, but hey - Wilf's piping hot stew, cake and tea was exactly what I needed afterwards." Maureen Taylor10010029 ratings2Puma Garburn 24K, CumbriaWhen? May 31Why? Well-marked trails, robust terrain and just one incline of note make this the ideal introduction

, including a short stretch along an Atlantic-facing beach with a lone piper to help you along. At the finish, all runners got a sandwich, pastry and hot drink, and the locally made pottery medal was a really nice touch. Tired legs were soon forgotten

injuries and no one collapsed en route, an incredible achievement for such a hot day and such a hard course. Over patchy tarmac, dirt trails, and rock-strewn mud roads lined with open sewers, all 386 runners made it home safely. Local heroes Among

on that start line fit, healthy and in good shape. Gareth says: Tapering has been the hot topic on Christina’s thread. As always with the marathon gels seem to be the hot topic. All the runners seem to have different strategies. I am pleased that Christina has

. The promised rain never came, the sun shone to keep the spirits up, but thankfully it never got too hot. It was ideal for me, a first timer, and my supporters. They saw me at the start, then at six, 19, and 25 miles; I found them each time because they were

and a couple of Nurofen we soldiered on, walking a lot but determined. One runner coming the other way shouted ‘it gets easier!’ We replied ‘errrm, yeah, right…’The Mile 17 forum supporters were a sight for sore eyes. I missed my team totally, I was hot

of airfields in intense heat. I even ran a half-marathon while being cheered on by beautiful Iraqi children on the other side of the wire. Currently I'm enjoying the amazing scenery in Kabul, Afghanistan. I run early before it gets too hot, when the dust