Eastnor Castle Mud Bath

3km / 1.5km Course Description

The 3km is a two lap course. The 1.5km is a one lap course. The run starts with a footwash in a gentle brook before the course turns right and along into Eastnor grounds. Here there is a selection of cargo nets to climb under as the route loops around Eastnor Castle. We have a selection of water based obstacles based around the first of the estate streams. There are a number of options; 1) Take the footbridge over the water 2) Drop down into the water and cross the stream 3) Drop down into the water, duck under the footbridge and run along the stream. The water is about 60cm deep and the stream bed is very muddy. We suggest adults test the water as to which route is most appropriate for them and their children. As this is a fun run, we are not going to categorise the results according to which route children take. Whilst times are recorded, there are no winners prizes, we would rather everyone has an enjoyable run which is pitched at the right level for the little runners enjoyment and ability. Once through the water obstacles, there is another 600m to run to get around to the finish back in the event village. 1.5km runners head direct to the finish. 3km runners bear right to go round for a second lap.

6km Course Description

This is a single loop course. Starting with a quick footbath, your feet will not stay dry, so embrace the water :-) there is then a short section through the castle grounds. There is an out and back section shortly before a road crossing. Please stick to the left hand side, as runners will be going in both directions at this point, and follow the instructions of the marshals at the road crossing, we do remind you that the final decision to cross a road is yours and yours alone. After a short climb and a contour along a hillside, you will reach the Land Rover test tracks! The whole course will be filthy muddy, please be a supportive runner and help your fellow competitors along, make space for runners from later waves coming through. If you are a fast runner coming through, remember that not everyone may be as confident as you and giving a few seconds of your time to make a safe and considerate pass will make all the difference to everyone’s enjoyment at the end of the day. One of the first obstacles you will encounter is the Bomb Holes. How much rain we have will determine which Bomb Holes we send the route through, but you get the idea :-) 500m after the Bomb Holes there is a split in the course. 6km runners will turn right, for your next challenge: The Rollercoaster, a run of rises and falls on deep muddy tracks. The central muddy section is extremely slippery, the vehicle tracks a little less so, the edge is still pretty steep - remember to go with what you feel comfortable with. You are now at the bottom edge of the woods which means you need to clamber out along more muddy test tracks. Once out of the woods there is a drinks station at the top of the woods, with great views off to your left hand side. There is some free running now while you descend back to the road crossing point. Please stick to the left hand side along here to allow runners to go in both directions. Once across the road, remain on the left hand side as you climb back into the estate. Next up is the swamp! In order to get to the swamp, you must first duck under a footbridge over the estate stream, follow this for 25m until you reach the swamp itself. It is super thick mud, with water about 80cm high in places. Once again, particularly those running with young children, please assess whether your child is going to happy doing this, taking the route around the edge if perfectly acceptable :-) Once you emerge from the swamp, follow the course over the footbridge and follow the signs with FINISH on, or which say 6km. At this point 10km runners are going around for their second lap and you don’t want to be following them! After another 500m of skirting around the event village you cross the finish line with the backdrop of the castle behind you.

10km Course Description

This is two single loop course; one loop of 8.5km followed by one loop of 1.5km. Starting with a quick footbath, your feet will not stay dry, so embrace the water :-) there is then a short section through the castle grounds. There is an out and back section shortly before a road crossing. Please stick to the left hand side, as runners will be going in both directions at this point, and follow the instructions of the marshals at the road crossing, we do remind you that the final decision to cross a road is your and yours alone. After a short climb and a contour along a hillside, you will reach the Land Rover test tracks! The whole course will be filthy muddy, please be a supportive runner and help your fellow competitors along, make space for runners from later waves coming through, and if you are a fast runner coming through, remember that not everyone may be as confident as you and giving a few seconds of your time to make a safe and considerate pass will make all the difference to everyone’s enjoyment at the end of the day. One of the first obstacles you will encounter is the Bomb Holes. How much rain we have will determine which Bomb Holes we send the route through, but you get the idea :-) After 500m there is a split in the course. 10km runners will go straight on to find some extra mud and distance, before looping back to this split point. Among the notable mud pits on this 10km section of the course is the Shoe Swallower. Please ensure your shoes are suitably secure, we will not be going searching for any lost shoes post race! After a few more muddy trails, the next obstacle of note will be The Rollercoaster, a run of rises and falls on deep muddy tracks. The central muddy section is extremely slippery, the vehicle tracks a little less so, the edge is still pretty steep - remember to go with what you feel comfortable with. You are now at the bottom edge of the woods which means you need to clamber out along more muddy test tracks. Once out of the woods there is a drinks station at the top of the woods, with great views off to your left hand side. There is some free running now while you descend back to the road crossing point. Please stick to the left hand side along here to allow runners to go in both directions. Once across the road, remain on the left hand side as you climb back into the estate. Next up is the swamp! In order to get to the swamp, you must first duck under a footbridge over the estate stream, follow this for 25m until you reach the swamp itself. It is super thick mud, with water about 80cm high in places, taking the route around the edge if perfectly acceptable :-) Once you emerge from the swamp, follow the course over the footbridge and follow the signs which say LAP 2 (RIGHT ARROW). This lap gives you a chance to dry off a little following your immersion in the swamp and take in some more of this beautiful estate, with a lap around the lake and the castle grounds. Before too long you will be back at the swamp area, only this time you will take the footbridge over the first stream and step down into the second stream for one last dunking, before the final 500m dash to the finish line with the stunning castle in the background.