Great location, absolutely stunning. At one point you pop out of the woods after completing a gruelling uphill and the landscape opens up giving you full view of the countryside and the stately home. The only thing that tops this is the support from everybody concerned. First rate as always. Ps undulating means you need to be prepared to leave a long behind as some of the hills are obscene. Loved it I think 

This is my second year running this half and theres a good reason for coming back. The route is fabulous not only for it's natural beauty but how challenging it is, with hills trails and steps to amazing views. The organisers and Marshall's are helpful and supportive from registration to crossing the finish line.  IGUN are by far my favorite runs with Duncombe Park being top of the list. 

The actual course is stunning, this is a great part of the country to run in. Lots of hills and great scenery. Well marked and sufficient marshalling. Bottle of beer, chocolate and cake at the finish with a cute little medal. All in all a nice enough experience. 

This is advertised as Festival, with all the advertising suggesting a large event. It wasn’t, low entry numbers meant there lacked any sort of festival feel.

The published results show:

Saturday, 8 x 5k runners and 46 20k runners. 

Sunday, 45 x Half Marathon, 14 x 20 milers, 23 x Marathon runners, 4 x Ultra runners.  

A couple of the crew were doing their best at the start/finish area to create a little atmosphere and were very supportive. The marshalls on the course offered encouragement. 

We chose to camp Sat-Sun, in particular as Showers and Toilets were advertised as available along with a large BBQ to prepare your own food. The portaloos provided would have been fine had they been tended to over the weekend. At least one was blocked by Sat evening. Fresh water was available. There were only a handful a campers, no representative from the organisers made any approach to us while on the campsite with any explanation re showers etc. We had catered for ourselves so didn’t need it, we managed without showers but others spent 2 nights there, I think some went to a swimming pool to get clean. The camping pitch did have stunning views towards the house at Duncombe Park. 

There was a wedding party on the Saturday, the band played on till 1.00am! 

The camping area was a good 15 minute walk to the start/finish area. I think the toilets on the campsite were the ones supposedly available at the start/finish area. Others were available in the public car park almost a mile away from the start/finish in Helmsley itself. You passed these on each lap but the ones on the campsite were a big diversion from the course.

All the emails about this event, stated registration was at a pub in Helmsley town square. This was incorrect, it took place at the start/finish area. There was also confusion over the times registration was open. 

Ultimately the question is, would I go back next year? Not really sure at the moment..... just a thought but the lovely scenic countryside is there anyway and there are lots of other trail running events to chose from...

Great race, runners very spread out, due to low numbers. There was water and snacks at start/finish and half way round circuit, so 3 in half marathon plus finish. Loads of cake! Toilet a good trot away from start finish.

Hard circuit plenty of variety rough climbs, forest track, muddy tacks, steps, meadow, hills views, gates and an uphill finish. Was disappointed that runners disappeared as soon as they finished, but guessing many had long distances to drive home.

Good support from Marshall’s. Interesting bit through town, startled visitors and locals alike!

Will do more!

Wow, beautiful setting for a tough 2 lap 10k. As ever the Grim team were brilliant, well signposted, brilliant on course marshals, great feed stations. 

The course is tough with almost every underfoot surface. Road to grass to trail to steps. 

The choice of cake, beer and chocolate at the end is excellent and a lovely medal.

That was day 1. 

Grim offered camping this year, so I stayed over and ran the 1/2 mara on the next day. A slightly different 2 laps, if anything even more beautiful.

Totally recommend this weekend.

Another winning race from the excellent team at It's Grim Up North! I ran the half marathon in 2018 (inaugural race) and loved it, especially coming first female. As always, there was great banter and camaraderie on the route, and fantastic support from the other runners.

The half marathon's a two-lap course: in hindsight, I probably enjoyed the first lap a bit too much, racing down the downhill sections and jumping over roots in the forested areas. Hold something back for those killer hills on the second lap - that was tough in the sweltering heat.

Organisaiton was impeccable, and even got 10% off our Sunday lunch in the lovely Feathers Hotel beer garden afterwards. What's not to love? I really hope they keep this course on the books for next year. Not to be missed!

I ran the half marathon, two laps of a 6.5 mile route.  It was a really varied route with some great tracks through trees and fields. Hills - both up and down added to the challenge and it was nice to be away from it all on the Cleveland Way.

As is usual with Grim Up North, registration was quick and straightforward and everyone involved is super friendly. Lovely Marshalls were very encouraging and water /food stops were well located and well stocked.

Received a great medal, chocolate and beer in the goody bag, and great cakes at the end of the run.

This was a great event and I'm plan I g to be back next year. 

It was a hot two laps for the half marathon, but the scenery was stunning, the marshalls out on the course were all friendly, and the signage made navigation easy. Some tough hills, a lovely set of steps, and some rough terrain in parts.

It's not often you do a run and feel like the organisers and marshalls are genuinely bothered about the runners. With Its Grim Up North that's what you get. Well stocked aid stations, a friendly smile, lovely medal, beautiful locations, and cake plus goodie bag at the end. And once you've done a couple of runs, they remember you!

Yes it was tough today, but a few degrees cooler and this would have been up there for run of the year. I'll be back!

I actually really liked the race and I didn’t mind the extra 4K but...how can this happen?? It’s your first race at Duncombe Park and everything should have been checked. Maybe different route markers for Saturday/Sunday? And once you’ve realised that ALL runners went wrong, why then continue the race for the for the extra lap and not quickly adjusting and stopping it? Especially when it was so hot and not enough water due to the extra loop. There was no real explanation or excuse at the end. Shame really. Everyone makes mistakes but there were a few disheartened runners towards the end. Luckily I had enough water on me, no idea how people coped without. Maybe review the route for next year or actually talk to each other??