First time at this event in 2018. Hadn't run for over a week due to injury, so was just pleased to be out running. I arrived nice and early, as requested in the pre-event email, car parking was plentiful using a grassed area in the middle of Cannock Chase. Marshalls directed participants on where to park and I was straight in with no hassle. The race village was sparse, a burger van and toilets was about it and the queue for the portaloos was lengthy, but it seemed to move quickly, so no real issue there.
Organisation was certainly a strong point and the whole process ran like clockwork. Although the PA system was difficult to hear, we were away bang on time. The route starts with a gentle downhill grass section, with the normal crowded first km before the field thinned out. Most of the rest of the route was on stony forest trails, with lots of ups and downs. There isn't anything I would regard as a 'killer' hill, instead lots of short but steep climbs and gentle downhills. Most of the more challenging hills are in the first half of the race, so it was good to have conquered them before the water station at 5.5km. From then on the course meanders down through the forest towards the finish, with a dhort but steep incline near the end before you reemerge on the event field and head for home.
The course was particularly well signed and marshalled - it was difficult to see how anyone could get lost. The finish line goodie bag consisted of a medal, water, cereal bar and some haribos and bananas were available too. T Shirts were available to preorder for an extra charge, on this occasion I chose to opt out of this and meant the cost of entry was good value.
I would certainly recommend this event to anyone and hope to be back in 2019!