I took part in the Ballbuster for the 3rd year in a row in 2017. This was the most difficult it has been with a lack of cycle training and busy running year, but I still did it. I will rate the event below but you can get my full personal account here:

https://pickupthepacepaul.com/2017/11/05/ballbuster-2017

Registration is on the morning so you have to get there early. This is so disorganised and unnecessarily slow, I comment about it in my blog every year, and they could easily address this. Instead you join a huge queue and often have to rush almost missing the start.

The event is unique and takes you in a 8 mile loop of boxhill, it’s bloody tough. It’s 1 lap run, 3 lap bike then 1 lap run to finish. Many people take it on a a team of two or three, but for me there is only one option, to do it all. 

Im a good runner, I’m fit and relatively fast, but as a solo competitor I always finish near the back. This is not an event for just anyone to take on as a solo event, it is full of tri clubs and really impressive fast cyclists. If you are a good cyclist you will be fine and can coast the run, but otherwise I would suggest considering the team event. Whatever you decide prepare for it to be tough. It always seems to be cold and wet, this adds to the difficulty.

There is support at a lot of points but the lap change at the top of box hill is the best. Marshal supervision is good at every turn, you still need to be safety aware as the roads remain open. Traffic is limited as it’s eaely morning but there are cars out there that get a bit close for comfort.

The aid station is pretty poor with just cupped water, but on bike you carry your own so not too bad.

The finish is always full of competitors to cheer you through. There is no medal, but everyone gets a quality hoody which makes this event good value for money.

A difficult yet rewarding event... I wouldn’t say I necessarily enjoy it, but I always like to push myself to a finish.

Once again into the shocking weather that is ALWAYS Ballbuster! Driving rain and cold. Just as it should be.

Racing the bike leg of a relay team it was tough but epic. 3 times up Box at pace is tough for sure.

As always though the registration is great as long as you get there early, the cafe is of course always well stocked and the supporters are brillint.

This race has to be done once at least!

Right at the start of this race someone said, "it's a running race with a sit down in the middle"...  they were right but even the sit down hurt!

I was about 6 weeks post Ironman and had done some training but this race hurt, turns out not enough.

It's basically laps of the Boxhill circuit on roads that are still open. The weather was awful which didn't help. This was probably the first race I had done where I had to walk for bit cos it was energy sapping. 

It is not for the faint hearted and you really have to dig deep, not helped by the terrible weather (usual for that time of year). It's a real challenge and not one that I want to go back to. 

Registration did take some time, big queues and the way that the cars are parked means it can take a fair amount of time to get out of the carpark. 

Nice hoodie though.. 

As my first duathlon, I conservatively estimated I'd be able to do it in 3:30. I finished in just under 3:38. This race is HARD. That wasn't helped by the terrible conditions (cold and rainy, as apparently it usually is).

It's a single 8 mile loop that you do 5 times. It's down nice wooded roads and finished with the infamous Box Hill Zig-Zag road. The roads aren't closed, and some of the roads are quite narrow. Sadly some participants seen to put their finish time before the safety of themselves and those around them, and in rainy conditions being overtaken on a blind bend isn't what I wanted.

Parking and registration were easy, but the queues did build up for registration and toilets as the start time neared. The race briefing was barely audible over the people around me talking, but the chap was enthusiastic and informative desire the weather.

They do block everyone in the car park until the cut off to get more cars in and make it safer for cyclists, but the marshals did an excellent job of getting people out as quick as possible because of the awful weather. 

Trabsition is right next to the car park, so it's easy to get set up. Transition is in pretty much the most exposed part of box hill you can imagine. If you're not going for a fast time a small bag to keep you stuff dry might be a good idea if the weather is bad.

The race hoodie is nice, although they do give you it before the race rather than when you finish, so if you don't make the cut off at least you can pass it off as just having bought an expensive hoodie!

5th go at the BB for me, but agian only as run leg 1 for the Race team, but its still as great as the first one I took part in. The weather this time was biblical but the organisers can't help that so we will move on....

As always the registration was quick and smooth as we got in early at 7am, the queues grew later on but didn't seem to cause too many problems. As alway an awesome quality hoodie was handed out to keep you warm after the race. Its the only event I'm happy not to get a medal for

The race started prompty but with a new rolling start setting small groups of at 5 second spurts to ease out congestion, and it worked! The straight forward looped lap is easy to follow without MArshall support but as with all Human race events there were plenty on the course.

