stix Body Blitz, a good mix of body weight exercises to get the blood flowing and the adrenalin pumping. The warmup lead straight into the countdown and then we were off.
The first part of the race was a short trail run up hill then onto a forest track that then lead down hill towards the first obstacle, this was a 5 foot log wall and then a crawl under a huge log. At this point in the race John was in lead and I wasn't far behind him.
We ran onto the next obstacle, Big Ben, this was a huge cargo net Apex, this really took it out the legs but it was nice to get a break from running after a speedy start. We ran on through a wooded section to a cargo net crawl, a balance beam and then up and down some steep slopes called the Corrie Clamber. I was pushing myself all the way, feeling it tough as my body was still slightly fatigued after 50k of running and obstacles the previous Sunday.
We continued a trail run through the woods until we hit Glack Bog, a thick and muddy bog section, this slowed me down a bit, it made tired legs even more fatigued. I was glad to make it though the bog still in the lead. The bog lead straight onto the Black Trench, a dark, muddy, wet and cold crawl through two tunnels. This section was relatively flat.
When we got out the Trench the trail run started to climb up again, this time leading us onto Hay Bale Hurdles, a set of three double round hay bales, this was tough due to the climb, my legs were screaming at me to stop but I kept going. At the top of this climb we were then running by the start area, spectators had the pleasure of watching us make our way through a Tyre Mangle and then through a very muddy Net Crawl. Very muddy we ran and jumped into the Open Tomb, this got us even more muddy, if that was at all possible.
The next section of the course sent us back down the trails again making our way over Lodgepole Lane, a series of fallen trees and logs to make our way over and under, in the middle of this was a house with a very small door to go through, creepy.
Then it was Sheep Dip, a nice long jump into more dirty muddy water. Even more wet and mucky we had to climb up Quarry Climb, this was a rope climb up a slippery rock face. At the top we had a short run through the Tyre Gauntlet, a run through hanging tyres. We then ran up hill past the main event village and over Giant's Stepping Stones, stepping over huge round bails and then over a huge pile of tyres.
Then we ran further up hill and that took us to the top of Wipeout, a long slippy slide into a massive pool of mud. I went down and plopped into the mud, as I plopped in the air plopped out and made a huge fart noise, a young boy watching shouted "that sounded like a BIG FART" I shouted back "it was" then jumped into another huge pool of mud, climbed out and ran on, shaking my muddy hands.
At this point I was still lead female and 2nd overall, I was fatigued and covered in thick gloopy mud but I kept going as much as I was hurting. The next obstacle was Timber, a climb over a massive fallen tree and then Devils Dyke, a big climb up a log wall. Then another climb up Guerilla Ramp and down via a cargo net. Next was the first of two carries on the course, Log Lift, we had to carry a log up and down a hill. I found this manageable and coming back down I was able to see I had no other competition in sight.
I ran on and came to a Spiders Web, I made it through and ran to what myself and many others though was the most physically demanding obstacle on the course, Hogs Back Ride, this was the heaviest sand bag carry I have ever done in an OCR up and down a hill. I started to make my way up the hill, the track was on a curve and I couldn't see the top, I was glad to get to the top and pick up my speed on the way down again, it nearly broke me.
So this was it, The Final Furlong, the home straight and it starts with a steep climb to the top of Glack Hill before we make our way down to the finish line. I was hurting all the way to the top and I was sick in my mouth. So glad to reach the top and start the final descent to the finish line, the last obstacle was The Final Drag, a very muddy cargo net crawl then a sprint to the finish. I was so glad to get over the finish line, I was done and I loved every minute of it, even if it did hurt it was worth it, the sense of achievement you get from completing an obstacle race is amazing, well done to everyone that completed the course.
I was delighted that both John and I had won and we were both thrilled to receive our gorgeous sliced wood trophies and bottles of Moët. We got our picture taken and then hosed off by the lovely men at the Green Goddess. John then wanted a shot at the tyre flipping contest, as a team we had to flip a huge tyre as many times as possible in 1 minute. We got 21 and found out a day later that we won that too. John then went on to complete the Ninja Challenge (Quintuple Steps), he was the first person to complete it.
We then went and got ourselves changed into clean cloths so we could go and support our friends and other runners out on the course. My PT client Louise was running with her friend Kirsty in a later wave, they also both enjoyed the course and will be back again next year.
Glack Attack was attended by around 900 people who by entering the event all helped raise funded for Friends of Anchor a fantastic cancer charity.
The event is organised by the Ratcliffe Family who along with the volunteers from Friends of Anchor did a fantastic job of organising and running such a successful event. It was our pleasure to take part in such a hugely successful event that supports such a fantastic charity. A huge well done to all involved, we will be back next year and we would advise anyone looking to do the same to sign up quickly, this event always sells out.
Travelling to Aberdeen is about a 300 mile round trip for us, the furthest we have to travel to any Scottish OCR, our wave time is 12pm, the first wave of the event and the Elite wave, you had to race in this wave to be in with a chance of being the Glack Attack Male/Female champion. We had to leave the house at 8am, it was a glorious sunny day so the drive up was beautifully scenic.
We arrive at the event site, Glack Hill, at 11am. Car Parking is in a field and a short walk away through part of Glack Wood to the main event village. The walk is well sign posted and before we know it we are in the events village, John got to the event village before me, he was in desperate need of the toilet facilities.
