I have now taken part in this event for teh past 4 years and it has become one of my favourites. This year however it felt different and not in a good way. The organisation seems to have changed and with it several things for the worst.
Firstly they have changed the start/finish so you now finish the race with a 90 degree corner with people immediately after the finish line handing out medals meaning you actually run into them. This is if you havn't turned your ankle or knee negotiating this last turn which is also on grass which was so lucky that the rain held off or this would have been dangerous. It's stupid and I felt awful running head first into a young lad handing out medals. What were the organisers thinking? Athletes are running at the top speed here to get every bit of energy out to get beat that time ticking away. I'm just grateful I've come away uninjured as I race most weekends. I've rated the safety question as 1 owing to this.
The local support is always good but today I found it quite strange that they only seemed to be cheering on the local club vests and it went quiet when the rest of us passed them. This I found to be eerie but really funny.
The course itself is as always first class and takes in the whole of the city which is challenging even before you go out onto the country lanes which challenge you further.