Race Report: Centurion Running North Downs Way 50

The second of the four 50-mile races from Centurion Running, and the second I needed to complete to stay on track for the grand slam - this year's big challenge. I haven't had the best preparation - a debilitating cold for a week, then starting a new job, and then being away for a few days with said new job sharing plenty of wine with my amazing new colleagues, not getting enough sleep, and eating all the wrong things.

Assembled in a Farnham school for pre-race briefing

But there I was anyway, on the start line, tired, heavy, but determined! As with all Centurion races it started bang on time, 8am on the dot. I'd already been up a while, having got up at 4:30 to get the train to race start Farnham to register.

The acorn symbols are your friend, follow them and you can't go wrong

This is a race of two halves, the first from Farnham to Box Hill, with more rolling hills and runnable trails; the second from Box Hill to Knockholt Pound with much more challenging ascents and more technical downs with plenty of tree roots to watch out for.

Obligatory tourist shots in front of the official start point of the North Downs Way

The course is almost entirely on the North Downs Way, starting right at the beginning in Farnham, and only deviating for the last half mile to get to the village hall in Knockwood Pound. I'd run the course before, last year when Mrs and I covered the full length over six days so I knew what I was in store for.

All lined up ready for the off, I like to start near the back :)

Turns out it was a race of two halves for me too - the first half was lovely. I settled in to a nice steady pace, barely pausing at the first couple of checkpoints, just to get my presence logged and water topped up - not to mention a nice surprise when a jam sandwich turned out to be a peanut butter and jam sandwich. Yum.

An early hill, first uphill hiking of the day

The trouble started towards the end of the first half - a bit of an ache in my right knee. In a long race the aches always come and go, but this one was stubborn. After the (roughly) half way aid station at the stepping stones I found the climb up the 100+ big steps to the peak of Box Hill hard going.

Unofficial aid station known as The Bacon Boat - free bacon sarnie from a couple of inflatable sumo!

It's a fairly technical section next, with short sharp ups and downs, plenty of roots, and dozens of groups of 8-10 kids with their houses on their backs out camping on some expedition or other. I noticed that I'd stopped running so much, and wasn't taking advantage of the down hills. Knee aching a bit more. I was still jogging, but had slowed considerably.

Beautiful bluebell season

There's a little section at Merstham where the North Downs Way passes through a graveyard in a church, with some short sharp steps. Two of the steps led to a sudden sharp and exceptionally painful stabbing feeling into the knee - I couldn't help but yelp with the pain. That was it - any more of those and I'm stopping - no race is worth picking up a real injury!

The view behind me from the famous Box Hill summit, looking down towards Dorking

Unfortunately this hit my confidence. Since the 50km mark, around the Reigate hill checkpoint, I'd been concerned about possibly needing to hike the rest of the way - I was not enamoured with the thought of hiking for 30km. However, I was still doing some jogging, and making progress - after the pain at Merstham, with still 25km to go, I was quite unhappy.

I couldn't stop though, I wasn't after a PB or record breaking performance, I just needed to finish - and if I didn't, the grand slam was off.

So I carried on, trying to cover the ground as best I could. The hills were very slow and hard now, and the flats not much better. I started working out the average pace I'd need to hit to finish within the 13 hour race cut-off, but unfortunately didn't know what the overall race distance was - they're never exactly the distance on the tin, and usually a little bit further.

The very definition of point-to-point

Trying to keep to at least 5-6km/h (10 to 12.5 minutes per km) I shuffled, scuffed, and dragged myself forward. Counting down the kilometres I knew it was going to be close. Finally across a field I saw the finish area, but the course spirals round it, so not home yet. I checked my watch, just 20 minutes left - I'd been going for over twelve and a half hours!

There were still a few runners around me, but they didn't seem to be as broken as I was - they all overtook me in the last mile as I forced myself to keep going - it was going to be close. Finally down a gentle and painful hill into Knockholt Pound village I saw Mrs waiting for me - just a few hundred metres to go!

