I love a big event. Let's just get that out of the way. I love the spectical, the crowds, the 'smell' of it. I've finshed runs in stadiums. In other sports i've 'performed' in frot of thousands so, in theory, this should pretty much be up there with 'please sir, can I have some more'... right?

In so many ways yes, however 'Nothing has changed so I won't be back'. I first ran GNR in 2016. I had my gripes then but I returned. This time running as Batman with my brilliant sidekick Robin.

Okay lets get down to the nitty gritty.

We arrived in plenty of time. Down to previous experience I knew the toilet queues were crazy and getting to and into the pen was no easy task. To be fair signage at the event is good, however the streets surrounding the start simply aren't big enough to support 58,000 converging athelites. Following an hour waiting for the toilet we - a small but fab group - attempted to get into our pens. This is where it started to go wrong. We found our pen, we waited for about ten minutes until we were told, in no uncertain terms, that we had to go to the back. 'The back' meant and THE VERY BACK. Yes, and the back of 58,000 runners. Only that morning I'd checked the literatuire and the pens werent due to close until 10.30. We'd arrived in plenty of time. Frustrated, angry, dissolusioned we headed to the back. A fellow runner, no doubt sensing and hearing our disgruntled tones dismantled part of the 7ft metal fence, forced a gap and let us in. We were incredibly grateful. Security were nowhere to be seen as they weren't last year when exactly the same thing happened. I will be writing to GNR as I feel a full and frank explanation is necessary.

The race 'starts' at 10.40. We crossed the start line at 11.02. Last year I took the right hand route, this year the left. Within 1/2 a mile, as we ran the underpass, fellow runners, or both sexes, nip of to empty their bladders one last time. 

Another half a mile and the two routes converge. The crowds are, it has to be said amazing. As we ran along the shout outs for Batman and Robin came from every angle. Crossing the bridge is an incredible feeling and, other than the seafront finish the highlight of the run. 

The course itself is reasonably flat, the crowds/support is pretty much continious. The water stations are plentyful, from what I remember every 5k or so. However, don't expect anything other than water and watch it underfoot as the chance of tripping on bottles is high. 

If it's hot there is very little cover. This year wasn't so bad. 

In simple terms the infrastructre simply can't take that may people. Congestion is guaranteed. You can't hit your stride and, as others  have mentioned runners clearly aren't being honest with their predicted times. 

The finish is something special. Running along the seafront, seeing the 800 meters and 400 meters to go markers is lovely. The slight turn right for the last 50 meters is somewhat unexpected but the grass finish is a welcome break. 

As you cross the line you are directed towards the goody bag, and medals. Having the medal hung round your neck is a nice touch and this years bling was a big step up in quality and style on 2016. 

After that you enter the realm of the masses. The charity tents, the burger vans, the fish and chip shops... you name it the finish 'village' has it in abundance. Except and easy route back to the start. Lets not forget, This is a point to point. I didn't bother with a bag this year. My running buddy did and he had to trek to the busses to retrieve his belongings.

My biggest piece of advice for anyone is arrange to meet at a designated meeting point. A, B, C, D, E... take you pick. I couldnt get any signal and the WIFI seemed to be down. You simply can't call or text anybody which is a bit of a downer. 

I chose to get a shuttle back to the city centre. Nirvana put on a decent service, however their coaches are a mile from the finish - another mile, lovely- and the journey back to the city takes an hour and this year, as it did previously, it became the vomit coach. 

Following a shower and change at my accomodation I drove back to Leeds. Naturally the motorway was busy and the first service station is full of medal wearing (in this case flipflop) wearing weary runners. Thank you Burger King! 

So, let's recap.

The start is poorly organised with nowhere near enough stewards/security on hand. Why have 58,000 people crammed into 1,000 meters. Other races split the starting pens. If you say a pen closes at 10.30am DON'T close it at 10.10am. DON'T employ incosiderate/rude stewards. They aren't the best advert for 'the worlds favorite HM'. 

In simple terms 58,000 runners is probably 20,000 too many. Make it smaller GNR. The course is okay, but other the bridge and finish it isnt spectacular. 

Yes, it's an experience. However, is it one i'd have again. NO, not if you paid me,