Nuts Challenge

In March this year, me and some friends took part in the Nuts Challenge  - which is described as a 7km course and one of the most challenging military assault courses in the world, located in Dorking, Surrey.

We were all raising money for various charities including Chestnut Tree Hospice, Malaria No More, Rocking Horse, Breast Cancer and Laurens Silver Swimmers.  This was my chosen charity set up by Louise & Stewart Silverlock after their 9 year old daughter passed away in December 2012.  Lauren went to school and pre-school with my daughter so was keen to do something for them.  

2nd March arrived and we set off early in the morning, although we were due to race at 12noon, you have to sign in and be organised an hour and half before.  The weather was thankfully dry although as only early March, was rather chilly!  We arrived in plenty of time and managed to see some of the first competitors going round.  

The course is just obstacle after obstacle, including Hell River, Hamburger Hill, The Bunker and The Bomb Crater but we had all been training and were really looking forward to getting under way.  I had joined Diamond Fitness Bootcamp locally and was confident I was ready!

Whilst waiting to start many of the competitors that had already completed the course were finishing, covered in mud and looking cold, we started to get a little nervous!

Still as we lined up the adrenaline kicked in and we were off!

Our group

We thought we might be able to stay dry as long as possible, but realised that wouldn't be long as we had to jump straight into a stream and walk through it.   I won't go through all of the obstacles as there were just so many to remember but highlights included:

• Trying to climb over the wall, losing my footing and falling back into a muddy/watery pit!
• Using the rope swing to get over a muddy/watery pit but falling straight in!
• One of the girls, Kirsten, just managed to fall over in every muddy puddle/pit and ended up covered head to toe in mud!
• Hamburger Hill - having to carry large tyres up a hill and then slide back down was really hard!
• Water slide - one of my favourite obstacles.  Plastic matting on the side of Hamburger Hill that was being hosed down with water.  A huge muddy water filled trench at the bottom!  I whizzed down it thinking 'what fun' then panicked thinking 'how will I stop?' Ended up being fully dunked under water!!
• Lake walk - walking through a lake with water up to my chest - it was freezing!

We all finished though and were freezing!  The organisers served us warm orange squash which was well needed! 

It was a fantastic event and great to do with friends as we all got each other through it and had a giggle on the way.  I raised over £500 for the charity which was really pleased about!  We must've enjoyed it as we've all signed up again to do it on 31st August, although will be slightly warmer hopefully!

Miranda, Nicky, me, Lorna, Kirsten and Paula

Me after crawling under bridge

Yay finished with my medal eating a well deserved twix!