Blue - pace, plummets after 40km; grey - altitude, 1,915m (6,283feet) over 50 miles

Running (well, "running") up the side of the village hall, and under the inflatable finish line I'd got there. 5 hour of running, 8 hours of determined forward shuffling, and I'd made it with just seven minutes to spare! I was the second to last person to finish, a bit of a change from my PB at the South Downs Way 50, two hours faster just a few weeks ago - but it doesn't matter. I was overjoyed to finish within the time, to pick up the side-plate sized medal, and still be in the running for the grand slam.

Second to last in 12:52:56 - and I've never been so happy to finish!

Thanks to Louise for giving me a lift back to Wimbledon, and to Mrs for being wonderful and supportive, and bringing me extra warm socks and cold beer, and helping me out at the end while I sat shattered and emotional on a chair.

Significant bling - two down, two to go...

Nine weeks to my next ultra, the XNRG Chiltern Challenge 50km (which I ran last year), and a whole 18 weeks to prepare for the next in the grand slam series, the Chiltern Wonderland 50 on September 16th. I need to arrive there better prepared and lighter - I can't handle a repeat of today's experience!

Best sausage baguette ever

Race report: Centurion Running South Downs Way 50

The first 50 mile race of the season seems to have come around very quickly. The South Downs Way 50 is the first of the eight races Centurion Running are staging in 2017. They organise four 50 mile races (South Downs Way, North Downs Way, Chiltern Wonderland, and Wendover Woods), and four 100 mile races (Thames Path, North Downs Way, South Downs Way, and the Autumn 100). 

I've signed up for the Grand Slam of 50 mile races which is achieved if you complete all four 50 mile events, therefore the primary objective of the day was to get to the end within the thirteen hour cut-off. The second objective was to still be running at the end - historically my legs have broken down a bit in the last ten miles or so of ultra distance events and I've had to march my way to the finish. Third objective, set a new 50 mile personal best time and tick off another distance in my year of PB attempts. The target was the 11:38:31 time I'd set last year in the Chiltern Wonderland 50.

The route is point to point, and runs from Worthing to Eastbourne

Thanks to Southern Rail and another of their apparently never ending series of strikes, the trains on race day were set to be even more unreliable than usual. I opted to minimise the risk and splash out on hotels for the nights before and after the race.

Registrations were available the night before - this is a good move as it can get a bit busy and stressful on race morning with upwards of 300 people trying to register at once. I strolled up to Worthing College, Race HQ, and registered on Friday evening. It was nice and relaxed, I'm a big fan of pre-event registration.

Race HQ in Worthing College, the start was in a field over the road

Race start was 9am, plenty of time for a light hotel breakfast of bacon, egg, tomato, and a couple of cups of coffee. For anything up to a marathon I wouldn't eat before hand, but when I'm going to be out all day I prefer to have something to start the day. There were a couple of other runners down in the breakfast area, one offered us all a lift up to the start which was very kind and saved me a 40 minute stroll.

Assembling behind the starting inflatable before race briefing

After the customary short briefing from James, and a show of hands of who was taking on the 50 mile grand slam (and a couple of nutters who are attempting all eight races!) it was time to set off. I'm always impressed at the number of runners who choose a Centurion race for their first ultra - their reputation for well run, inclusive, and friendly events is well deserved.

Pre-race selfie

We set off bang on time. Spirits were high, everyone was smiling, the sun was shining already - it looked like a perfect day for a run in the countryside.

Given that the primary objective of the day was simply to get to the end, there was no need for early heroics. I trotted off at my own pace and soon fell in with a group of a dozen or so who were leapfrogging each other as we covered the early miles.

James Elson giving the race briefing

In order to get a new PB I needed to average around 8:30/km. I had configured a display on my watch to show me the time the last kilometre took, and the average time per kilometre. Sometimes, just knowing how far you've been running or how far you've gone can be quite a negative influence. It means you're continually trying to do mental arithmetic to see if you're on pace or not. I wanted to remove some of that stress.

