A tricky one this. I loved the route, loved the scenery, loved the runners and as always the Maverick team were excellent. Overall I had an amazing morning. However a few bits to note...

First off I can highly recommend this race. Organisation was great with prompt responses to my email queries. Briefing was v clear and included warning of a bull (more later), great views over Bath and Bristol, very little by way of tarmac, opportunity to try Inov-8 shoes (which I did), great support from the marshals with cow-bells an excellent signs and very hard to go wrong. I had a great day out! There were two feed stations with sweets, fruit and drink should you need it. I carried my own. Perhaps worth noting that this is a trail race so the paths were narrow in places limiting over taking and meant nettle stings unavoidable, but it’s a trail race so to be expected. No problem as far as I’m concerned. The distance was longer than advertised. I recorded just shy of 25km. Not an issue for me as I was running within my limit, but some had paced themselves for the advertised distance of 21km. Perhaps a feature of this being a new course. The race was advertised as plastic  free so I was disappointed to find plastic cups on offer at the start / end and at the feed stations. I’ll be emailing the organisers. And finally the bull. It wasn’t clear where we should expect the bull and I’m not sure if the problem was in the same field, but there was a safety issue and animal welfare concern early in the race. Before the race had chance to thin out we entered a field with cows, calves, a bull and an angry farmer. Runners were sticking to the path that ran along two sides of the field margin. But with so many runners and due to the shape of the field & path, the cows were spooked, distressed and charging around. I walked to avoid adding to the problem & kept my distance. Two other runners were not so lucky and were knocked to the ground. Could this have been avoided? Should runners slowed up and walked, should a Marshall been there to limit access, should discussions have taken place between farmer and organiser prior to the race (perhaps they had)? Or is this sufficiently unusual and difficult to avoid? I’d like to think that something could be done to reduce this risk in the future. To be clear the issue didn’t spoil what was, for me, an excellent event.

This was my first time running a Maverick Series race and it certainly won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it from the minute I arrived at the race to the minute I left.

I ran the "Long" route which was 22km in the Quantock Hills in Somerset which was certainly not for the feint hearted with something in the region of 2700ft of climbing but it was all worth it for the amazing scnery.

The organisation pre and post race was excellent. The medal is impressive and includes a bottle opener which is handy as you get an ice cold bottle of Maverick Ale along with the medal (and an ice coffee too!).

The Maverick Series is sponsored by Inov-8 and they were onsite with demo shoes that you could use for the race if you like as well as lots of other nice kit for sale.

I highly recommend the Maverick Series to anyone who enjoys trail running and doesn't mind the odd hill too. I will certainly be back to do more Maverick events when the schedule allows.