By Georgina Littlejohn and Beth Hale
Mr Cameron braves the freezing waters of Coldron Brook as he approaches the end of the run
As Conservative leader he knows the world of politics is paved with pitfalls.
So a few natural obstacles and some healthy competition must have seemed like light work for David Cameron yesterday.
Cheered on by wife Samantha and children Nancy and Arthur, he pulled on shorts, T-shirt and trainers to plunge himself into the mile-long Chadlington Great Brook Run.
The cross-country charity event, near Mr Cameron’s constituency home in Witney, Oxfordshire, is raced for half its length in the cold, muddy waters of the brook itself.
For a man who had yesterday vowed a clean fight in the General Election, this was a rather more mucky affair as he clambered under a bridge.
And there were plenty of cameras on hand to capture the star competitor’s rather breathless efforts.
The race, which raises money for the local primary school, was first run in 2006.
Mr Cameron, 43, successfully completed the event last year, but at one stage yesterday looked a touch unsteady.
He stayed the course, however, to cross the finish line where he was greeted, left, with a medal, a kiss from his wife – and a pint of ale.
Cheered on by wife Samantha and children Nancy and Arthur, he and hundreds of other runners of all ages, some in fancy dress, set off from The Tite Inn at 12.30 this afternoon.
They ran along a path and through muddy fields before leaping into the ice-cold waters of Coldron Brook, where they are plunged into darkness as they make their way through 3ft gap under a bridge.
At one stage, Mr Cameron looked a little unsteady on his feet as he tried to navigate his way through the runners and along a very muddy footpath.
The mile long race, which started in 2006, always takes place on December 27th, and raises money for Chadlington Primary School.
On your marks, get set, go! David Cameron joins hundreds of runners for the annual Chadlington Great Brook Run today
The run finished back at the 17th century Tite Inn where Mr Cameron was greeted with a medal, a kiss from his wife - and a cold pint of ale.
The mile long race, which started in 2006, always takes place on December 27th, and raises money for Chadlington Primary School.
A notice on the run's official website asks all competitors to pay £5 'which will be donated to Chadlington School in the hope that the money raised will help educate the children of Chadlington to know how stupid it is to go running in freezing water in the middle of winter'.
Mr Cameron shows off a muddy bottom after dragging himself through a muddy brook but is rewarded for his efforts with a pint of ale and a loving kiss from wife Samantha
Mr Cameron, who is also the MP for the neighbouring town of Witney, is becoming a familiar face in this post-Christmas fixture.
He took part last year and finished 25th out of 105 competitors in just under 15 minutes - but was beaten by three schoolgirls and a semi-naked man.
The Tite Inn landlord Michael Willis said Mr Cameron wanted to join the race in 2007, but 'he reluctantly agreed to start the race for us instead'.
source: dailymail
Mr Cameron braves the freezing waters of Coldron Brook as he approaches the end of the run 
The mile long race, which started in 2006, always takes place on December 27th, and raises money for Chadlington Primary School.
On your marks, get set, go! David Cameron joins hundreds of runners for the annual Chadlington Great Brook Run today
Mr Cameron shows off a muddy bottom after dragging himself through a muddy brook but is rewarded for his efforts with a pint of ale and a loving kiss from wife Samantha
