This was the first time I had run The Flying Monk 10k at Malmesbury and I was not disappointed with the event. 

Getting to the school car park was very easy as there were sign posts everywhere, to navigate you around the roads that were closed ready for the carnival.  It was roughly a 10 minute walk from the car park to the start/finish area. 

Registration for me was easy as I registered on the morning of the race. The marshals guided me to the correct tent and all that was needed was to fill out a form with my details and to pay the £18 entry fee. In my view it was great value for money as on the day entry can be expensive. 

At the start line you found roughly the correct area for your predicted time as only being 400 runners, there were no starting pens marked up. Although there were pacers there running 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 minutes so you could join them, my partner being the 50 minute pacer. 

The race started on time at 11am and by then the heat was in the late 20's so it was going to be s hot one. You left the field onto the road and headed back to where you had parked your car. I had heard it was undulating and the undulation had already began in the first mile. It wasn't long before you were out on the open country roads. The hills came one after the other and it was not long before the runners around me and myself were feeling them as well as the heat. I was walking by 2.5 miles along with other runners and we encouraged each other to get running again. I have to say this helped me enormously. 

Eventually after the first 5 miles of hills and undulations there was a huge sigh of relief from myself and others as we see it was down hill without an up hill in sight. 

At the bottom of the downhill roughly 400 meters from the end there was an ambulance and I thought it was a good idea to be there on hand for runners who may need there assistance on such a hot day.  Just past the ambulance was the left turn that took you back onto the field to the finish line, never have I been so relieved to see s finish line, yes I had made it. 

Recieving your medal was easy with no hold ups but I was one of the slower runners with a personal worst of 1:04:56. 

I was eager to see Garry my partner so I didn't look at the goodies that were there, only taking much needed water. 

I was truly puzzled when neither Garry, Phil (60 min pacer) or his lovely wife Janet were no where to be found. I had a look around and decided to go back to the finish line. Phil had been to the printer to see if I had finished and he came over to me with my finishing time and to let me know that Garry was in the ambulance. 

The ambulance staff were amazing and took great care of Garry after he had collapsed with Heat/sun stroke. 

I would like to personally thank the organisers of this race who contacted Garry after the event to make sure he was ok. They were truly concerned but also wanted  him to know that he had accomplished his pacer duties with all that had been with him had made it over the finish line with quite a few of them achieving there PB's.

I would recommend this race to everyone that likes hills or would like a course that is challenging. It is a very well run event with friendly marshals and locals. There were toilets at the start/finish line. I did not get to the beer tent so not able to comment on it. 

Thank you DB Max and Malmesbury for hosting such a  great event.