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| Huskies Running's Hallowe'en Jack-o'-lantern |
Friday 31st October, the night of terror that
comes but once a year….. Hallowe’en night means tricks for some and treats for
others. We prefer the treat option.
For the last three years Believe and Achieve have organised the
fabulous Ghost
Race, which takes place on the Friday closest to the night of Hallowe’en. It is a 5 mile race starting at Alexandra
Park in Portsmouth and runs across varied terrain around the Hilsea Lido and
Foxes Forest. It is run in complete
darkness and there are many ghouls and beasts that leap out from the trees as
you negotiate the course which includes wooden bridges, narrow paths and
exposed tree roots. Not for the faint
hearted this is a course that requires a very good torch, focused mind and
courage to enter the woods…..
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| Krofti the Moth |
Or if you just fancy having some
fun on a Friday evening then this is the perfect event for you. Fancy dress is not compulsory, but is recommended
for extra fun.
We first learned of this event in
2012 when our good friend Amanda ran it with Krofti our eldest Siberian Husky (dressed
as a moth). We would have loved to run
it with them but had been invited to run New York Marathon as official pace
team members. Amanda and Krofti had such
a fabulous time that we decided that we would definitely run it in 2013, and we
did. I ran as a Fairy Princess with my
two pumpkin Siberian Huskies providing the “ride” and Ian ran as a Ghostbuster. I don’t think anyone had ever seen two
pumpkins move as quickly as those two did off the start line! We slowed as soon as we encountered the first
ghoul as one of the husky pumpkins decided that it was better to trot and “woo
woo” at any nasty ghouls that dared cross his path.
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| Ghost Race 2013 |
This year I was dressed a ghost
and Ian was a werewolf. Ian ran with Kez
while Kroi helped guide me round the course.
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| The werewolf and the Ghost.... |
We had fun. I tripped over my sheet and landed in a heap
on the floor, had my head torch yanked off my head by a low overhanging branch
and went a little bit quicker than just a potter. Ian the werewolf zoomed of in the distance at
supersonic speed with Kez the Husky by his side ready to protect him from any
Zombie threat…..
Kroi remembered the course and
his experience from last year and instead of “wooing” at ghouls he laughed at
them and trotted past, cursing me for slowing him down. He also let me know when I managed to wander
off course due to a lapse in my concentration.
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| The medals: 2012, 2013 & 2014 |
Awaiting us at the finish was a
fabulous bespoke medal and goody bag with lots of sweet treats. Even the dogs got medals. The Huskies Running team are all now the
proud owners of a full set of these fabulous medals.
If you fancy some fun next
Hallowe’en Friday, check out this race, you will not be disappointed.
