OK so normally you get the pomp of the Marathon.  With this race as you have a few (nutters), I mean dedicated few doing up to the IronMan distance, you get second billing, ok maybe even the 6th billing, that is ok though and gives you a little race feel, while the rest of them faff around with bike and wet-suits. :)

As for the race, given you are down country lanes we rolled straight into the car park and went towards registration.  If you have fan club they will have to get in. £7.50 for over 5's only one of my fan club are over 5 so not too bad. :)

Registration then right behind the paying tent.  As I signed up with only a day to go was not on the list, but a quick visit to the help desk and number was in hand ready to go.  So all good there.

Race start area not highlighted with signs but enough people working on the day to ask.

As this is the first Marathon within the race there was about 60 of us called over for the race brief.  Full marks for the Race Director giving out the advice of the route and going into fairly good detail.  With a little history to boot.

Started a little late, but I think they had early morning fog so the swimmers for the triathlon events started late, but even so, one by a few mins so no great issues.

The only gripe of the day was the first Marshall point hardly pointed us in the correct direction right at the start.  This made a good number of us haveing to backtrack right at the start.  At no other point was this an issue over the 10km ish course.

The course was nice. plenty of off road and plenty of the hilly stuff clocked up about 2500 ft in elevation gain of the full distance so not shy.

despite the 4 laps never got tired of the scenery.  In fact, could have done a few more.

Food stations were a highlight, well stocked.  maybe try and highlight the difference between water and high 5 somehow, you do not want to pour the wrong thing over you, the people at the stations always informing which was which.

The medal was a little disappointing if that is your thing, but as said people are doing much greater things than just a Marathon.

Can not comment on price got the place though Running Heros. :)