← Oundle 20 Mile, 10k & 5k

Great event. Little bit distant from Cambridge but went with this thanks to racecheck as it fell perfectly within my Manchester training plan for a 20miler - also local events i had done in other years had sold out early this year. Registration straightforward and numbers sent promptly with email updates prior to the race. Nice big sports hall to prep in although a few more toilets would have been useful - ok for gents as there was a nice big field with lots of trees but less so for females.. A good challenging run that makes it ideal for marathon training up to 20 miles. As a Cambridge resident i would say more hilly than undulating but i guess its all relative! The wind made it even tougher and some very long straight bits also tested the mental toughness. Beautiful scenery through some nice countryside and villages and plenty of interest - handfuls of support were very positive when encountered. Lots of positive marshalls and very good frequency of water stops - 1 or 2 were help yourself which would have slowed the faster runners but the majority stopped for water or carried their own so no real issues. Also jelly babies and jaffa cakes halfway round were a nice touch, although i was still tying to digest gels so not for me! Nice finish through the village and into the school which was well-supported including the faster runners who had already finished. Some good snacks and water at the finish and great medal and tee. 2 minor grumbles - there was differing advice on parking although in reality it was very easy to park close to the start. Also it was a bit hit and miss as to whether the baggage dropped was manned - some people had helped themselves to their bags but it did mean my bag was trampled on and covered in mud - not ideal as it had sentimental value but no long-term damage to it or its contents but in future maybe ideal to have staff manage this. Overall would highly recommend - given distance from Cambridge and its a little hilly i may do ones close to home in future but if not its a great back-up and an excellent event in its own right.