Downland Dash 8km

SATURDAY 22nd JUNE Burgess Hill Runners hosting the West Sussex Fun Run League with their Downland Dash.    The run was a 5 mile course from Downland Community College in Hassocks and attended by all 18 clubs who run the league.

Haywards Heath Harriers Team Photo.

As we lined up at the start it was clear it was going to be a hot day.   There were three distinct parts to the route starting with a run around the school sports fields before being directed out into open fields that run along the foot of the South Downs.   The run was quite difficult with the heat and the fields having very recently been mown with a lot of loose grass underfoot.

There were a lot of obstacles to navigate with a bridge, couple of stiles, kissing gates and single track footpaths.   Pedestrians out for their Saturday walk were rudely awakened by members of 18 running clubs looming towards them.   We managed to get everyone through the small gaps without any major problems, other than a little lost time for the runners.

After the extreme heat running across open fields, the next stage of the run through woodland was extremely welcome.   The trees gave a lot of shade and the opportunity to cool down a little.   This led to the next obstacle as with great trees come great roots which means you have to spend a lot of time keeping an eye on where your feet fall and not end up head down in a bush.   With the recent rain there were also some slippery muddy bits.

Coming out of the woodland and back into open sunshine you could see the finish line.   Running alongside the hedgerows you start checking the distance between you and the runners in front and feeling how much energy you still have in your muscles.   You start the final sprint with the finish line firmly in your sights trying to reduce the gap and overtake other runners.

Made it to the finish line!

  Thanks go to the Burgess Hill runners for an amazing course especially Jay for his sense of humour and little prank at the finish line