My first trail 10k 9 months after C25K. A challenging but hugely enjoyable event amidst beautiful scenery, Cannock Chase being an AONB. 

Sineage to the event was clear and there was plenty of free parking. My only criticisms of the event ... there was quite a queue for the toilets on arrival and, after the start, it took quite a while for the field to spread out due to early funneling onto single track. There was a water station at just beyond the 5k mark. Finishers received an attractive, excellent quality medal and a pretty standard goody bag. Event t-shirt available at extra cost, I purchased one and was very pleased with the quality. I am definitely looking to make this a regular event.

For entrants travelling from further afield and looking to pad out the day, it's worth noting that the Birches Valley visitor centre is within 5 minutes walking distance of the event car park and includes extra toilets, a cafe, Go Ape tree top challenge and segways, ... more info here https://www.forestryengland.uk/cannock-chase-forest/activities

On arrival the car park area was well manned and was easy to access .Walking to the start area the woodlands just take your breath away . I don’t know what it is but trail races always seem so relaxed . 

A coffee van with a burger van also next to the start if you fancied something before or after . Normal amount of toilets but if you’re not first you are last ,ha !

Once the race started it was only a few minutes before you suddenly found yourself getting deeper into woodland. It was a bit of struggle to find your pace for the first ten minutes due to some narrow paths but it soon changed once was greeted with a massive incline . I knew then this was going to be a hilly but interesting course. If you are looking for an easy run with no scenery at all , this isn’t for you but, if you want a course that will test you but also give you some beautiful views along the way , then this is definitely the trail race for you .

The Marshals along the route were just perfect with their cheers of encouragement along with all the supporters scattered along the route .

Reaching the last 200 meters of the race you turned a corner to which you then hit all the crowds cheering you on to the finish line .

A goodie bag which contained a bottle of water, a nut bar and of course your medal, which was a good one I must say . Oh and you could help yourselves to a banana from a box .

I loved this race and will definitely be signing up for another 10k here . Thank you Cannock chase. 

#finishwithasmile

First time at this event in 2018. Hadn't run for over a week due to injury, so was just pleased to be out running. I arrived nice and early, as requested in the pre-event email, car parking was plentiful using a grassed area in the middle of Cannock Chase. Marshalls directed participants on where to park and I was straight in with no hassle.  The race village was sparse, a burger van and toilets was about it and the queue for the portaloos was lengthy, but it seemed to move quickly, so no real issue there.

Organisation was certainly a strong point and the whole process ran like clockwork. Although the PA system was difficult to hear, we were away bang on time. The route starts with a gentle downhill grass section, with the normal crowded first km before the field thinned out.  Most of the rest of the route was on stony forest trails, with lots of ups and downs. There isn't anything I would regard as a 'killer' hill, instead lots of short but steep climbs and gentle downhills. Most of the more challenging hills are in the first half of the race, so it was good to have conquered them before the water station at 5.5km.  From then on the course meanders down through the forest towards the finish, with a dhort but steep incline near the end before you reemerge on the event field and head for home.

The course was particularly well signed and marshalled - it was difficult to see how anyone could get lost. The finish line goodie bag consisted of a medal, water, cereal bar and some haribos and bananas were available too. T Shirts were available to preorder for an extra charge, on this occasion I chose to opt out of this and meant the cost of entry was good value.

I would certainly recommend this event to anyone and hope to be back in 2019!

cannock chase 10k was one hell of a 10k. Not having looked at this race before and only signing up last munite was a god send in terms of how hilly this was. 

Set in the beautiful Cannock chase this was a trail run with approx 700 entries. Facilities were grand, parking easy and the start and finish at the same place. 

The race was undulating ting from start to finish with hills you would on,y find on an ultra in wales. 

Marshall support was excellent 

this course is challenging but so unique it’s wirth every penny. 

This was, like many competitors I suspect, the first time that I'd run 10k trail course. The course itself is challenging in parts with some hills (steepish) and covers a variety of surfaces. The scenery is stunningly beautiful and made the run really interesting as you couldn't anticipate what would be round the next corner or over the next hill. 

Registration was straightforward and the run was competitively priced. The race number was posted a week or so in advance and logistics on the day couldn't have been better organised. 

The event had a very relaxed feel to it - competitors just assembled behind the start line around 10:20am and at 10:30am we were off! 

As stated above the course covered a variety of surfaces and gradients. It was well marked with excellent marshalling and local support that couldn't have been better! 

There was a water station at 5.5k and water and bananas at the end, along with a finishers medal and goody bag (popcorn, water, Fudge bar, Haribos and squeeze almond butter). A great event and intro to trail running. 

Taking on my 1st ever 10k trail race I was surprised by but equally enjoyed the challenge of this race, some good hills to run up and a few tight corners to negotiate it all added to the challenge and it made me push myself harder than I imagined before the start. Overall it was a friendly well organised event with all the obvious needs being met, a nice medal, goody bag, toilets, music, drink stations, marshals, food/drink available, picnic areas. The race was value for money run in a beautiful location and I'm looking forward to attending again in 2018!