All the obvious good stuff before I get into the less obvious good stuff:

- very friendly atmosphere (as with all IGUN events)

- excellent value for money

- great bling

- bunch of daffodils for finishers (lovely idea)

- ideal pre-race toilet facilities

- informative race brief

- easy parking

- interesting race route

- picturesque location

- enthusiastic marshalls

Now - the Grim Rating was DEFINITELY wrong for this. I am told that last year it was accurate because the weather was good. However, it has been a very long, cold, wet and windy winter that has creeped into spring. This resulted in a VERY muddy race route with deep puddles galore. There were a few sections of downhill where it was so muddy that runners were sliding rather than running down and doing anything possible not to topple over. It was very cold and windy and raining. Despite all of this being rather unexpected, it is not a negative. It was excellent fun and felt like an adventure! I spent most of the route laughing with other runners as we squelched our way around. I did manage to complete the 6.7 miles in road shoes (terrible idea) and loved every minute of it. The hills were really challenging, and I take my hat off to all the runners who completed longer distances on the day as I couldn't have due to the conditions.

In summary, not for the faint-hearted (should have been maximum Grim Rating), not a PB course by any stretch of the imagination, but if you want to feel like a four-year-old again and splash in a load of puddles while you race, then I highly recommend it. I will certainly be doing it again!

A 6.7 mile loop around the Temple Newsam estate on paths and trails. Awful weather in the lead up made conditions more difficult than expected with lots of mud and standing water. A number of runners seemed to be asking if they could change their race distances in light of the conditions and the flexibility that the organisers showed in accommodating this was creditable.

Decided against trail running trainers at the last minute and hard to know whether it was the right call or not. Despite the conditions, the route was pretty enjoyable with a couple of longish climbs alongside steady descents and flat ground to make up time on. A 50m mud slide at the mid-point of each lap was entertaining where regardless of footwear, gravity took over. As with other IGUN events, registration and organisation were really good and the course was adequately marshalled by friendly faces offering encouragement. The trademark homemade cakes at the finish were much appreciated.

To conclude, conditions very different to those expected but really enjoyable all the same.

Daffodil Dash?  Well I did wander lonely as a cloud, especially in the last lap, but there was no host of golden daffodils.  I didn't do much dashing either.  Raining all day, ankle deep mud, ran in soaking wet socks for 23 of the 26 (nearer 27) miles, still couldn't feel my fingers an hour after finishing and was an hour and 45 minutes off a PB.  But what a fantastic day it was.  Wonderful marshalls and organisers, friendly fellow runners, beatiful location - just brilliant fun.  I absolutely loved it! I'll be doing it next year without a doubt.  Thanks so much to everyone who helped to make it such a great day.