The first half of the race passed by very comfortably. I'd set off a bit too fast (don't we always?), but not to the extent that I'd regret it later. As always the aid stations were staffed by friendly and supportive volunteers, and the choice of food and drink was excellent.

The weather was absolutely perfect. Bright and clear, warm but not too hot, and with a slight breeze to help sweat evaporate rather than get you all wet and drippy. Maybe, it was a little too perfect - as we ran through midday and into early afternoon my arms and legs started tingling a little from the sun. The problem with a point to point race is that the sun is always on the same side - and the problem with the South Downs is that there's very little shade. We were being lightly cooked in a surprisingly strong early April sun.

One of the early runnable inclines

I passed through 40km, around half way, in just a couple of seconds short of five hours. I expected a positive split (meaning the first half of the race is run faster than the second half) so I knew I'd take longer than ten hours overall, but it was looking good for a reasonable time - and I was in no danger of failing to meet the cut-off.

After the half way point I was on familiar ground - I'd run this half in training a fortnight ago, and it shares shares a 10 mile stretch with the Moyleman marathon which was also just a few weeks ago. Sure, there was still 25 miles to go, but I could visualise most of it and I knew there would be no nasty surprises.

Passing through the aid station at Southsea Youth Hostel, 50km in, I was happy to see Louise who topped up my water and chatted for a moment or two. I'm not a big fan of talking to people whilst racing, I prefer my own company, but it's nice to see a familiar face at the aid stations to exchange a few words with. Thanks Louise!

The yellow brick road

The second half of the route is very exposed, you climb from the aid station to the top of the South Downs, and follow the ridge for a good few miles. There's nowhere to hide from the sun, and the combination of growing sunburn and relentless chilling breeze was becoming a bit uncomfortable - however I was still running on the flats and downhills so progress was good.

As the afternoon drew on and the sun started to sink a little lower in the sky the temperature dropped a few degrees. The aid stations are closer together in the final third of the race and started to feel like they were coming round more frequently. It was nice to meet fellow parkrun tourist Kiernan Easton at the last aid station, we've been Facebook friends for a while but hadn't managed to meet face to face before.

It's not a run on the South Downs without a picture of the Whitehawk Hill transmission station

The final section was quite hard going, there's a steep climb up from Jevington and a few people were finding it very hard going and had dropped to a slow walk. I tried to keep my pace up and climb with determination - but it was challenging for sure.

I'd been leapfrogging one particular runner all afternoon, and as he came past me with about 5km to go, As he passed he said "there's an outside chance we might just finish under eleven hours!". I had done well not thinking about aiming for a time, but with just 5km to go I was clearly going to get to the end, so I let myself take a look at the elapsed time. I'd been going for about 10:35, and I knew there were just a few kilometres left. He was right, maybe I could break 11 hours - that would be amazing!

A typical view - nowhere to hide from the sun

The final steep downhill into Eastbourne is tricky - it's narrow, a bit slippery, and there are lots of roots. I was taking it very easy - tired legs are easy to trip on if you're not careful. Once I'd got to the bottom I resolved to run, as best I could, to the end and try and get in under 11 hours.

I summoned everything I had left in the tank, this was a race now! I was thankful for my recent training run on this part of the circuit - knowing where you're going and exactly how far there is left is so helpful in these situations. I ran non stop for the last few kilometres, overtaking a couple of walkers along the way. It looked like I might just do it. There's a cycle track running from a main road to the athletics ground which is the finish - I'm sure it's twice as long as it was a fortnight ago!

The last couple of miles on the flat and a lap of the athletics track

Clearly some other runners had the same idea as me - I lost a couple of places along this stretch, but I couldn't go any faster! I rounded the final corner with about three and a half minutes to spare by my reckoning - but there was a lap of the running track to run yet! Mrs was here to greet me - she'd been on a business trip in the US and had come straight from the airport. She ran with me round that final lap of the track - I pushed with every ounce I had left and crossed the line tired, relieved, and very happy.

