The Beast

[Double5]

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to photograph a local running event, The Beast, which is a tough cross country race over an equestrian course with a few other obstacles added.
It was a bitterly cold day and there were a number of water obstacles. The course was 5 miles per lap and competitors could finish after 1 lap or carry on and do 2 laps. Quite a few took the longer option. Despite being cold and wet most of the competitors seemed to be enjoying the event.
















Ther are more on my website here

[Graham]

  Nice set. presumably you have an outlet for them.
  I would pay good money to see a horse get under that net! 
                        Graham.

[Double5]

Thanks Graham, yes there is an outlet for these, I was shooting them for a guy who runs a business selling race photo's.

[Oldboy]

  I would pay good money to see a horse get under that net! 
                        Graham.

I would pay great money to see Graham do two laps of that course! 

Cracking series of shots and yes, they do look happy. 

[Markulous]

This is obviously one of the so-called Obstacle Races held (as I discovered, everywhere!) - details here of others http://www.muddyrace.co.uk/upcoming-races/

We stumbled across a local one when we went for a walk with our dogs on the Wirral - we'd have avoided it like the plague if we'd known it was on as 3 runner teams carrying a pole down narrow paths vs 3 dogs on leads do not mix too well! There were 35 teams!

Still, I took a few shots and we did manage to keep out the way - title was appropriate, called TuffNutz as obviously you needed to be both Tuff and Nutz! 11 miles, started with crawling 50m under netting stretched over a muddy bog - and it was a cold day! Staggered start but obviously quicker teams caught up slower ones (and no, have no idea why that marshall is shooting the backs of the runners - maybe shooting us with our 3 dogs who were keen to join in!)


Teams of 3 and had to carry the post everywhere


One obstacle was to run to the top of the hill, grab a bucket, run down to the stream at the bottom and fill the bucket - to fill a large tub at the top (it took 3 or 4 trips!) - still carrying that post!

[Double5]

That looks like fun

[Markulous]

We got knackered just watching! And our GSD reckoned she could carry the "stick" much better!