Care was needed on parts of the course due to steep downhills mixed with lashing rain and piles of soggy slippery leaves.

Another change this year was to the run in/ bike out section. Instead of cutting straight into the car park at the end of the first lap the course was extended around the top of Box Hill and back into transition through the start area, adding another half a mile on the section.

As always, a great event and I will be back next year.. May even do the whole thing for once :)

Firstly, it was a great, tough course, with amazing marshalls in cold and wet conditions. I'm certainly pleased to have done it, and am still on a high having completed it. 

However, the registration process was chaotic to say the least. We turned up good and early, queued in the rain for ages, and when we got to the desk found that only two people were allocated to the relay teams. The rest of the registration team were basically hanging around doing nothing. It meant that we just about made it to the start line at the start time, having had no time to warm up and being rushed. I don't know what happened to the large number of people behind us. 

The supply of race hoodies had also expired by the time we registered, and given the cold and wet it would really have been nice to have had a dry layer at the end. In fairness, we got a text apologising and saying that they would be posted to us, but hopefully my hypothermia will be gone by then. 

The other issue was the cut-off time. I can see why it's needed, but a very significant number of people weren't allowed do the last run. Given the conditions, the delays at the start and the registration problems, it was at least half an hour too early. My team was within the limit, but my friend had to insist on doing the run because he didn't manage to get off until ten minutes after the official start time.

if this was the first time the race was run, I could understand it, but they've had plenty of practice. At £100 for a team entry, it's one of the worst value for money events that I've raced in.

This course is boasted as being one of the most challenging duathlon events out there. It's tough, it's always cold and wet, on difficult terrain, with a technical course. You start and finish on the top of box hill and do an 8 mile, hilly lap. That sounds hard right? Well you do one lap running, followed by 3 laps on the bike, and if that is not enough, you finish with a final lap running. There is a team option that makes it more manageable where teams of 2-3 split up the sections.

This is not an event you can just decide to do, it is difficult with hard cut offs, this is one event you have to train for, and that still might not be enough. There were just 500 competitors, but only 320 finished with many pulling out on the course, or not making cut offs.

It has some beautiful views and although this is terribly hard it is an event that draws people back time and time again, I for one will be back next year. So what are the pros and cons:

The registration takes longer than needed. You queue up to go into a small room, and wait for ages owing to the small size and having to wait for people to get out of the way. It reminds me of queuing for the gents, only to get to the front and realise there are loads of urinals not being used at all.

You don't get a medal in this event, and this year there was a lack of goodies at the end. Last year I got a bar and peppercorn, but this year there was just a gel. Also the highlight is a top quality hoody, but a messed up order meant many were left without having to wait for it to be posted out.

marshals were posted at all the turns which was vital for safety. The roads are open and the turns are sharp, without the marshals this would be an even more dangerous course.

the support at the start/finish is fantastic,. It is populated with lots of tri clubs taking part in the relays, it is a great atmosphere. However other than this area the support is pretty minimal.

The course itself is wet, muddy in transition, technical, hilly... just horrible, but all this adds to the challenge. It is not meant to be easy, and this is one event in the calendar that you really go in to not use if you will make it. I will be back for this challenge next year and highly recommend it, but do make sure you are ready.

https://pickupthepacepaul.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/cep-winter-ballbuster/

Ballbuster is one of those races that while you're racing you often question why you decided to do it, but straight after you know you'll  be back.

Unable to run I opted for the relay option with a running buddy. The course is technical but not too demanding; the famous zigzags do need to be taken at a comfortable pace.

Organisation is good and great marshals. The car park gets busy so be prepared to wait a bit after the race. Best to try some of the cake in the cafe opposite while waiting.

First time for me tackling the Ballbuster - the weather was horrendus but the Marshalls were superb.. The course itself is very nice.. hilly as expected and plenty of warnings from Marshalls and other competitiors about the slippery surface as to be expected in an area such as box hill - nothing like hearing the crowd at the finish line to spur you on for that final push.

The car park was rammed but we had been pre warned a few times via email ti would be, and nice to see Human Race trying to help people car share too - nice touch

Thoroughly enjoyed the event and would come back again... Human Race Crew did a fantastic job - Thanks Guys and Girls !