Official finishing pic from Stuart March Photography

My official time was 10:58:12 - I'd dipped under 11 hours by almost two minutes, and had knocked an entirely satisfactory 40 minutes and 19 seconds off my previous best - with a new 10k PB last week that makes two PBs in six days! What was particularly pleasing was that my legs had held up enough so I was still able to run properly at the end - this is a huge confidence boost as it's been a real problem in the past.

I was 275th out of 364 finishers, which I'm very happy with - 76% down the field as compared to 83% (132nd out of 159 finishers) at Chiltern Wonderland and 70% (100th out of 142 finishers) at Wendover Woods.

Ridiculously enormous medals this year and a t-shirt featuring new coloured arms

What a wonderful day - amazing organisation, a great result, and a fantastic start to the grand slam. Just five weeks to North Downs Way 50 - bring it on!

Centurion Running - 50-mile Grand Slam, 2017

So I just got a waitlist place in the North Downs Way 50... The 50-mile grand slam attempt is on, I repeat the 50-mile grand slam attempt is on!

Help!

Race report: Centurion Running Wendover Woods 50

The day before race day

So, the day is upon us (or at least it will be tomorrow). I've been quite nervous about this race, it's going to be tough. I fully expect it to be the hardest race I've ever tried. Not helped by training not being as good as it should have been (is it ever?), a compulsion to eat and drink inappropriate foods meaning I'm heavier than I want to be, and my head not playing nicely (more on that somewhere else at some other time).

BUT - I've never gone into a race not planning to finish, and this one is no different - so let's zip up the positivity vest and get on with it.

Tomorrow, it will get dark at around 4:30pm - I know my pace will drop off then. I'm not confident in the dark, and I haven't trained in the dark with my head torch. Race start is 8am, so that's eight and a half hours of light - I need to use them well. The laps are 10 miles, and in training they've taken an average of around two and a quarter hours. Race day will be a little slower, but I should still be able to get three laps done in the light - an average of two hours and fifty minutes per lap.

That leaves two full laps in the dark. On the plus side I've run four or five laps in training, on the actual course, so I know it well. Its twisty and complicated, but I can run it from memory now with no problem. Getting lost shouldn't be an issue (plus Centurion course marking is outstanding).

Race cut off isn't until midnight so that leaves a further seven and a half hours to complete the final two laps - which is plenty of time. Providing I can still get up the hills! There's around 600m of ascent on each lap, so 3km of height gained over the whole course - more than I've done in a day before, even hiking in the Lake District. But - providing my knees don't explode - it's achievable.

Cool, not windy, and clear once the fog lifts - good running weather

The weather looks good. Mrs is on her way up on a train right now to support me tomorrow and help out at the mid-point aid station. And I've packed something for breakfast in the morning (to avoid having to chew on an old piece of steak like at the Chiltern Wonderland 50).

Now, it's time for dinner, and to relax a bit. I reckon it's going to be a good day.


Race day

Up at 5:55 for customary pre-race coffee to kick start the morning biology, and out into chilly but manageable darkness for the short drive to the start. Race start is at the trig point which marks the highest point in the Chilterns. The fog heavy in the field - and it was much colder. I ran to the race tent to register, kit check, and pick up my number, then ran back to the car to hide in the warm and eat breakfast.

It took a while for the masses to get over a single narrow style from race HQ through to the start on the road so James had to give a high speed briefing which ended with "...and we're starting in 10 seconds" - no time to worry, off we go!

The field strung out very quickly and I was able to find some space to run in. I'm not a chatty runner, so I settled into back to back omnibus episodes of The Archers and it's fan-made companion Dum Tee Dum (my guilty podcast pleasures).

I'm not going to describe the course here - I covered it in depth in my course recce.

