Once again the Infotex team laced up their running shoes for our annual fundraiser this time in support of AYC Schools Sailing Trust, giving schools in Suffolk an opportunity for their students to get on the water and benefit from the life skills that sailing and water-based sports can encourage – creativity, confidence, teamwork, communication, determination, and independence.
Having personally participated in the event for the previous three years (2x Whole Hogs, 1x Boss Hog), I was once again part of an 8-strong team of Infotex employees, friends and family who embarked on the dirty delight of a mud race. Five of whom opted to join me in the step up to the Boss Hog, an extra 2 miles and 10 obstacles of filthy fun on top of the standard 5-mile route.
As someone who does neither enjoy running nor getting dirty, the Whole Hog always comes around with apprehension in mind. Whether that may be in fear of the long course ahead or in competition with myself to better the previous year’s efforts, which I’d been able to do each time before. So this year I, like several other of my teammates, took the more relaxed approach, with the aim being to get around the course in one piece and most of all, to enjoy it!
Like with any Whole Hog, the event itself was immaculately organised from the moment we arrived, warm, dry and full of optimism. To the after race clean up, wet, filthy but full of pride!
At the beginning of the day, you arrive to a sense of anticipation and joy amongst the crowds that have already gathered, some of whom are about to embark on the day’s opening wave of the race (1 of 4), whereas others are just clocking in for one of the later start times. The Suffolk Gen X radio booth booming with motivational anthems and volunteer staff as enthusiastic as ever to both encourage and make fun of their muddy guinea pigs.
As is now tradition we set off at 10.30am as part of the second wave of runners, initially sticking together within the middle of the pack whilst we navigated our way through the opening mile of ups, downs and if I didn’t mention it… Mud!!!
Eventually, the pack naturally split with myself and Honey running as a duo and an awesome foursome of Ant, Chloe, Fred and Theo working through the mud as one… It doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that between those packs we’re still two short, and as with previous years the competitive spirit had leapfrogged the aforementioned ‘relaxed approach’ resulting in both Shaun Bailey and Marathon-runner Ollie galloping off individually into the distance.
Shaun and Ant, who had opted for the 5-mile Whole Hog route, crossed the line in fantastic times of exactly 1 hour and 1 hour 25 mins respectively. Whereas the Boss Hoggers were of course led by Ollie, finishing the 7-mile course in an amazing 1 hour 11 mins, equating to 3rd place out of 646 runners across all four waves in the event. Myself and Honey followed at 1 hour 35 mins, with the remaining trio (abandoned by Ant at the Whole Hog/Boss Hog intersection) of Chloe, Fred and Theo finishing in a superb 1 hour 56 mins.
The day once again proved a huge success, full of mud, sweat and well-spirited jeers! So our thanks once again go out to the Whole Hog organisers and their brilliant volunteers for another great event.
If you would like to support our team’s efforts, there is still time to donate to the AYC Schools Sailing Trust. All contributions are greatly received and will go a long way in helping young students learn important life skills.
