Highclere Castle Challenge (aka Downton Abbey 10km)

[MarkyD]

Full race report will follow in a couple of days. Ran my 10km race at Highclere Castle - you will recognise the house from it's starring role in Downton Abbey).

Highlights:

The Castle (Mrs MarkyD took this photo this morning after we'd all run in front of the house and down this path);

Fantastic technical T-shirt with silhouette of the castle (currently in the wash)(instead of a medal);

Beautiful, sunny autumnal morning, cold but bright;

Great organisation (again) from Newbury AC;

10km in less than one hour;

Spectacular views across the North Wessex Downs AONB, and gorgeous parkland running.

Lowlights

Spectacular views from a very hilly course;

Long grass for first 1km and wet feet from 3 minutes into the run;

10km took longer than my training program predicted .

Well done everyone for a great weekend of parkruns and other events. Enjoy your running.

M

[poppypug Graduate]

Well done Marky ! Looks like a beautiful place to run !

Im just watching Downton on the telly at the mo .

Looking forward to reading the report , Brilliant, Well done to you ! xxx

[aliboo70]

That looks beautiful Marky! will enjoy reading your report! 10k in less than an hr for a hilly course is brilliant!

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

You'll know all about hills with running on IoW. Sounded like you had a pretty full day yourself, and you finishing with a chip supper was perfect.

[aliboo70 in reply to MarkyD]

It was! Yes lots of hills here😆iow marathon on the 11th, might have to go watch that😊

Chips for tea very good☺

[Vixchile Graduate]

Well done, sub 1hour is amazing. What a lovely photo and sounds like an amazing run with stunning views, doesn't it make you feel good running in magi.cal places. Wet feet, not good!! Did you feet suffer??

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to Vixchile]

I had one bloody toe, I think my wet feet made them slide as I was running. The terrain was a mixture of grass, parkland roads and footpaths. Some of the footpaths had puddles in the ruts, and I think I'd have got wet feet sooner or later. Not that different from my parkrun course, which has large puddles on the trail after rain.

[mfamilias Graduate]

Wow. All the green green grass of home... (Mfam starts singing Tom Jones). Congrats - hills and wet feet and you still did a sub- hour ten K. Awesome.

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Thanks mfam. Despite the undulations, it was my favourite 10km course. No vineyards, though...

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Ooh MarkyD I looked at this one and seriously considered doing it just to say I'd run around Downton! But the timing wasn't good for me but maybe next year. That photo is gorgeous and really well done to you for a sub 60 minute! Brilliant. I look forward to reading your race report.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Where's the run report MarkyD? I'm waiting.....