for this testing trail race set in Wiltshire's green Pewsey Vale. And given previous reader race ratings - where comments about mouth-watering sponges appear almost as frequently as mentions of the gutsy, gritty course - it's clear this event has perfectly tapped
Where: East Meon, HampshireWhen: February 27, 2011First Man: Julian Manning (2:21:02)First Woman: Emma Taylor-Gooby (2:49:49)Last Finisher: 5:28:47Number of finishers: 354Race Type: Rural/ TrailRW rating 2011: 95%Dry as a bone and flat as a pancake
When: April 2Where: NottinghamshireFirst man: Andrew Lorimer 56:21First woman: Catherine Swinson 1:11:43Last finisher: 2:15:05No. of finishers: 376Road type: TrailRW rating 2011: 90% How do you like to spend your Saturday nights: vegetating
, the Dartmoor Vale Marathon may be a relative newcomer to the UK marathon calendar, but given the positive feedback in these RW race ratings, it’s definitely one to earmark for the future.Marathon first-timer and local runner Tickety Boo explains its appeal: "A
, right through the seasons. There are some familiar faces and some surprises, but without a doubt, all of the events here made a lasting impression on the people who ran and enjoyed them. Here’s to 2008 and another great year of racing in store
up the roads."AT: "Organising your own event is not for the faint-hearted. The council will expect you to have public liability insurance cover (up to £10 million) and as a new event, you’re not going to be able to get this privately. You’ll have
went off with a faint pop and for a second my heart stopped... and then I swam. Before I knew it I was cruising, and since I'd never done the distance in open water I was quietly pleased when I saw my time. On the bike, it was lovely to hear people
and couldn't recover after climbing The Beast. "My heart rate was over 180bpm and I just could get it down. I knew it was time to stop," he explained. But instead of heading back to the hotel for a post-race shower, he joined the supporters to cheer on his
and the contacts to book a swim for 2004, I took my background as a pool swimmer, and applied what I’d learned from years training for long-distance running events in order to begin training. Like marathon training, I built a solid aerobic base, added regular
