Charnwood marathon 2018

Melanie's 50th marathon/ultra. Her first marathon, the Osmotherley Phoenix was in July 2012 and she did them regularly until 2015. She then had a break and started them again in 2017. She never thought she ever do one marathon, so she has done amazingly well.

It was a cloudy day, hardly any wind and temperature got up to about 10 degrees, so we rapidly got rid of jackets, hats and gloves. There aren't many flat sections on the route, but the hills aren't very steep or very high. This was the first one, Broombriggs

Then it was down the other side and into Beacon Hill park where there are various wooden sculptures

and a bit of a climb up to the top.

Then another downhill into woods and on the first checkpoint with people (and food and drink !)

Onward through more fields and woods to Mount Bernard Abbey

and yet more food and drink - the checkpoints got better and better all day.

About 3 miles after this there was major change in the route and at these points the organisers had put up some helpful signs. I had tried to figure it out beforehand from the route description but I knew I hadn't got it quite right. By this point we were catching the walkers who had set off an hour earlier than the runners and I always feel a bit more confident that walkers don't make as many navigational errors as runners and this helped to keep us on track. We crossed a very busy road which was very well marshalled. The next few miles were all new to us and there were some pretty sections

We finally got back on the old route at Copt Oak Church checkpoint

More attractive countryside over the next few miles

In to Newton Linford

and into Bradgate Park

where there were deer which I had never seen on previous times we have done this event (this was our third time)

Another climb up to Old John Tower

which has lovely views

and back from the next hill

And into the last checkpoint at the Visitor's Car Park

There was another new section soon after this, which was fine, but it did get a little muddy at one point

 Near the finish we were lucky enough to see a steam train on the Great Central line

I love off road events where there is some navigation and interesting things to see. This event has lots to see and I would recommend it.