A well-organised event on a flat course. Every run an epic - BW
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Abingdon Half-Marathon
A two-lap course starting near the town centre.
Adderbury 1/2 M
www.adderburyrunningclub.co.uk/
Perfect weather, pleasant route reminiscent of the half marathon, start at Boscombe Pier and finish at the Chiropractic College about a mile away, free massage, cheap cake stall (30p) - VJ Nov08
The weather and conditions were perfect: sunny and cool and the support from the crowds brilliant. I can recommend wearing a bright pink running top - I got lots of encouragement for the "pink lady"! - VB 2009
5k/10k/21.1km events in Copenhagen.
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Anglesey Marathon
www.angleseymarathon.com
Running round a large field on the side of a hill, with a 'water jump' at the bottom, and the finish at the top! Plenty of mud to go round - JS 2009 .
A low-key local event organised by Kennington Overseas Aid in aid of charity. The 5.5km course is mostly in Bagley Woods on tracks that are generally not open to the public.
The course was gently undulating, and the weather nice, apart from 15 minutes of bitterly cold, driving rain towards the end of the race - SW 2009.
20th March 2022 | 148 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Time | Position | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Emily Baldock | 2:28:05 | 128th | 15th/19 FV45 |
23rd April, 2023 | 4630 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip Time | Gun Time | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Victoria Bennett | 1:48:08 | 1:48:58 | 129th/1548 W | 12th/124 W50 |
5k - 20k - 3k.
Really enjoyable big event, well organised, lots of support and music and plenty of toilets near the start. Tshirt, medal and goody bag for finishers. - VB 2015
(2006) Windy, undulating but not too bad, and second half easier than the first. Well organised and many enthusiastic marshals - VJ
Nice course - couple of reasonable hills, but otherwise fairly flat (and the hills are not too long and attackable - GC.
Cold, overcast but not much wind and a flat, smooth course. 20,660 runners, samba and jazz bands on the route through the Brandenburg Gate, past Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie and ending in the shadow of the TV tower near Alexander Platz - MT 2008.
Assorted legs of 5, 10, 5, 10 and 12.195 km
A informal hilly 10K on the picturesque roads in the grounds of Blenheim
Palace. Organised by the Rotary Club of Woodstock to raise money for local
charities. Plenty of fun runners.
Similar to the event organised by the Rotary Club a couple of weeks later. However, no official results - just self-timing.
Beautiful course over Blenheim palace grounds and a loop via Woodleys. Nice sunny day but not too warm. Enough space to overtake if desired. Support by audience very poor (mostly people staring at runners rather than cheering them on), .5l water bottles at water points; a terrible waste of drinking water, plastic bottles and the energy it took to get all those heavy bottles there, hopefully net year they will just hand out cups of tap water. - EE 2013
Sprint event: 750m swim + 20k cycle + 5.4k run
All terrain run-bike-run (5km+20km+5km) held near Wantage.
Another Boneshaker with glorious weather - bike course slightly changed (slightly longer, and a bit slower) from 2007 (diversion through Lockinge rather than West Lockinge)- GC 2009
1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Popular pre London warm up - run concurrently with 10 mile race - AD 2015
Run-Bike-Bike, 81.8km, teams of 3 with 2 mountout bikes.
The route is mostly off-road including single track, over 1000m of elevation, mud, tree routes etc and unless you finish a lot faster than we did the last couple of hours are in the dark. 4 feed stops and a hot meal at the end. Exhausting but great fun - VB 2015
Well-organised race through scenic woodlands on mostly closed (and mostly hilly) roads - AD 2013
10k run combined with the village fete.
