7 Harriers dice with death!

A ragged band they called the Harriers Off-Road contingent went to Combe Sydenham on Exmoor on 13th May and had a 'near Death' experience. That experience is the 'Black Death Run' organised by Taunton Hash House Harriers which comprises both 10.5 and 3 mile routes through the woodland surrounding the ancient manor house and mill buildings nestled in the valley. Water does indeed run through it and so did a few hundred runners in the two events.

Most races are challenging for all sorts of different reasons, and the challenge in this one is not to simply survive (I will explain the morbid references shortly) but to manage the hills and relentless combinations of steep ascents and steep descents which makes up most of the 10.5 mile route. There are a few similar trail races on the South West circuit but this one is billed as the 'hardest in the South West', and they are probably right. Even Mark 'Radiohead' Thompson has deigned to describe this race as hard so that should give you a clue as to its standard!

So why so morbid? Well, the route goes through what was a small but populated hamlet called Goodley until the arrival of the Black Death in about 1347. It would appear the inhabitants sealed themselves off from the ravages of the plague but one feckless villager sallied out to Watchet to buy provisions and brought the plague back with him, and all the inhabitants died as a result. With the respect associated with Hash House Harriers, they have taken this tale of woe and shaped the race around it with plenty of references to the Grim Reaper (marshalls and race director) and with skulls for the prizes. Unfortunately there were no prizes for the Exmouth Harriers today but some strong performances nevertheless.

Hugh Marsden, in his first competitive outing since returning to the UK from his winter base in South Georgia, was first home in 1:24:45 and took a very commendable 12th place, beating a lot of athletes his junior into the bargain. He was followed by Scott '2 Trigs' Jordan, 37th place in 1:32:38. Then came a burst of Harriers with Nicolas Brown in 56th spot in 1:36:23 and a few seconds and one position later Terry 'The Dark Destroyer' Oldham in 1:36:52.

Cantering in all on her lonesome was Katie Comer in 1:48:03, taking 120th spot. Her time was just slightly down on last year but, as Katie admits, she has not been doing the mileage she was at this point last year and so she was in fact very pleased with her performance. A short gap followed and then our final flurry of Harriers descended upon the finish line, with Dawn Teed placing 150th in 1:53:12 and Lorraine 'Back with a Bang' Gilson being awarded the same time in 151st.

There were 261 brave souls who confronted and defeated the Black Death and were rewarded with a technical tee-shirt that reflected the overall theme of the run. Look out for a bunch of black-shirts with skulls on pounding the promenande of Exmouth!

Apparently this sign was not mere hyperbole but in fact grossly accurate!

2 Trigs and Hugh battle it out to be top Harrier!

The Dark Destroyer stealthily stalks his Hogweed pray!

Katie, blatantly looking too relaxed and glamourous and thus not working hard enough!

Happy Harriers icing off their weary limbs in the stream.