Up down up down up down, etc. - barely an inch on the level

Laps one and two went past well and without incident. Knowing the course well was such a psychological advantage, when to enjoy a down, how long the ups are, and splitting the course into a few segments to tick off as I went round. I was astonished to get lapped as I left the mid-point aid station on lap 2, I'd just past 15 miles and the front runners were 10 miles ahead! On a point to point race you don't get that experience - the fast people just disappear off into the distance and that's it. I was pleased to support them with some "good running!" calls of support as they shot past.

Hot cups of tea at the start/finish and mid-point aid stations were welcome, as were the couple of slices of cheese I took each time. Mrs was helping out abradypus and crew at the mid-point, so that gave me something to look forward to on each lap too - and gave a bit more impetus to set out on the next lap from the enticing camping chairs at the start/finish (never sit on the chairs at aid stations!).

I was starting to feel fatigued during lap 3, but was still jogging along well. I could tell I was slowing, but not too much. I viewed lap 3 as "lap 3 of 5" which sounds like great progress (rather than "just coming up to" or "just after" half way). This running stuff is all mind games.

It wasn't until almost half way through lap 4, coming up to 35 miles, that it got dark enough to need the head torch. I was very pleased to have got this far round - half a lap up on my plan. I slowed quite a lot in the dark, particularly on the rooty sections.

5x 10 mile loops crammed into a 1.5 mile a side triangle - dizzy déjà vu 

As I set out on the 5th and final lap in the now pitch darkness I was starting to feel the fatigue. My knees were feeling the pressure of so much climbing and descending, and running was getting increasingly hard. I wasn't surprised, exactly there same thing happened at Chiltern Wonderland, and I marched/hiked as fast as I could for the last 10km or so and was prepared to do the same here. The change of stride and feeling of being on the home stretch gave me a mental lift, and I marched my way forward, only losing a couple of places and actually overtaking a couple of people too. Learning point: If you're going to walk, walk as fast as you can - it's part of the race, it's not giving up.

99th place finish in just under 13 and a half hours

Quite promisingly, I was gaining places throughout - from 138th after the first lap, to 124th after the second, then 110th, 97th, and finally holding for 99th. My laps had inevitably slowed down, but it could have been a lot worse - particularly when tired and in the dark.

Lap	Lap time	Elapsed time
1	02:13:40	02:13:40
2	02:23:37	04:37:17
3	02:36:19	07:13:36
4	03:00:15	10:13:51
5	03:13:03	13:26:54

Eventually, it was over, and I picked up my second Centurion 50 mile medal. Quite a few personal records fell today - the longest single run I've ever done in distance and in duration, and the most ascent I've gained on any single day. I've said it elsewhere, but I love that "at my age" I can still set lifetime best performances. I'm, once again, in awe of Mrs who covered twice this distance at the North Downs Way 100 earlier in the year.

What a wonderful sport this is!
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The Centurion Running Wendover Woods 50 course

Warning: I like to write long ramble stream-of-conciousness blog posts. Refill your coffee mug.

In a mere three and a half weeks my slightly drunken "ahh what the hell I'll just join the waitlist" race comes up. Seems like you have to be careful what you wish for (particularly, in this case, given I was still fairly hung over when the waitlist place was confirmed the next morning).

Centurion Running's Wendover Woods 50-mile race (WW50) is the last of their four 50-mile events of 2016. I ran the 3rd in the series, Chiltern Wonderland 50, a couple of months ago.

I've run a couple of laps of the Wendover Woods course in recent weeks, and promised the Centurion Facebook group that I'd post a few photos of my next trip.

Though this is the inaugural WW50 it seems to have built up quite a bit of a reputation already as one tough cookie. So let's cover that bit first: yes there is a lot of ascent and descent, and yes it will chew you up if you set out at your marathon pace, but if you respect the course and go carefully and steadily - you'll be fine.

If you can do 50, you can do this - just allow some extra time. Now that's out of the way...

Disclaimer: this isn't intended to provide turn-by-turn directions, many turns are discussed, but not all - take a copy of the route with you on your device of choice.

