Third time lucky at the stinger!

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 17th February, 2014

Today was the annual stinger event, which for those of you who don't know is an off road duathlon held at Newnham Park, Plymouth. It involves a hard, hilly 5k ( well early 6 this year!!) then the biker completes 4 laps of the same run course, this is followed by a 3k ish run from hell and back!! Bogs,enormous climbs, massive puddles and steep, rooty, twisty descents.

However,every year we come back for more! So with Nannie kindly having the kiddy winks, Phil and I set off at 6am. The drive started a bit dicey or icy should I say, but about two hours into our 4hour journey the sun was shinning and it looked like it was going to be the first nice day we have had for many weeks. The weather couldn't be faulted and we arrived with an hour to spare before kick off at 11. After signing on and picking up our lovely little momentum, it was time to suss out our competition. The mixed pairs line up was looking very strong, a few strong runners drafted in from various running clubs and connections. Now I was feeling the pressure and also thought we would be kissing goodbye to our winning stinger title.

I normally don't do any running, just bike and swim, but since Christmas in a bid to be able to walk the week after the stinger I have been doing a couple of runs a week. Which also has been easier to fit in than getting on my bike in this weather. Biking has been virtually non existent, for me so far this year. However, last weekend between my night shifts I went for my last little jog before the event and managed to jar my knee.( my knees are previous and in the past I have cartilage removed etc) this didn't boost my confidence and all I hoped was that it didn't snap or jam. Thankfully it did neither, apart from let me know it was uncomfortable for the whole duration!! And probably all this next week.

Number on, a quick stretch and it s line up time. Some very professional runners aside me, the fear factor kicking in, added by phil giving his words of encouragement." You'll be doing well to come anywhere near her dear!!" As long as I didn't loose more than 5minutes, I was hopeful phil could claw that back on the bike.

Horton's voice and we were off, straight up the b****y cliff climb!! Up around the bomb holes and up at bit more, then out across the fire road and down cottage return, exited half way down and out across down endleigh woods u through the woods and followed the fence line back down to the road, you then went half way up the road climb and across the field, over the bridge, out across the field. Then up the draggy field climb into the woods, up along the plantations and back along the river. I had a good start and towards the top of the climbing I was passed by a few females, however on the technical decadents I managed to pass them all bar one I think. It was then a bit like cat and mouse on the flat bits they gained and on the technical bits I gained on them. I kept them in my sights, this really spurred me on, because I expected them to be well gone.

Coming back into the finish I was gaining quickly, and managed to sneak past third just before the line and handed over to A very surprised Phil, only about 20 seconds behind the leading female and about 3/4minutes behind the male runner(mixed pair- speedy Lucy Allan was on the bike!!). I finish definitely knowing I had tried!! Metallic mouth and chest pain from hell, well it numbed my poorly knee pain out anyway! Phil managed to gobble up the lost minutes and came over the line after the first lap about a minute behind Lucy, by the second lap he had gained about 4 minutes and this probably was extended upon each lap( unsure without the results).

Time for me to stretch and get my jelly legs going, In my head I had to give it my all and hope that the male runner attached to Lucy was not going to catch me. The stinger involved a very long, steep climb to the top, twisting through the woods, boggy patches nod massive puddles, followed by a very long boggy lane, being finally rewarded by a nice, tricky, slippy descent, this lead you to the bottom, then. It was fire road back to the start. Although coming along the bottom, I stared to have a feeling, mad and jay might have put a another sneaky climbing section, just to fool you,when you thought you were heading home!! Thankfully there wasn't, and I managed to cross the line in first place. Job well done for hubby and wifey XCracer.com/scimitar!!!

Well done to everyone who took part, all the helpers, sponsors and especially to the Hortons
, who do a fantastic job every event, despite chompming at the bit to be out their themselves!!!

Now weather behave, so I can get on my bike!!

Results on fully Sussed website and no doubt plenty of photos in due course.
And for theses of you who missed out, there is another stinger on March the 16th, same place same time, but different course! Unfortunately I won't be there, because I'm dabbling in a beach mtb race in wales!

Donna Morris
XCracer.com/scimitar

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