Don't get me wrong, I love Maverick events, but there are a couple of things that are starting to put me off doing them. Parking was dealt with really well considering the number of entrants there were and the muddy ground, but it did leave me with less time to register and get ready than was ideal, despite arriving an hour before my race start. Registration was a bit shambolic. 13 marked out queues, and what seemed like only 6 or 7 people dishing out numbers, which meant people pushing in. Tablets didn't seem to be working properly either due to poor signal or being wet. Also didn't help that people were registering for the short race half an hour before their registration window was supposed to be open. Even the people behind the desk shouting for people registering for the long to come forward didn't stop them. That's happened at the last couple of Maverick events I've done now and it leaves you feeling rushed. The course was really well marked out. Marshals were all cheery and friendly considering they were stuck out in the rain and cold to start off with. Luckily I didn't experience any congestion at gates like others. It was a very beautiful and scenic course. For the people complaining it was too muddy. It's a trail race in winter. What did you expect the course to be like? If you turn up in road shoes, or "trail" shoes (which don't really have any grip), of course you're going to slide around. I had mudclaws on and it was fine. Finally, and I've mentioned this so many times before, but please Maverick, stop letting people wear headphones. As much as you put it in all your pre-race emails, and mention it in your start line briefing, for people to be considerate to other users, they just aren't. People can't hear you coming up behind them whether they're wearing the open/bone-conducting type or not. Even when you're politely asking 3 or 4 times to come past, and then finally asking much louder and they leap in the air like someone has let off a firework right up their backside, then I feel like the person in the wrong. There was one very narrow section near the end in between 2 rows of fences that was barely wide enough for one person, where I tried to pass 3 people wearing headphones. None of them moved, and when you're running downhill quickly on slippery mud, it's difficult to slow down when you're expecting they can hear you coming and anticipate they'll move to let you come past when you ask in plenty of time. It's just dangerous, and can be easily stopped by not allowing headphones. You did ban them for a couple of races last year, but then seemingly bottled it because you didn't feel it was inclusive or people ignored you anyway, and it now just says on the event page 'we strongly recommend not wearing headphones at this event.' It's putting me off doing another Maverick event. Especially on an event with so many runners, and you've got 3 routes all merging back onto the same course near the finish and the trails are narrow. Great event other than that.

Positives: Great atmosphere, down-to-earth event, great attitude among the competitors, a challenging course Negatives - really bad congestion from about kms 3 - 6. Multiple stiles and kissing-gates with long queues to get through. Also, I appreciate that it was raining in Nov (which is obviously outside the organisers' control), but the courts was the muddiest I've ever experienced. Just a small increase in of routing somewhere other than deep mud would have been welcome. Totally get that merch is not eco-friendly but having run a half-marathon in heavy rain and deep mud, I'd have liked to buy a t-shirt / beanie / neck scarf, had there been such merch for sale.

Perfect weather (heavy rain at the start) Great Chilterns route with undulating trails with some short sharp ups and downs. Mud had turned to a slurry in places which was challenging but great fun. Only issue was having to queue for several minutes getting through kissing gates and styles early on in the route. Definitely will do other Mavericks!

It was my first trail and I really enjoyed it. Everything was new for me but everything was easy to understand without being worried of where I had to go. I found the race very well organised. The staff was super organised and gave all the informations needed without me having to ask. That was my first trail and for sure it won't be the last!! Thank you so much for making this event an unforgettable one!

Marahals were great, some real bottlenecks at kissing gates. Could have done with some more coffee stalls! Staff wouldn’t hand out numbers before 8- though email said 7:45 and were a bit grumpy people were asking for them. Organisation was good overall- well done on a very wet day!

The race was a really good fun race on a tough course especially due to the weather. The organisation was good and the start/finish are had something for everyone - the fire pits were a particularly nice tough given how cold it was. Especial shout out to the cake stall for having a good selection of gluten-free cakes. The only thing I would have liked to have seen was a fast-track queue for tea and coffee only.