I was due to run a different distance and received an email several weeks beforehand confirming my entry had been changed to another distance. When I received the final race instructions the Friday before my name was still on my original distance and hadn’t been changed. I immediately emailed run through asking them to verify the change as was driving two hours down to get there and didn’t want to be told I couldn’t do my preferred event. I didn’t get a response! I decided to drive down anyway and when I got there to collect my bib it hadn’t been changed on there system but to be fair it was very straight forward to sort out on the day! Runtrough really need to sort their organization out when something like this happens but to their credit it was easily resolved on the day. I did eventually get a response…after the run! The course is fine, you run laps around Goodwood motor circuit which is excellent (if you’re ok with laps). The miles count backwards which some will find annoying It’s a very smooth surface to run on and is flat! No extra toilets provided by runthrough which is typical of there events, they rely on the toilets provided by Goodwood which is no where near enough! Runthrough never have enough toilets! Water was in bottles which is excellent! I believe coke was provided and bananas as well Free photos provided which is great although don’t expect super quality! Not much support as in a closed racecourse so only expect family and friends of runners taking part! I’ve run the course in the past and will no doubt be back in the future Medal…same generic type runthrough medal but you do get an individual race distance ribbon which is excellent…I wish all runthrough events had this!

If your after a PB then a race at the goodwood circuit could be that race, flat and wide with plenty of runners in different races all to help you along. It can be a bit windy as it's quite open, and if your a slower runner you may find it a bit quiet early and late in the marathon, but loads of spectators there for the other races.

Brilliant place to run, super smooth surface, flat

The return to racing in Covid-19 times has seen a few changes but to be fair they have all been for the good of running.

Well-organised by RunThrough, the Goodwood Running Grand Prix at the Sussex motor racing circuit of the same name showed just how easy it is to be efficient in difficult times.

With plenty of room it was easy to maintain social distancing right from the car park in a big field across the road from the circuit.

School patrol-like lollipop people ensured you got over the road safely and there were two-way entrances into the actual grounds (although as usual not everyone was observing the keep to one side rules).

Hand sanitisers as soon as you got into the grounds and proper toilets with plenty of soap and hot water and notices about not too many people in them at one time were the next commonsense finds.

No problems keeping apart before the start as the organisers staggered the off for the various distance races, the long ones going off first and the 5k last, so not everyone was there at the same time.

For the 10k there were two waves and at the designated start time we were walked single file, social distanced to plastic cones placed just over a metre apart for a socially distanced crossing one by one over the timing mat.

All nice and smooth and then an out and back section before completing two laps of the circuit, by which time all of the runners who had begun before us were well spaced out.

Overtaking was done sensibly leaving space between you and the other person (and most people seemed to have got this) and no spitting or clearing your nose on the run (one guy in front of me most certainly didn’t get this despite a nice big grass verge he could have gone onto).

Over the finish line and plenty of space to keep moving, pick up your own relevant distance medal, already wrapped up, select your own shirt and pick up your own goodies as you moved through the covered finish area.

Most people moved out of this area as they had been instructed in the detailed race briefing sent out with numbers, although there were a few stragglers.

A well run race where the vast majority of people stuck to the sensible guidelines.

It’s always nice to run around somewhere a bit different but I must remember that these circuits nearly always have a section where the wind blasts into your face. It certainly did on this race…

I chose to run the marathon distance at this race, but was a little aprehensive about the prospect of doing laps. I had to do 11 and bit laps, and it did get a little monotonous.

I would recomend this distance to people who were looking to get some miles in their legs for training. The 5k and 10k distances looked like they were great fun and very well atended.

My final few laps were the best and worst. Because lots of people had finished their shorter distances, they stuck around to cheer on those still on the track. It was a good atmosphere running down the finishing straight. On a personal level, my feet were killing me due to blisters that formed after the heavens had opened earlier on in the race, and my feet were soaking. My own silly fault for not looking at the weather forecast!

On the whole, it was a really good event, and the marshalls were enthusiastic, and hats off to the guy banging the tambourine for 5 hours, even through the downpour.

Well done RunThrough.