Quote Originally Posted by richardbembridge View Post
I was in the race on Monday - as I ran down the section of track to which you refer I heard someone shout. Turning around I saw two youngish-looking cows running down the track behind me; rather too close behind me for comfort as it happens.

At the risk of being shouted at for having done the wrong thing, this is what I did next: I turned to face them, raised my arms in the air and shouted "bugger off". They were only a few metres from me by now, but they stopped and one of them tried to get off the path. Unfortunately, at that point, the path is surrounded by hedgerow and so cow #1 didn't really have anywhere to go. I resumed my run, but so did they. This merry dance continued two or three more times, with the last time proving more successful - the hedgerow gave way and allowed the cows to get off the path and into slightly more open ground where they seemed happier.

The RO did warn us all about bullocks up on the field - I wasn't sure if this was in jest at the time, perhaps a reference to the Tiger's Todger incident. On balance, I don't know what to make of Monday - we were warned, nobody was injured, it cost a little time but not much, and the cows seemed fairly happy once they'd got into the field. I just thought I'd add my account to the thread, given I was at the sharp end.

I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts, especially from other runners around me - I finished 40th.
Personally, I would want to know before hand if there are cows on the course and I would likely not even enter the race, don't wan't to take the risk. Short races like this I think there should be no cows on the course, it's just dangerous. With all this commotion over FRA safety rules I would think cows on the course would be more of a hazard than not having taped seams in my pack!