An absolutely freezing December day for this event, not that that's unexpected in mid-December. This race is run over laps of about 3.3 miles around a closed Newark Showground, meaning that you need to complete 4 laps for a half-marathon and 8 laps for the full. Some had entered for just the one lap, others were going beyond marathon distance. There isn't much in terms of scenery, but the lap-based system was ideal for this time of year. At the end of every lap there was a selection of biscuits, cakes and snacks, with cola, Irn-Bru and water available too. Participants had the choice of taking a break or continuing straight through for another lap. On my third lap the wind really picked up, making the sections where it was blowing straight into your face quite tough. Fortunately, I had layered up - it was a double-buff, double gloves and pretty much double everything else day! The weather forecast was for it to turn quite nasty, but fortunately this held off until later in the afternoon. I completed 6 laps, giving me a distance of just under 20 miles and really enjoyed the event. There were no crowds, but lots of support from fellow competitors. Laps might not be to everyone's taste, but it was the ideal event for the time of year when the weather cannot be relied upon. I'm planing on returning next year to do more than 6 laps!