I ran the inaugrual race in 2008 and then last year too. The first one was great as it was my first ultra and I didn't know what to expect. Last year was less attractive as many of the areas were flooded and the course was redirected on a less challenging and more boring route. 1st time round was cheap. It went up last year. It is now £49!!!! Ridiculous. It is for what? An assortment of corner shop biscuits in the latter stages, water and a t-shirt and shot glass.
There is a lovely photo of me running through the frosty stages of 2008 on their website but Extreme Running have been equally frosty with me. Within 24 hours of signing up for another event, L2B, I was given a work committment that I could not change. They refused to refund my money (£86!) and refused to defer me a year and even when I requested that they allow me to enter a much cheaper event of theirs (Brighton Trail marathon - £35) and keep my entry fee they did not return any of my 6 emails.
Ultra running is a close-knit community and I hear more and more negative press about these guys at runs across the country. If they treat their customers so badly, these races will be the stuff for first time ultra-runners and those that are not affected by these austere times. One interesting point is that following such negative comments on their own forum, they shut it down. What message does that send to us Ultra-Runners?
Check out LDWA events as these are well stocked events for water/food and support........ or for the ultimate challenge, including such a huge amount of food (jacket potatoes, soup, quiche, sandwiches, hot dogs, tea, coffee, chocolate, energy gels and every other food you could think of at 9 checkpoints - the Ridgeway 85 miler (best race in 2010!) Only £37.50.
I am not going to run an Extreme Running event until these guys lower their prices to realistic levels and provide a level of customer service that even the VLM can do with 35,000 entrants!!!
I am doing the winter tanners as an LDWA member - £3 entrance fee!
