'I got covered in mud during Leamington's Wolf Run - and loved every minute!'

Waist deep in mud and unable to stand up - this was the moment when I should have questioned my choices on how to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends.

Granted, it was cold and wet and this was just the start. But in truth, I knew it was going to be a great afternoon.

Having all previously completed the course before, myself and three friends once again signed up for the Wolf Run near Offchurch.

The first thing I noticed from the start is that people of all ages - and costumes - are taking part. And they are smiling! The emphasis is on fun. We were not here to break any personal bests, just to help each other get through to the end.

After a relatively gentle start, we saw the front runners appear out of the woods covered in mud, offering us an indication of what was coming.

So as I approached a steep muddy bank into a water crossing, I said: "Well, the good news is that I haven't seen anyone slip over yet, so...". My last words before I, predictably, slipped straight into the water. I deserved that.

The obstacles that followed - you can walk around any of them if you are not feeling up to it - included monkey bars, rope climbs, tyres, tunnels, slack lines, hay bales and, of course, more mud and water. But the giant waterslide is the one most people look forward to. It stretches over 100ft, has six lanes and ends with a splash!

The obstacle that caused me to draw my breath (in many ways) is the bridge jump into the river. I need to declare at this point that three out of four of us decided to avoid the jump on this occasion. My main reason being is that last time I did it, it took me ages to get warm up again after swimming in the freezing water below. But if the weather is good, go for it!

Being terrible with heights, my only concern was the 18ft cargo net, but the marshals are there to offer you support and advice. What also helped me over it was the continued encouragement from my friends and random participants you meet along the way. The chances are that you will need them to get out of the mud trenches, so be nice to them!

The camaraderie is what makes the Wolf Run such a great experience and it was the wise words from one marshal that, like the gallons of mud on my clothes, stuck with me.

As we approached the end - tired, wet and regretting my choice of wearing a white t-shirt - he said: "Just think about how good that beer will taste at the end."

And he was not wrong!

The Wolf Run takes place three times a year - with spring, summer and autumn dates - over two sites, one in Offchurch and the other at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire.

To find out more, visit https://thewolfrun.com