I remember my first Nuclear race about 3 years ago and the absolute buzz I had at the end of it! I took on the 12K distance from my first race and would never go and do the shorter distance. The 12K nuclear race is crammed with all kinds of obstacles some simple and some more challenging and you really feel like you have got your money's worth. This year's November Nuclear Fallout had the added buzz of being a very similar course to the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships (OCRWC) which was held just a couple of weeks before this which was the final Nuclear race of the year. I was SO excited to take it on again with the added bonus of less pressure by being in the regular Fallout wave rather than taking on the more competitive Challenge Cup wave which set off an hour before the first fallout wave that I was in. I absolutely loved trying the trickier obstacles from the Worlds again and without the pressure found myself completing more than I thought I would! The marshalls, as always, were supportive throughout and the obstacles set out in such a way that you were never bored! Whether you run on your own or your run with friends, you are guaranteed a fantastic time at Nuclear. The hangups you may have about mud at the start of the race (especially if you are a newbie) are quickly overcome as you are plunged into all manner of obstacles and terrain. If you want to race you can, if you want to have fun you can and whichever way you undertake this race you will feel amazing at the end! Completing a Nuclear race is quite an achievement and something I feel should be tried by everyone! What are you waiting for? Get signed up for Nuclear Rush in May. You will not regret it!

This was my second visit in 2017 to The Secret Nuclear Bunker, home of the brilliant Nuclear obstacle course races. I did the Rush 12km event in May so was looking forward to the winter version Fallout over the same distance.

I arrived early with my usual OCR pals from the ‘Mud Loons’ nice and early on a slightly damp but mild morning, we were off at 9.50 so one of the early waves. As well as the 7 and 12km events there was also a Challenge Cup event happening which formed part of a qualifying process for a championship event next year. They would complete the same Fallout course as us but with a few additional obstacles and penalties involved for non-completion of obstacles too. The Nuclear events are chip timed unlike some of the OCR’s so we had decided that we were going to push ourselves and aim for top 10%.

Upon arrival registration was straightforward, plenty of toilets and refreshments available with heated changing area and bag drop all very easy too.

Once in the start area we enjoyed a brief group warm up and final instructions from the MC before setting off. The route is roughly 12-13km with 80 or so obstacles set out. Because the Nuclear races are on their own venue rather than moving about throughout the year I do feel they have some of the best obstacles out there. When we ran the Rush event in May I thought the famous Nuclear Death Slide was fairly early on in the course maybe 3km or so and therefore I was slightly apprehensive about this from the off. I was expecting the water to be a lot colder at this time of year. It was soon clear that the route for Fallout had been laid out differently and therefore I had no idea when the slide and said water would be, I ran on nervously. The course is set out through woodland and farmers fields, the signs and directions are excellent and the number of marshals and their support is amazing. 

The variety of obstacles on the course is interesting and very testing, to name a few. Muddy Handbags, miles of mud, aquaphobia, zip lines, vertigo and of course the death slide. I felt quite strong out on the course and felt like I was running quite well, I did ok on most of the obstacles but with cold and wet hands some of the hanging type ones were fairly tough to keep a grip on. Eventually we came to the Death Slide and flew down it with a now customary pose, avoiding the usual ‘dab’ or ‘guns’ we went for a Mobot this time. As feared the water was really cold but as always it was superbly marshalled with a safety team in the water in canoes. The 7km and 12km races had merged by this point so parts of the course were a little bottle necked but never any holds ups of note. Final few ostbacles are back in the event village so always good support there with the MC and music playing along. Across the finish and collect your brilliant medal, quick photo on the finishers wall before jumping in the warm showers available. Grabbed our bags, collected our free finishers t-shirt and straight to the changing area, get our brilliant Dryrobe on as soon as possible.

Once wrapped up we wandered around the village and grabbed burgers and drinks whilst watching some of the other runners finishing the course. My watch time said 1hr 59.15 and showed distance as 12.5km, we checked the results and I was placed 21st from 1022 finishers. I was over the moon with this even though it was boosted by The Challenge Cup competitors being in a different category. I think if their times were mixed in I would of still made top 100 and my top 10% target.

I loved the Fallout event and I do think they are some of the best OCR events around. Not the cheapest event but free parking, brilliant course and marshals, great facilities, lovely medal and tshirt, chip timed and free race photos make this a must do for obstacle course racers and I will definitely be back again in 2018