By Nicky Chrascina

 Very early rise for the RRUM 7:15 start. Around 200 runners registered for the 50km route which circumnavigates the most gorgeous of cities - Reading!!!!!

We set off in waves of 20 - so there was not too much congestion on the narrow Thames Towpath at the beginning of the race. The event was advertised as flattish, mainly trail! I agreed with the flattish part of the description but not so much with the mainly trail! I am glad I wore road shoes.

The first 6-7 miles were a lovely amble along the Thames, before heading inland through suburbia. For the next 10 or so miles, a mix of housing estates, fields, parks and football pitches. Aid stations were set 10km apart and were very well stocked.
2nd half of the race started by crossing motorway bridges, sights of the M4 and dual carriageways in and out of Reading. The cities idea of trail is slightly different to mine!

A few more housing estates, canal paths, fields, leafy farm roads before heading back to finish line where we were given an ice-cream!
I completed in 6:20 so as a plodder was pretty chuffed with this. Would I recommend this event? If you fancy 31 miles of supported running or are in the area. Would I do it again? Yes - because I reckon I could go sub 6 hr and for me that’s saying something!