I've spectated this race for years as it comes through Chorleywood where I live. I wasn't brave enough to try it until this year. It's a great course with a really interesting mix of terrain. It wasn't very muddy this year but I was still glad of my mud claws in the pull up towards Latimer House. If you can get someone to meet you in Denham Country Park (where there are toilets!) then changing into comfortable footwear for the long part on the canal tow-path is a good idea. The check points are great, and as others have said, it's really really well-organised. As a female runner, the final check point ensures that you are with someone in case it gets dark before you finish. I was glad of this as it did get very dark in the final three miles (and I'd not anticipated just how dark the canal tow path can be in a city). I'd recced the course from Wendover to Chorleywood twice and was glad that I did as there is the potential to get a bit lost if you aren't running with a group in the first 15 miles. The GPX file is useful to have. All in all - I'd recommend it as a well-organised first step-up ultra, particularly if you are a female runner who is running alone.

I'd previously only completed shorter ultras (up to 43 miles) so this was a big step up for me, but rather thsn find it a slog whilst in constant pain, I actually *almost* enjoyed it! I loved the fact that the course was so gnarly at the beginning, followed by a long flat canal-side slog into London. And the feedstations were nicely-spaced with lovely helpful crews manning them :) The only thing I didn't like was having to take stairs at the finish line to go and retrieve my drop-bag!!

This event is always brilliantly organised and has become a proper early season classic in the ultra calendar. It isn't a marked course (other than the final bit off the canal) it but is fairly hard to get lost and a gpx etc. is provided. The communication before the race is excellent, the volunteers are brilliant, and aid stations pretty well stocked. My personal preference is to avoid freebies (this year a hat) unless people opt in for them (for sustainability's sake) but this is a minor thing. This is a quality race that i'd highly recommend and is perfect entry into ultramarathons for anyone thinking of giving one a go.

My first time running the Country to Capital race this weekend and it was a stellar event. For me this was a ramp up distance wise from a 50k about 10 months ago and this event was a great next step. Some specifics: - I live in London so caught the train out to Wendover which arrived 30 mins before the race start. I was a little apprehensive about the fast turnaround needed here, but it went really smoothly including the bag drop. - the event felt minimal in a good way in terms of not bombarding you with information or enforcing an unnecessary kit list - navigation isn't my strong point but this event felt doable, particularly as the last half when you're more tired and less able to navigate is so easy just following the towpath - checkpoints were great- all the volunteers were so friendly and couldn't do enough for you. I don't think I filled my own water bottle all day - the finish line was great and I think the race director hugged or shook the hand of every single person over the finish line. Having access to the warm sports hall afterwards was much needed and had a great community spirit with what seemed like unlimited hot drinks - I know I ran this race on a blessedly un-muddy year, but do be warned it can get very muddy. If you can get someone to meet you around denham to swap shoes into comfier and cleaner road running ones I'd highly recommend that. Thanks to the organisers for putting on such a fantastic race!

A fantastic event. The aid station volunteers were some of the best I've ever had at a race. Special mention to aid station 3 who looked after me when I wasn't feeling well and was seriously contemplating pulling out at that stage. As an improvement, a possibility of a pre-canal path shoe change might be something to potentially consider. It's a long way to plod on concrete in trail trainers. Might be costly, van hire etc but could incorporate that into an add in possibly? I definitely felt that I'd have been better off in road shoes for the last 20 miles. A few small navigational glitches for us but as a whole a good event to follow easily. Finish facilities were excellent. Shower and changing areas were highly appreciated yesterday. Start was easy to. Well organized. Easy to find, plenty of parking. Baseball cap was a great and surprising extra. Well done to all involved.