First of the Mota-vation Series
https://www.relishrunningraces.com/cheddar-gorge-challenge.php
11th June 2023 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Half Marathon | 263 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Time | Position | Category | |
Jason Smith | 1:51:19 | 5th | 1st/37 M50-59 | |
Emily Baldock | 2:54:27 | 193rd | 10th/24 F40-49 | |
10km | 217 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Time | Position | Category | |
Maija Dudhia | 1:04:41 | 41st | 3rd/5 JF U20 | |
6km | 81 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Time | Position | Category | |
Alecia Nickless | 56:32 | 63rd | 9th/13 F40-49 |
A very pretty and not too arduous on- and off-road run based in Ewelme, South Oxfordshire. Attractive countryside, no hills, optional massage and compulsory home-made cakes at the finish - a very pleasant morning - CL 2009
12th June 2022 | 88 finished | [Full Results] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | |
Jason Smith | 1:03:57 | 1:04:03 | 10th | 2nd VM50 |
Alan Darbyshire | 1:05:19 | 1:05:25 | 15th | |
Richard Plater | 1:15:30 | 1:15:38 | 43rd | |
Stuart Higgs | 1:29:51 | 1:30:00 | 75th |
It was cold but quite good weather and an enjoyable challenge. Bacon butties and such available. It's all off-road (i.e. cross-country run and mountain bike) with distances of 2 - 10 - 2 miles and done as 2 laps for each element. They seem to run a spring and an autumn version. - JR
Very lovely mainly off-road route between Broughton and Winchester,
about 500 ft climbing, very well organised, marshalled and marked.
Highly recommended! - MT 2007
Overnight rain and gales, but on the day only a slight drizzle, no wind and
even a glimpse of sunshine at the finish. Paths very muddy, and one extremely
deep puddle... Well marshalled and signed, very friendly and cheerful
atmosphere - MT 2008
This is an annual Boxing Day run, with obvious implications for festive fitness and wellbeing. First half is flat through the town (near Bristol), the second half more undulating, but a nice downhill finish. Very professionally organised, with timing car, ankle chips and immediate time and position read-out available at the finish, not to mention a Mars Bar and PowerAde - CL 2006
www.kidlingtonrunning.org.uk/mota-vation
It was 9.1k with an early climb up to the Ridgeway and then some undulations on the way back down. Nice views front the top, big puddles, some mud but generally good surface given the recent rain. Cheap tea and cakes at the end and bottles of wine for the winners. - JR 2012
20th May 2023 | 52 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jason Smith | 1:57:48 | 1:57:52 | 2nd | 1st/10 MV50 |
100 mile relay race, 10 legs of approx 10 miles each.
15th May 2022 | ? finished | |||
Name | Leg | Dist | Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alexandra Crai | ? | ? | 1:27:05 | |
Radu Cimpeanu | ? | ? | 1:47:58
| |
6th June 2021 | ? finished | |||
Name | Leg | Dist | Time | |
Radu Cimpeanu | 6 | 17.01km | 1:43:46 |
400m -20km - 4km
Generally lives up to what might be expected from something organised by an event company called "Tough Runner". Five ~ 100m ascents mostly on fairly rough paths and tracks. Thankfully mostly firm conditions due to dry weather - a few days rain in the proceeding days could make this distinctly more "fun" - AD 2019.
Not sure if this counts for the OUCH website (I think only teams from affiliated clubs could enter), but Alan and I ran in the Road Relay County Champs at Hook Norton Sports and Social Club on Sunday, representing HRR. An undulating 3.25 mile course through country lanes and Hook Norton village, men's teams of six and women's of three. Nice weather, and fine beer afterwards :) - JS 2009.
Fast flat course, all country lanes in good conditions. Friendly and efficient organisation. Refreshments available. - VB 2009
Pleasant fast, flat course on roads and country lanes, wind and heavy showers. Well organised event with massages available but no tea, cake or any kind of refreshments afterwards - VJ 2006
Flat, fast course mostly traffic free on foot and bike paths round Ladygrove - AD 2015
It's basically 2 up-and-back laps of the new Dorney rowing lake. So you get the benefits of it being perfectly flat, wide paths and no cars. It's a good opportunity to do a fast time if you're feeling fit. It's a bit odd to run 2km in a dead straight line though. And the black tarmac reflects the heat nicely on a blistering hot day. It's well organised and you can use the rowing clubhouse for changing, showers and refreshments - PD 2006.
2006: More of a charity "event" than a race - they didn't even do any official
timing. Me - 44.37, Julie - 50.44. It was quite a big event, ~1500, and
crowded so you need to be near the front if you're after a fast time. Dead
flat - obviously! - PD
2007: Those are good times for us but
we think that is due to the course being distinctly short (6.05 miles on
our GPSs) rather than to athleticism on our part!- PD
Probably should have read Evelyn's review from 2012 - I can confirm it was unexpectedly hilly in 2021 as well, though no beer at the finish. Fewer participants (2201) this year due to CVD-19 and next weeks London marathon so no issues with overcrowding. - AD 2021
Excellent weather conditions, route with lots of turns and more hilly than expected. Too many runners for the width of the course, and terrible waste by handing out 33cl evian bottles of water after each 3 miles. Can of London Pride at the finish was a nice touch - EE 2012.
