well that was tough ! hill after hill after hill in pretty hot conditions. great start and a tangible feeling of runners camaraderie - i knew many people there but everyone was so up for it.

Make no mistake this is a hard course (and a fantastic choice for my first ultra!) but its challenging and beautiful, stunning scenery especially the bluebell woods.

CPs were great, well stocked and the marshalls were all lovely and incredibly helpful.

Navigation is a challenge so you do need to pay attention and i wish i'd committed to memory more of the directions as taking one wrong turn costs us about 3k (and when i say us....about 8 of us!)

It was such good fun - the out and back is ok as i couldnt really remember much coming back in and seeing everyone go past was great - everyone said hello/well done and there were a few snatched hugs!

the final few km were in many ways the hardest, flat through the country park and along the canal but felt like it went on forever and i was feeling utterly spent by that stage

lots stayed around after so the welcome at the finish line was immense !!

Would i do it again? absolutely ! this is only the 2nd one so there's still room for improvement but its a wonderful event with great organisers. I will be back.