15/08/2026
As Andy continues his Sydney marathon training, Sarah & Andy have thought creatively about the training- they’ve shared this with us- so maybe a marathon could be in your reach too?
‘Marathon training involves many hours of often solo running – the loneliness of the long-distance runner! Incorporating the odd race, even if not run at race pace, adds variety and allows you to practice running in crowds.
Choosing 3 different events to try – all hosted by different organisers and all new to us – each one offered a wide-ranging set of distances, start and finish time flexibility and varied terrain.
Setting half-marathon distances as our minimum target for each race was challenging enough, but the recent heatwaves have tested our bodies endurance and hydration skills to their limits too. Hopefully we will thrive again when the cooler weather returns.
Here’s a summary of each event for comparison.
Event: ZigZag Norfolk Festival
Place: Bawsey Country Park, King Lynn
Organiser: Zig-Zag Running
Those of you who’ve done Frostbite races here will no doubt remember the mud and hills! This time we swapped the mud for sand due to the drought, which to our dismay was even harder work on the legs and of course the hills were unfortunately still there too!
Distances on offer were, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon (4 laps), Heavy Half Marathon (5 laps) Full-Marathon or Ultra Marathon (9 laps). This was an out and back course, of 5.3K (3.29 miles).
You state up front what distance you intend to run, but you can drop out earlier or add more laps on (paying any price difference) depending on whether you are loving or hating it on the day. You can also choose your start time of either 9am or 11am.
This was a cup less event, so you also need to remember to bring your own bottles or cups for refilling or wear hydration vests as we did. Free snacks and drinks available on every lap and they even gave out ice-pop lollies as the race heated up.
A fabulous finishers medal at the end, and the best selection of free homemade cake and a hot drink was a welcome reward.
Event: Running GP Bedford Autodrome
Place: Bedford Autodrome
Organiser: RunThrough
This event was part of a 3-race series that if you complete all 3 events gives a special medal. Unfortunately for us, the Bedford event was the last of the series. Each event consists of multiple races; 5k, 10k, half-marathon, Metric marathon, 20 miles and a full marathon. Race start times are staggered, with the longer races starting first. Each race runs multiple laps of the same 5k course with the same start/finish line, albeit with an additional loop at the start where necessary to make up the distance.
Despite all these races effectively happening at the same time, the course never felt congested, thanks to the staggered start times and the wide nature of the tarmac course. You could certainly feel the heat coming off the tarmac soon after 10am with the soaring temperatures but the benefit of running on a racetrack meant no bumpy ground to worry about, although there was the odd, unexpected incline at times.
Water and gels were available on every lap, together with more water and protein snacks at the finish, along with a great medal.
Highly recommended to others due to the course and organisation and is a potential PB course too.
Event: Phoenix Cambridgeshire Games Run
Place: Grafham Water, Huntingdon
Organiser: Phoenix Running
A chip timed 7-hour event in which to complete as many or as few full 3.28-mile loops in this time as you want. Completing just 1 lap qualifies you for the finishers medal.
You can arrive and start anytime between 7am and 10am, just head to the start area ready to run, check in, you don’t even need to wear a race number, attach your (chunky) chip timer to your ankle and off you go.
No marshals needed, just follow the yellow arrows around the mini golf course, out along the dam for approx. 0.92 miles then through the gate, through the park and after 0.45 miles turn around at the signpost and retrace your steps back again for 1 lap, then repeat…. simples! The overall course has no elevation gain or drop making this a fast and flat route.
A well-stocked aid station was at the start/finish area with sweets, savouries, crisps etc. There were numbered cup holders for you to leave bottles in to save you carrying them.
Medals are pricey so for once we declined, and unfortunately any saving was offset by the car parking charge! ‘