26th September 2021 | 2201 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alan Darbyshire | 1:31:18 | 1:31:21 | 103rd | 8th/265 MV50 |
It was bloomin' hot. I also think that a certain Mr. Bull needs to explain why he saw the need to fail to let on important info about the event (namely the last 4 miles are uphill!). Having said that, the city is lovely, and the marathon route isn't really too bad - quiet in places, but still fairly good. My only gripe would be the somewhat random mile marker placement (I had a 9m 16s split followed by a 4m15s....!!), and they could maybe do with a few more water stations. - GC 2006
www.nyrr.org/races/2011/r1231x00.asp
About 6000 runners, mostly in fancy dress, unusual to overtake an empire state building, snowmen, chickens and elves. Fireworks, very congested start, sparkling apple juice at 2 miles - VB
Two circuits of the streets of Eynsham (6 miles west of Oxford).
It was windy but not too wet ? marshals very supportive and a fantastic
cake selection at the end. - VB 2009
Cold and wet. Cakes 50p - VJ 2008
28th November 2021 | 517 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Emily Baldock | 55:38.7 | 56:22.8 | 379th | 36th/69 LV45 |
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Farmoor 10k
www.immortalfarmoor.com/events/immortal-10k-farmoor/
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Friends of the W & OD 10k
www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/friends/
Vienna, Virginia, USA.
A low key race, mostly locals, out and back on the " Western and Old Dominion" trail with free Tshirt, massage and pizza. Heavy rain for most of the run, then hot and humid - VB 2014
Stuart and I ran the Gun Run half marathon here in Cape Town at the weekend and both surprised ourselves with a pbs on a nice flat course - CL
In Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, SE London.
It's a flat run from Thames Ditton along roads and riverside gardens into Kingston and then back along the Thames to Hampton Court. Quite scenic! - PD 2008
Homemade cakes at the 10k finish were good, 30 p /slice Worth going for next year - VJ (2005).
Cakes gone up to 50p/slice but still worth going for - VJ (2010).
9 miles-ish
(1/2M) Conditions were good, the hill was hard, and now I have sore legs - VB 2021
(10k) Very pretty course with long gradient in first half, then very steep descent, finishing flat along Fairmile. Start/Finish at Henley Hawks Rugby Club, with large, warm clubhouse, tea/coffee, bacon baps and plenty of toilets.. Good event, well marshalled and supported - and reasonably priced. - CL 2014
10th October 2021 (1/2M) | 264 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Victoria Bennett | 1:43:17 | 1:43:22 | 96th | 12th/50 F18-49 |
An undulating 6 mile road race, which is usually held on a hot Sunday morning. Entry limit 250.
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 16:51:39 +0100 From: Howard RoscoeSubject: Summer triathlon Howard's 2002 summer triathlon (assuming we get back to summer) will be on Tuesday 30 July. There will be a new course this year, in order to reduce the overemphasis on cycling. All events will start and finish at Brook Cottage, Comberton, making it easier for those only taking part in one or two events. More info nearer the time, but in order to help with catering for afterwards, please email me if you think you will be taking part - H
An excellent well organised race, although perhaps most memorable is that the last mile is uphill - JS 2009.
2km, 5km, 10km, 1/2M and Marathon all on the same day.
Anu Dudhia and Amanda Manning have both completed this classic. Steve Bass competed as the second-youngest runner in 1994 (before his Oxford days). The list of runners who have entered but failed to get selected in the ballot is too long to record here.
8km run, 30km bike, 5km run
This is an 8/30/5km race, based at the North Oxfordshire Academy in Banbury, with the running mainly along paths in parks, and the cycling a loop round NW Oxfordshire/SE Warwickshire, mainly flat but incorporating the infamous Edge Hill.
A grey and overcast morning saw 106 brave souls finish, the winner coming home in 1:27, your correspondent supporting practically the whole field with 2:14 (splits: 35:54, T1 1:32, 1:10:13, T2 1:02, 26.16). Main objective was to complete without visiting A & E, so job done... -- CL 2012.
