Where better to have a race than… a racetrack! But not the running one you’d find at the sports centre, but a proper motor racing circuit!

That’s what you get if you do Challenging Events’ Thruxton 5 and 10k (there’s also a choice of duathlons too).

Get on the starting grid, wait for the green lights and zoom off round the track… one and a bit times for the 5k and two and a bit extra for the 10k.

Racing tracks are pancake flat, right? Wrong! There are the expected corners but there are also a few inclines (not too bad) to make this a bit more interesting.

And don’t think it’s boring because it’s a track. There are enough twists and bends to keep you wondering which way you head next.

Oh and in this year’s race a tricky headwind which put paid to my hopes of a PB for the 10k… I was most definitely on for that until I came round the back straight and a tough cold wind smacked me right in the face.

You could feel the wind pushing you back. But at least there was no rain!

As usual with all of the Challenging Events races I have done, this was well organised (as you would expect from people who participate in races themselves).

Proper toilets as it was the racing circuit, a great HQ where you could even get a cooked breakfast (lucky supporters!) and hot drinks.

Plenty of free parking and an easy short walk to the start line. Water during the race and at the end… along with bananas, Haribo, an energy bar and a great medal and tee shirt all for a more than reasonable price.