2017 was the inaugural race and held on a beautifully sunny day. Registration online was straightforward and I also entered my children for the fun run.

At over £45 (£15 for the 1 mile fun run!), this is one of more expensive races. There is a ‘processing fee’ that is mandatory – why not just include it the price then? I can’t help thinking that any race that has a huge VIP tent for non-runners is a commercial venture that doesn’t have the runner in mind.

The race village was big with food stands and a bar. Plenty of entertainment and music. The bar was ridiculously priced and some of the food stands couldn’t cope with the number of customers. Bag drop was OK but not enough loos for the competitors.

There was mass warm up which was well done and fun. As mentioned by others, the start was a farce. The PA system wasn’t loud enough to hear what was going on and there was a delay to the start with no explanation.

The course was undulating with some hills. Support was well spread out and there were great views of the park, of London and wildlife. 3 water stations with cups. The finish is a nice speedy downhill stretch.

Unmemorable goody bag which, considering the cost and compared to the Royal Parks Half (which is similarly priced), was disappointing. To the race’s credit the photos are free. On balance, I’d rather have the photos than a bigger goody bag

We stayed and hung out in the race village (mainly queuing for food and drink). Nice atmosphere. Enjoyed spotting running royalty – Big Carl, Susie Chan and Sophie Raworth. A nice family day out but won’t be running again due to the high costs and the very ‘corporate’ feel.