Good Friday. Nice flat route, good weather (got sunburnt!) - only problem was that the start was delayed 15 mins because of the queues for the toilets (yes, really!) - PD (2007)
It was pretty flat, fast and sunny - VB 2015
2007: Conditions were good, sunny and cool but windy and undulating, amazing hordes of spectators and views of the Capitol, Pentagon and other DC landmarks - VJ
Cold, wet and horrible - PD (2007)
It was hot, hot, hot!! - JD (2008).
7k run - 25k bike - 7k run.
Run-Bike-Run -> Mud-Rain-Mud, all very cold at ~1C - well organised and fun, if you like cold, muddy and wet - JR, 2013
A sunny, early spring morning, a well-marshalled event. Run course a little bit slippery but flat, cycle route undulating. Results took 2 days for some reason - JR, 2012
It was a well organised and friendly event, with a high standard at the top end but all levels present and welcome. The run is flat, other than a couple of bridges over the Thames, the cycle ride isn't. The weather was mild and sunny. Tea, rolls and cake available - JS, 2009
It was very hilly and foggy but with nice autumn colours and cheerful marshals. - VB 2015
A nice event, pleasant multi terrain route, good organisation and friendly cheerful participants and marshals - VB 2013
It was very hot (more than 30 degrees), as is usual for this part of France at this time of the year (the Medoc in September feels like sitting in a wooden box in a forest. During a bushfire) - MK
Small friendly event, 2 laps on undulating country roads in light rain - VB 2013
Event took place at Chieveley Village hall. A small event both runs were off road (edge of field and Footpath). The Bike was undulating but nothing too demanding the course had a set of traffic lights and two foot downs to contend with. Registration and transition were well run but there was no water made available. - SH 2012
Organised by Bedford Harriers.
An informal event held in conjunction with the Horton-cum-Studley
village fete. Approximately half-marathon distance around Otmoor
with about half the distance on roads and the rest on tracks.
It was sunny and hot with not much escape to the shade. The rough ground
was hard and uneven - good ankle strengthening in the longest field in
the world (miles 8 and 9) followed by the longest hill in the world at
mile 10.
Nice route, but the longest "half-marathon" in the world, with good
cakes and tea and a very jolly fete afterwards. - V&J 2006
A five mile course round the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace in
bright Spring sunshine - CL 2010
Top tip -
don't train on beer and curry - CL 2011
17th October 2021 | 7242 finished | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Richard Plater | 1:43:45 | ? | 1360th | 41st/259 M55-59 |
26th September 1993 (674 finished)
First of the 4D Challenge series of 5km races in Oxford parks.
Second of the 4D Challenge series of 5km races in Oxford parks.
Third and last of the 4D Challenge series of 5km races in Oxford parks.
26th December 2022 | 247 finished | [Full Results] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | |
Jolyon Reburn | 43:41 | 43:44 | 18th | 2nd MMas3 |
Victoria Bennett | 52:16 | 52:20 | 129th | 5th VMas2 |
It was a small local run, so by Swiss standards, this means you only get water on the course and one changing room and shower facility each for men and women. (Electronic timing, signposts every kilometer, SMS results when you cross the line, children's care area, sausage stand are apparently basic runner rights here) - VD'S 2010
A mass-participation road event around the centre of Reading. A little hilly but you wouldn't think so from the winning times.
www.racinglinerunning.co.uk/reading-20
19th March 2023 (10 mile course) 123 finished [Full Results] | ||||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jason Smith | 1:12:34 | 1:12:36 | 9th | 2nd MV50-59 |
20km trail run.
28th November 2021 | 83 finished | Full Results | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Richard Plater | 1:59:22 | 2:00:16 | 49th | 41st Male |
An 86.5 mile relay race in teams of 10, along the length of the Ridgeway.
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Running the Squares 5k
Lake Sumter Landing,
The Villages, Fl, USA.
Royal Victoria Marathon
Web page:
http://www.cce.cc/cgi-bin/rvm2/main.pl?content=index
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
A very pretty run up and down (literally) the California coast in perfect conditions. Being in over-indulgent holiday mode, your correspondent managed a mediocre 25:50, but is eager to return and improve ... CL 2009.
