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| Race bib |
WEDNESDAY 3rd JULY 2019 was the inaugural Redwood Run at Sheffield Park National
Trust property in Maresfield. The event, hosted by Haywards Heath
Harriers, was managed by Marion Hemsworth and Ian Dumbrell and run under
England Athletics rules. Sheffield Park is the second Sussex
National Trust property to host running events with the Harriers already having
the Willows as an established run at Wakehurst Place (part of Kew Gardens) in
Ardingly.
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| Sheffield Park race map |
The
run was attended by the majority of the 18 England Athletics registered running
clubs across Sussex as well as other clubs and unaffiliated
runners. The route started from the front entrance to Sheffield
Park Gardens and went around fields before entering the bottom of the National
Trust property. It went around the cricket pitch and towards
the lakes before coming up to the main exit for the park and gardens then
turning back towards the bottom exit and back across the fields to the finish
line.
The
run was a real test of ability and muscle endurance running on grass, asphalt,
flint and woodchip surfaces. Along the way there were field
and kissing gates to get through and small bridges that elevated the runners
above the areas being protected for wildlife. As with any National
Trust property it was beautiful and scenic and a joy to run through.
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| Haywards Heath Harriers Team Photo |
The return run caught me out as I approached one of the field gates. A sneaky tree root tripped me up and I hit the ground quite hard. A marshall came running over to make sure I was OK and was pleased it wasn't a serious medical emergency as she didn't know what to do with those! Few grazes across my knees and right shoulder. So I brushed myself off and completed the run.
With luck with will be become an established run for the Harriers and be as successful as Wakehurst.
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