This challenging run across the fields, trails and byways of the Leicestershire Wolds was approximately 16.8M . . 1 mile further than advertised because one farmer had refused permission to cross his land in the week preceding the event.

With the timeless message of "no vomiting on car bonnets" already ringing in our ears, the Yeoman Warder rang his bell and we were off . . at least 5 minutes early by my reckoning.

The photos below are a selection of the views we admired along the way and of course gave me an opportunity to have a breather for a moment or two! 488 people took part 275 runners and 213 walkers. I sneaked into the top half in 209th place, with a time of 3hr 23mins precisely!

looking across to Stanford Hall

Mike Hawes, from RW Forum. Mike ran by me twice during the Shakespeare Marathon and I missed getting a photo of him both times. So when he caught me up during this race it was a good chance to make amends

the lady in the front of this photo told me off for describing this as a picnic in a graveyard . . it was actually a picnic in a churchyard! Wherever it was . . the second feed station was a Cornucopia of Cake, Drink, Fruit and Friendliness. It was difficult to tear yourself away to return to slip slidin' back to Seagrave . .

Prestwold Church and Hall . . this section of the course is not normally open to the public

Metropolis over in the distance (well, Leicester anyway) . .

and finally, as if a kissing gate in the final 200m wasn't enough to negotiate there was one final stile too . . and the finish was indoors.

After the marvellous catering at the drink/feed stations there was more in wait for us at the finish. Squash, Tea, Vegetable or Tomato Soup, Apple Crumble and Custard and More Cake. Tuff, srsly tuff, but a gr8 event