The event village was well set out with everything we needed, toilets, changing, registration, bag drop, catering and merchandise. There was a great cheery atmosphere and we got to catch up with some of our OCR friends before registration. The registration process was quick and easy and all the volunteers were extremely happy and helpful.
Once registered we got our bags dropped off and our wave got called so we headed down to the start line. On the way down we passed the Ninja Challange, this got John very excited. At the start line there was a huge fire set up, a great way to help keep spectators warm and to heat up wet and muddy racers post race. A last call was made for wave one to make their way down to the start line then we went straight into the warm up. The warm up was done by Stix Body Blitz, a good mix of body weight exercises to get the blood flowing and the adrenalin pumping. The warmup lead straight into the countdown and then we were off.
The first part of the race was a short trail run up hill then onto a forest track that then lead down hill towards the first obstacle, this was a 5 foot log wall and then a crawl under a huge log. At this point in the race John was in lead and I wasn't far behind him.
We ran onto the next obstacle, Big Ben, this was a huge cargo net Apex, this really took it out the legs but it was nice to get a break from running after a speedy start. We ran on through a wooded section to a cargo net crawl, a balance beam and then up and down some steep slopes called the Corrie Clamber. I was pushing myself all the way, feeling it tough as my body was still slightly fatigued after 50k of running and obstacles the previous Sunday.
We continued a trail run through the woods until we hit Glack Bog, a thick and muddy bog section, this slowed me down a bit, it made tired legs even more fatigued. I was glad to make it though the bog still in the lead. The bog lead straight onto the Black Trench, a dark, muddy, wet and cold crawl through two tunnels. This section was relatively flat.
When we got out the Trench the trail run started to climb up again, this time leading us onto Hay Bale Hurdles, a set of three double round hay bales, this was tough due to the climb, my legs were screaming at me to stop but I kept going. At the top of this climb we were then running by the start area, spectators had the pleasure of watching us make our way through a Tyre Mangle and then through a very muddy Net Crawl. Very muddy we ran and jumped into the Open Tomb, this got us even more muddy, if that was at all possible.
The next section of the course sent us back down the trails again making our way over Lodgepole Lane, a series of fallen trees and logs to make our way over and under, in the middle of this was a house with a very small door to go through, creepy.
Then it was Sheep Dip, a nice long jump into more dirty muddy water. Even more wet and mucky we had to climb up Quarry Climb, this was a rope climb up a slippery rock face. At the top we had a short run through the Tyre Gauntlet, a run through hanging tyres. We then ran up hill past the main event village and over Giant's Stepping Stones, stepping over huge round bails and then over a huge pile of tyres.
Then we ran further up hill and that took us to the top of Wipeout, a long slippy slide into a massive pool of mud. I went down and plopped into the mud, as I plopped in the air plopped out and made a huge fart noise, a young boy watching shouted "that sounded like a BIG FART" I shouted back "it was" then jumped into another huge pool of mud, climbed out and ran on, shaking my muddy hands.
At this point I was still lead female and 2nd overall, I was fatigued and covered in thick gloopy mud but I kept going as much as I was hurting. The next obstacle was Timber, a climb over a massive fallen tree and then Devils Dyke, a big climb up a log wall. Then another climb up Guerilla Ramp and down via a cargo net. Next was the first of two carries on the course, Log Lift, we had to carry a log up and down a hill. I found this manageable and coming back down I was able to see I had no other competition in sight.
I ran on and came to a Spiders Web, I made it through and ran to what myself and many others though was the most physically demanding obstacle on the course, Hogs Back Ride, this was the heaviest sand bag carry I have ever done in an OCR up and down a hill. I started to make my way up the hill, the track was on a curve and I couldn't see the top, I was glad to get to the top and pick up my speed on the way down again, it nearly broke me.
So this was it, The Final Furlong, the home straight and it starts with a steep climb to the top of Glack Hill before we make our way down to the finish line. I was hurting all the way to the top and I was sick in my mouth. So glad to reach the top and start the final descent to the finish line, the last obstacle was The Final Drag, a very muddy cargo net crawl then a sprint to the finish. I was so glad to get over the finish line, I was done and I loved every minute of it, even if it did hurt it was worth it, the sense of achievement you get from completing an obstacle race is amazing, well done to everyone that completed the course.
I was delighted that both John and I had won and we were both thrilled to receive our gorgeous sliced wood trophies and bottles of Moët. We got our picture taken and then hosed off by the lovely men at the Green Goddess. John then wanted a shot at the tyre flipping contest, as a team we had to flip a huge tyre as many times as possible in 1 minute. We got 21 and found out a day later that we won that too. John then went on to complete the Ninja Challenge (Quintuple Steps), he was the first person to complete it.
We then went and got ourselves changed into clean cloths so we could go and support our friends and other runners out on the course. My PT client Louise was running with her friend Kirsty in a later wave, they also both enjoyed the course and will be back again next year.
Glack Attack was attended by around 900 people who by entering the event all helped raise funded for Friends of Anchor a fantastic cancer charity.
The event is organised by the Ratcliffe Family who along with the volunteers from Friends of Anchor did a fantastic job of organising and running such a successful event. It was our pleasure to take part in such a hugely successful event that supports such a fantastic charity. A huge well done to all involved, we will be back next year and we would advise anyone looking to do the same to sign up quickly, this event always sells out.
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