first the sh1t bit. the bag drop was a nightmare. it was later explained that the logistics were different this year due to major roadworks in the towncentre - the race village was in a different place and the volunteer team that ran the bag drop was different to usual. The bags were not sorted into number order so at the end of the race there was a massive queue, easily 45 minutes, might have been an hour of glacial slowness. to be fair to the organisers, they apologised profusely throughout and offered a discount on next year's event.  but really, a bit sh1t.

it was a warm day, a flat course, i was hoping for a pb of under 1:40.  i got my hydration wrong, not accounting for the heat/sunshine, so fell apart in the last 5k. i don't remember the final 2k at all, total blank, and i was in a bad way at the finish line, very giddy and unsteady on my feet.  took a good while of sitting down and drinking loads to recover some poise.

the route is flat, so good for pbs. it does a double loop for part of the course which means you cover some of the ground twice. i have a particular dislike of routes like this, i would much prefer a big single loop.

it was well marshalled, the race village was fine (bag drop aside...), reg was easy enough.  having done the oxford race the following month, i don't think i'll be back to maidenhead, oxford was in a different league.