Part of the Chiltern X/C League, www.chilternccl.co.uk
Two laps of the Grand Prix circuit.
Part of the East Midlands
Grand Prix series of summer evening runs.
The circuit has more gradients than you might imagine, and the straights can
seem very long. It's an evening race in May (usu. 7.30pm kick-off), so
conditions often good - no midday heat nor night-time cool. Track seemed
less strewn with debris this year, with over 1,000 registered starters.
Changing takes place in the pits, and the race finishes in the pitlane -
unfortunately the start is not generated by the overhead lights, but a
traditional starting-pistol. Well organised by Silson Joggers AC. Probably
a 60-mile round trip from Oxford, but at least you can say "I raced at
Silverstone"... - CL 2003
Series of races on the Silverstone Race course: since 2014 3.3m run + 9.3m bike + 1.6m run (previously 2m run + 10m bike + 2m run?).
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Skirrid Fell Race
Skirrid Fell Race
5.7km.
Part of the Chiltern X/C League, www.chilternccl.co.uk
Pretty flat, just a bit muddy in places. Mens race about 8.5K I'd estimate. - JS 2009
Various distances on offer.
15 or 20 Miles
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Surrey Half Marathon
surreyhalfmarathon.co.uk
It was a nice event, well organised, on undulating roads - VB 2016
Nice event, very friendly and supportive marshals, free technical t shirts (Large) for all participants - VB 2014
An annual mid-week relay race organised by the Oxford University Cross-Country Club on the "3 Bridges" (Donnington, Folly, Magdalen) course.
A road race through the centre of Thame and along the SUSTRANS route.
Nice race, flawless organisation,
pleasant route, cheap tea and cookies and free massage. Downside is yet
another too-big Thame 10k Tshirt - VJ 2008
This is a very pleasant on- and off-road course - CL 2010.
2019 distance listed as 48 miles
Due to flooding, the 2014 Route contained many diversions from nominal 50m route along Thames Path, and ended up around 46m.
11.4k run, 38k bike, 3.8 run
Small friendly event, cheap cakes @ 50p - VB 2015
0.3m swim, 12m cycle, 3m run.
2m run, 10m cycle, 2m run (also a 1-5-1 version). Cirencester
12th June 2022 | ? finished | |||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alexandra Crai | 51:09 | 54:59 | 767th | 40th F20-34 |
Radu Cimpeanu | 59:18 | 63:18 | 1458th | 244th M20-34 |
800m/35km/12km (swim/bike/run)
An off-road duathlon (run-bike-run) on the Wasing estate near Aldermaston. Undulating cross country run with a couple of wet and muddy bits, mountain biking similar including some single track. Weather fresh but fair.
4 events included long and short trail run and long and short duathlon. Doing the long duathlon you also compete in the short trail run. - JR 2012
This was a race of mainly vertical ascents and descents, and strictly for masochists. I had to walk/crawl up the verticals (Watlington Hill and Shirburn Hill), and slide down the descents (ditto), posting a time of unbearable slowness. I hope to be persuaded not to do it ever again, as I still have lactic acid in the legs two days later - CL 2009
A series of almost vertical ascents and descents around Watlington Hill and the Ridgeway. 63:51 (a PB, as my 2009 time was 65:45), and lucky to be alive to write this ... - CL 2011
Quite chilly, but a flat route, and at least it wasn't raining - SW 2008.
Grove, near Wantage.
It was a nice race; very well-organised, good atmosphere and the weather this year was perfect with about 11*C and sun - EE 2012
10th April 2022 | 402 finshed | [Full Results] | ||
Name | Chip | Gun | Position | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alan Darbyshire | 1:31:23 | 1:31:28 | 63rd | 11th/82 V50 |
Pleasant route on country lanes, a few hills and morris dancers along the way. FREE tea and cakes at the finish. - VB 2013
It was horribly hilly and windy but it was well organised and they had lots of prizes. Route was modified due to flooding. - VB 2014
It was lovely and scenic but that came with hills, rugged terrain, and blazing hot sunshine - VJ 2016
1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Part of the Chiltern X/C League, www.chilternccl.co.uk
Rescheduled Wokingham Half was yesterday - conditions nothing like February (snow). Pretty hot and sunny but well organised and extra water stations put in - VJ 2009.
Run by the Zoeterwoude skating club in the Netherlands.