This review is from the perspective of entering it and running as a guide runner for a visually impatient entrant.

The registration was very straightforward, as soon as the organisers knew I was to be the guide runner, I received an email asking for my details really quickly. I’d asked for a course map so I could check out the route on google maps and that was sent through quickly too.

On race day the car park was in a field and considering it had been a wet week was fine to park on. Registration was in a club up some steps. There weren’t any queues for the gents toilets which is always a bonus!

The race starts near a railway bridge before weaving through small villages. From a guide running perspective, the roads are generally fine but there are some narrow lanes to navigate which wouldn’t be too much of a problem if they’re closed to traffic but they weren’t. In addition, the side of the roads were worn and there were some potholes, which combined with open narrow roads made for some tricky moments. The race ends with 20 yards on to a field over some puddles and undulating terrain which we needed to run carefully across. There was one water station at half way, but we didn’t use it. I hadn’t considered the challenges of picking up water en route from the table as a guide so I’ll have to think in more detail about that in the future.

Once we finished we were both given a medal (I don’t expect a medal as a guide runner so that was nice) and a goody bag with water and some sweets in.

All in all this is a relatively flat route and was fine to guide run on but got a bit hairy in places with passing cars. In addition, there was a great friendly feel to the race, cake to buy back at registration and a nice prize giving ceremony. I’d do this race again as both a guide and on my own.