Orion 15

This weekend I took the place of Sophie and Anika’s usual long run partner Ben (while he was in Lisbon), and escorted them to Chingford for the Orion 15. Thanks to Sophies 10 year old who programed her cars inbuilt sat nav, we made it in good time to arrive in a parallel universe. A cricket ground club house doubling up as a race HQ… which also had problems with providing ladies with a hot shower(sound familiar?), ha, at least we have ladies showers. To be fair, it is only Orion’s temporary home while they build a new one…onto the race.

Have to say, the Orion 15 is my new favorite race! It had everything you could want, mud, bogs, trails, countryside, woods, roads…golf course..and hills, hills, hills and then a very steep hill at mile 11 which was enough to make you cry at the top and shuffle along like 9o year old who’s put their hip out. It was proper old school cross country only marked by saw dust. Running along the trails you could just imagine gentleman in their leather shoes and baggy shorts and vest whatever the weather running this race back in the good old days! With trail shoes weighing a ton with all the accumulated mud, it’s an achievement just to finish, so the plastic cup of champagne at the end was a really nice touch. And the cost of this great race…nothing. All they ask for is a donation. The only downside was a mini load of chavy t@%ts who ignored the marshals at a road crossing honking their horn at all the runners… but thanks to Orion and the marshalls, superb job.

Anika and Sophie