Firstly, let's start with the title.... This wasn't a festival. If you are going to use that name, you need to provide more. Entertainment, music - something! Registration was fine along with the collecting of the number on the day. When it came to the start, there were quite a few people that didn't really know what was happening. People didn't know who was starting when, were we all starting together? The speaker was very quiet and sometimes muffled, it was a bit of a guessing game. As we left the town centre, we headed to the countryside, the first 6/7 miles were fine, plenty of runners about and people to talk to. After that, no one! The run along the country lanes were lonely, there wasn't much to look at as the hedgerows were quite high. Across one part there was a puddle which ran all the way across the road, and we had to run through this twice! The organisers could've placed a few pallets across it to walk over.... So now my feet are soaking, and my socks and trainers are rubbing! When we left the country lanes, we had another treat in store - a tour of the industrial estates of Wrexham!! At least I now know where the Kellogs factory is, and where the council depot is... Due to the route, there was practically no support at all, it was a very lonely race.

When it came towards the end, one of the signs was, shall we say, not pointing in the right direction. So off I went, to be chased down by a marshal to say I have gone the wrong way - in total, I ran 28.7 miles. The medal was nice but the cotton tshirt is not much use. After 28 miles, I was offered a packet of prawn cocktail crisps... I think for races of this distance, more should be offered in the way of nutrition, or at least some food at all. 

In summary...

Registration - Fine, no issues, 100%

Start line - needs to be clearer, 75%

Local support - none, 0%

Route - Ditch the industrial estates, 30%

Would I run this again...? I'm afraid not. There are races out there that have so much more atmosphere, nicer routes, plenty of support and often for less money.

I just want to add though, the marshals were 110%, sterling job.