Held in Dalby Forest, this was the second running of the Dalby Dash. Taking place on Remembrance Sunday there is a 2 minute silence before the race and all proceeds are split between Help for Heroes & Pickering Rotary Club (to be distributed to local charities). After battling through thick fog across the moors for many miles to get to the event, a good parking spot, cafe and plenty of toilets greeted me.

The race guide says the first 1½ miles are uphill - this is untrue, it is more than 2 miles before the tarmac road even considers levelling out ! First man & woman at this point get a King & Queen of the Hill prize at the end, which explains it all really ! The only water station is quite early at around 4km but this is the end of the road; literally as the run now heads off into the forest tracks. The next kilometre is flattish before the start of the 3km downhill section - which gets a bit exciting with the odd rock sticking up out of the track and the occasional puddle of mud. The final 1½km are back on the flat, with just a couple of nasty little inclines thrown in before a flat finish to the line. The course is actually a little short - I measured 9.7km both years.

Last year we got Dalby Dash Hilly trail socks, this year a Dalby Dash Hilly hand towel. However, I must have looked like i had put some effort in to my 52:02 finish time as I was given a spot prize in the finishing funnel. On opening the bag, this turned out to be an extra large sized pair of last years socks ! Oh well

The only downside was the long journey in the fog - the upside, well 2 miles running uphill and 2 miles down again certainly help the fitness, a free voucher for a pot of tea, a well organised event & over £1,000 raised for charity. Will very likely be back next year.