It's a keeper - stick it on the fridge

The course looks a lot like a three year old scrawled on the wall in crayon, and someone thought it would look good over-layed on woodland. However, once out there it's not really that complicated.

Today was the third time I've run the course and I only needed to look at my map once (a left hander I'll tell you about later). In any case, you won't want to be looking at a map because: a) Centurion course marking is excellent, and b) you'll trip over a tree root.

Let's go!

The highest point in the Chilterns

The start is in a field by a trig point and some cows. It's the highest point in the Chilterns - but don't worry, you'll be seeing many of the lower points too. Apart from a short piece across a field, this is the only part on grass. The majority of the course is on well tended paths and trails, with most of the rest on narrower trail, some single-track - but none of the nettle and gorse bush fest of some routes.

At this time of year of course, the whole route is on fallen leaves - very pretty, but take care as they hide  what you're really running on.

I wore La Sportiva Helios SR - good all round grip, not too heavy, and a sole thick enough to protect from pointy things whilst thin enough to get some feel from the ground. I wore by favourite innov8 shoes for the last 50 and got sore soles, that was a mistake, I need a little more cushioning over that distance.

Form an orderly queue

The first obstacle comes pretty quickly - 100m across the field from the start is a one-at-a-time-please stile. My plan is to take that first 100m nice and easy - unless you're at the pointy end there's no issue in losing a few seconds here, and there's a lot to lose by starting your 50 miles at a flat-out sprint.

Main path left on lap one, smaller path by post on laps two to five

After the stile, the first lap differs from the following four in a small way - on lap one there's a sharp left straight away onto a wider and flatter path which will help everyone settle out and find their place in the procession. On future laps you go straight on, and down a single-file trail - far too early into lap one to deny people from overtaking.

Thankfully, we don't go down this bit on lap one

In fact, there are quite a few sections that are hard for overtaking, so take the opportunities when you see them, but they do come regularly, so no need to try crazy moves.

A wide shallow climb

Following the descent, and crossing a road half way, is the first of the gentle climbs. I jogged up most of it today, but will resist the temptation to do that on race day. Much of the course is runnable, including some ascents, and it might be fine for lap one or two, but I'll predict an uncomfortable lap five would follow early exuberance.

You can just see the Gruffalo on the grassy area to the left of the path

A few tens of metres of road follow before running through the cafe area (hello supporters! don't forget the car park closes at 5pm!) and down a nice runnable descent on the other side and past a Gruffalo (whatever one of those is).

Cocking this bit up as usual, I waded through a bunch of annoying brambles

The next left is the one corner on the course I've missed every single time. I hope this one is really well sign-posted. Up the short hill is one of the least well trodden paths - particularly when buried in leaves. It's only a short rise before you hit a much wider cross-path so don't worry too much if you go exactly the right side of every tree (I cocked it up even more this time than previously).

Nice runnable down, but don't drag your feet (also - one of the two horsey-posts)

A right at the top and a nice runnable piece before reaching a four-way cross where you turn right (later on, you'll reach it again and also turn right - the first of two points where this happens). I remember the turning as there's a post - however I upgraded that today to be "where there's two horsey-posts" as there is an earlier post, which is the wrong post.

Like all runnable downs, you must watch out for roots - this is a rooty course and you'll need to keep your feet up anywhere you can't see what's under the carpet of leaves.

Open up your legs on one of these rare flat stretches

Navigation takes a short break and there's an overtaking opportunity before diving back left and gently up again, following the path round to the earlier junction, but from the opposite direction. I kept finding myself taking a moment to take in the colours - beautiful autumn shades everywhere, and so many leaves on the floor if you're not careful you get overwhelmed by all the detail. A hell of a challenge for cameras, I think my iPhone did pretty well!

Drop down into the cutting here - but watch out for trip hazards

Next up, and through a little obstacle, is a down hill trail that drops into a cutting for a hundred or two metres. This is the first bit where you really need your wits about you - there are loose rocks, big pebbles, sticks and branches all over the place. It was particularly tricky when buried in leaves.

