This was organised by Tadworth AC, a local club. Registration online was straightforward and the cost (£20) was one of the cheapest especially if you caught the early bird deal.

This is normally held on the first Sunday after New Year. The start time is 1130hrs. This year the weather was sunny intervals but cold and windy.

Race HQ and admin was in the Queens Stand at Epsom racecourse and it was good to be in a comfortable shelter from the weather to get ready. There was a very friendly club feel to it all. Only a few stands for kit and charities. Bibs and chips collected on the day of the race. Bag drop was quick and efficient.

A short briefing and a 5 min walk to the start line on the racecourse in front of the stand. Prompt mass start.

There was plenty of space on the course as it headed uphill slightly then across the racecourse then downhill. The course was every type of ground you could expect in almost equal measure. Mud, track, trail, footpath, pavement, road. Apparently, this was one of the less muddy years but trail shoes definitely needed to maintain footing all the way round. The course was hilly but the scenery and views were great. The course went through villages, woods, housing estates but was well signposted and there were some points where you had to keep an eye on traffic but it wasn’t dangerous.

There was limited support but that was to be expected. Some local businesses handed out snacks along the way. There were 2 drinks stations on the course.

The reason I liked this race was because of the course –challenging and varied. Not a course for a distance PB which was good for not putting on the pressure at the start of the year. It was a bit of mental challenge as the course was run in 2 loops meaning you had to face those hills again. The course was exposed in places so wind added to the challenge.

The finish was running back down the racecourse to the where the start was. Nice medal, bottle of water and a banana. That’s all I ask for from a race. There was a memento but I can’t remember what it was. I’m told that it is always something quirky but it looks like I couldn’t find a use for it.