Salisbury 5-4-3-2-1 Trail Marathon

20k route looks the same as the one I ran a few years ago. Let me know if you want me to send you the map (pdf)

Thanks Mick, Got it through the post today! It's going to be a tough one.

I am doing the 30K traveling down from Worcestershire, looks a tough run, anyone done the 30K before? is it better to take your own water? as it suppose to be a hot day sunday. Anyway looking forward to seeing some of the sights of Salisbury. Best of luck to everyone

I've ran the marathon twice and the ultra once and what a great event. The points are very well stocked and the whole organisation is one of the best I've ever experienced. It's the ultra for me again but I will enter on the day. 9am start. Road shoes are the ones to use as the ground is hard. There is also a few big hills. The points are enough for supplies but I would bring gels too. Other than that if you are trying the ultra then bring a camel back as after the hills and sun the last few miles can be difficult. Thats if you don't mind the extra weight.

Thanks for advice, def bringing gels, all the best in the ultra, WhichWayNow that will be me on sunday as i been told that a few people have got lost.

Yep thats whats scares me, maps a little small colour very similiar, and im coming from worestershire, so dont routes or area at all. Never mind it should be fun.

Having ran the event three times there has been very good improvements on the signs. They are now very large and placed in more tricky points. Everyone should now be fine as long as they follow the correct marked sign at the splits but there are people pointing you the correct way. In the forest area just follow the string. The only tricky part I would say is the last few miles towards the cathedral area. Tourist dodging! Out the main gate, past the shopping area and cross the road over the river along the large car park to the finish! I would reccomend stopping at each stop for a real good refuel and a lot of fluid. All in all enjoy. I'd say that the field of runners is normally good until around the 22 mile mark. As I said previous I would also use the road shoes and take plenty of gels and isotonic mix drink. The weather can be harsh in the open fields and hills. Other than that enjoy the day.

Hi, coming from Cardiff to run the 30k tomorrow as prep for Snowdonia in October.  From the forum have established that road shoes are the way forward tomorrow, however how much shade is on the course?  Is a lot in woodland?  Or does trail mean open fields with no tree/hedge cover?  Also, info states 12+ checkpoints, is this for the Ultra, anybody know how many checkpoints are on the 30km?  Really struggle in the sunshine and always need a lot of fluid at 1/2M + distance, thinking I may have to carry the pesky bladder pack unless the BBC forecast is correct and it may actually be raining at 10am (fingers crossed!!!)

Thanks Millsy1977 that helps!!!  Entered this a bit last minute so hadn't read all of the reviews till now, but do the organisers provide further info than that posted?  Race pack arrived a couple of days ago with no route instructions (seen reviews that refer to route instructions I haven't received this just a very small map with multiple routes drawn on!)  I am not too fussed about getting lost but would rather run over than under as this is my first LSR for Snowdonia.

Great, thanks for the info Millsy1977, tried to follow the route on an enlarged googlemap earlier, and worked it out so reckon it will be fine tomorrow, and any added scenery is just a bonus!!!

Ran the ultra and started at 9am. Slight bit of rain but it kept off the heavy stuff. A pre loop for the ultra before joining the marathon runners. Did anyone spot the Lama and the one hump camel sat in the middle  about 3 miles into the ultra? He was there last year! Well stocked check points and friendly staff. Thank you to all the helpers. Very well organised and good signs, nice and clear for all events. Course was slightly hilly and a good mix of road and off road. I really enjoyed the forest part following the string. Cathedral area is also fun dodging tourists and seeing how many pictures that you can get in on. Great start and finish point at the fire station and good use of the leisure centre facilities make this one of my all time favourites.
4hr 29 min finish for a 50k.

This event sets the benchmark for organisation. The Chirunning enabled me to set a PB for the course and I would have broken 4.30 if I hadn't run out of energy in the last mile. Someone said they had measured the marathon course as nearly 27 miles - is this right?

Definitely a 2 hump camel, a little bit surreal, if I'd have seen it at 30 miles in I would have thought I was hallucinating.