The field with its soft springy grass is tempting, but wrong - go up the hill just to the left of it

Left up out of the cutting and, avoiding the tempting gate into a nice flat field with (today at least) the lights of heaven beyond, and up a short hill, right, right again and down the slipperiest descent on the course.

Bursting out and into the sunlight for a few minutes

Take it easy working your way down under the cabling - I landed on my arse thanks to slippy grass and a sharp corner. Stretch your legs across the field, then turn left at the far side and follow the perimeter to the far left corner.

Up to the right of that log and round the back of it

Over the stile, and down into a different cutting and up the other side. I took a moment to celebrate this being the first time I haven't given in to the temptation to run up the cutting - that's the wrong way. Don't run up the cutting.

An opportunity to take a good hike on an easy incline

Enjoy a hike for a few minutes with plenty of left turns, then a steep but runnable downhill. I think there's a shoe-risk here. Some of the runnable downs are quite steep, and unless you go full tilt there's a risk that you'll keep hammering your toes into the front of the toe box. I like shoes with a roomy toe box, I'd suggest they're essential for this course.

These are the downs that the fast people will be hurtling down - for the rest of us, these are the downs that will crucify our quads. For the mid and back of the pack, I predict it's the downs that will get hard on tired legs toward the end rather than the ups.

The bottom of the down with a hairpin right - not onto the big path at the bottom

There's a hairpin right at the five-way junction at the bottom of the hill, the second of the junctions you'll visit twice (or, hopefully, ten times).

A rare leafless trail

Then you get a break (unless you're at the pointy end) with a long gentle incline. I've been jogging up it on my one-lap visits, but I'll be walking it on the day. I really do think that early-excitement will cost dearly later, it will for me at any rate!

20-30 metres of steepness

A sharp left at the end of the incline to continue upwards, and left onto one of the two sections that I would say are genuinely steep. It's only a short segment, so don't worry about it - in fact with this much variation on the course there isn't anything that lasts more than a few hundred metres.

Dive left - take care again

Legs get a break at the top with one of the nice wide flat sections again, before diving back into the forest into a particularly root-laden section, so take care! I've stubbed my toe and had a near-trip on this section.

Up here

A longer hike follows soon with a path crossing - this is a bit steeper and goes under a fair bit of the Go Ape apparatus. Enjoy the whoops and screams of adventurers, and watch out for falling phones and millennials.

After spending some time in the foothills, you'll now be right up at the same height as the car park. That means it's time for a hairpin left around a Go Ape seating area, and back down to the bottom again. This is another narrow segment and slippery with roots and rocks.

Soon the course pops you out into a nice shallow down on a good path - another opportunity to change stride length and shake out those legs.

Roots

At the bottom of the hill it's left back into the forest and onto certainly the rootiest couple of hundred metres of the course. Thankfully this area is less leafy so you can see the surfaces, but it's going to be challenging in the dark.

Run - if you can!

A couple of turns later and out of the woodland onto the firmest and most runnable path of the course. A few hundred metres of proper path leading back to the five-way junction from earlier.

I think the mid-point aid station will be somewhere around here.

Back at the five-way junction, turning right from here and back into the woodland

Second time at the five-way, and turning right there's a good long (but not steep) march uphill. I found this was a good piece to get into a nice rhythm and cover some ground without actually running. Consistency is important, it could take a long time to get up here if you're dawdling.

Fast downhill time

Left at the top and it's time for a long downhill section - the first part is a bit steep (argh, quads!) but shallows out and you can get some good ground covered.

Another long hikeable up

If the first part of the course was all about short ups and downs, this middle is a bit calmer. The long down ends in a cross-roads (you'll know it because it's right before the fencing starts on the left) and you dive right up another climb.

This really is a beautiful woodland

 The climb starts fairly steep but soon shallows out - just keep on marching and you'll get there. This is a lovely section of course, very wide and flat and pretty. I look forward to being lapped on lap four up here (hopefully not lap three, but we'll see).

Towards the top of this hill there's a hairpin right, and you dive into a narrow and rooty forest trail again, eventually emerging onto a proper path for a few tens of metres.

Balancing on the balance beam is optional

This section is through a fitness trail - the route passes a zig-zag-run, tricep dip bars, and a balance beam. I don't believe there's extra credit available for trying them out. Turning left at the balance beam the route joins a trail around the hill fort. This is flat (hurray!) and really quite nice on the legs to run, but watch out for more pesky roots.

Pop out here, turning place visible as grassy knoll in the picture

The trail pops you out through a children's area, across a turning place at the end of the overflow carpark, and down a really nice wide trail. Perfect for stretching your legs out.

Run, run, run!

Fantastic downhill awaits, enjoy it.

The picture does not do this incline justice

What goes down must go up again (as Lazarus says about the Barkley Marathons, the net ascent on each lap is zero, how hard can it be?).

In the mud (after a few hundred people have been up it three or four times) this will be tricky. I think it's the steepest climb on the course - but even with that said it only takes a couple of minutes, and there's no actual climbing required.

Arriving up from the left, turn left and run down the ditch

The ditch is fast but a bit bonkers on legs a bit broken from the climb - just like the other ditch across the course, watch out for loose rocks, pointy flints, and fallen twigs and branches - also don't go careering to fast or you'll end up in a bush at the bottom. Don't ask me how I know that.

A little up and down

After the ditch, and a flat bit, there's an odd switch left up some steps and right at a four-way to go back down a small descent - to be honest I'm not sure if I've got this little bit right...

You're seeing a fraction of the photos I took, I couldn't stop

Next is a rolling section with some nice runnable parts - not far to go now, almost a lap completed. However, you're at the bottom of the hill again, so there's a sting in the tail to follow.

No real-world comforts for you!

After the rolling trail there's a tantalising glance at the real world - a few houses and people making cups of tea. No time for that for you though - turn right, time to finish the lap.

Take the one on the right

The final climb combination starts here - it's a bit tricky in places but should be well marked.

Ski jump in winter

After a while there's a bit where they've decided you probably need some assistance.  First there's some railings. I'm not sure why this part of the route is more pedestrian-friendly, I suspect there's a main walking route that goes from the Wendover corner up to the top?

Steps and handrails - ignored on lap one, essential on lap five

Then some stairs up to the road crossing.

The reentry point is visible, just past the light patch across the road

Pop out here and dive back in about 20m down on the left.

Carry on up, following the hand rail

It's fascinating how the flora varies through different parts of the woods. Each area has it's own personality and colour palette. This area here was absolutely stunning on the day of this run - sharp shadows in the crisp air, and incredible trees.

My new iPhone lock-screen picture

There are a few trees that really draw the attention. This was one of a couple that were just jaw-droppingly beautiful. As always, the photo does it no justice.

Single-track section - there's a left turn somewhere along here, easy to miss

Get to the top of all that and there's a short single-track section. This is about as overgrown as it gets really so no need to worry about stinging nettles and brambles. I ran it in compression socks and shorts and barely picked up a scratch.

The only gate on the course

Left at the top of the single track section and through the only gate on the course. It's a bit of a fiddly one and there's no quick way through. If this is lap five and the race is on, getting to this gate first could be a distinct advantage.

Nice wide and flat - perfect for some closing stages sprinting

Through the gate, along a narrow track, bend to the right at the end and run a hundred metres down the road. Just before you get to the T-junction with another road the there's the final stile of the circuit.

The last non-bovine obstacle

If you didn't make it to the gate first, it may be recoverable if you use everything you've got left to get to the stile to the start/finish field first - there's only a short run from the stile back to the trig point - come on, you can do it!

The trig point is well guarded

And there you go - one lap completed. Four more to go, no time to hang around at the checkpoint.

See you all on the 26th; don't forget to charge your head torch batteries, this is going to be bonkers in the dark!