The Beast Run - Leicestershire

This was my first time at The Beast and it did not fail to impress. I turned up in the day asnhavung dont my research I knew they accepted entries on the day. The process was easy and dealt with by a couple of happy smiling people. The state was on time and I found the first lap of 5miles a very achievable challenge. Negotiating over horse jumps along the trail course with plenty of smiling marshals and a camera man who kept popping up everywhere (thumbs up). Some of the hills were tough, short and steep, long and steep, very steep and short, the course had it all.Other runners were encouraging too. Towards the finish line you then get to choose the double or quit or lanes. Quit is finish at 5m or double to continue on the same course for a further 5m. My choice was a mistake (haha). Once finally across the line I had my medal placed over my head, given a T-shirt in the correct size and handed my car keys without me having to say a word. Highly recommend for a small family run race which will be in its 12th year next time round.

A really fun well organised event. Would recommend to any level of runner. Staff and volunteers create good atmosphere

Very well organised, registration was simple and it started on time. Marshalls were great, very encouraging. Could have done with more water / mud on the course but I guess they are restricted with what they can do. Course had some hills to get the lungs and legs pumping. Overall I enjoyed it and would do it again!

This race is a great cross-over from trail to OCR without the extortionate prices that most OCR races now charge. I love this race for 3 reasons, the first being it's right on my doorstep in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside. The next is the course which is a testing undulating (make that hilly) trail over horse jumps, through water with a sprinkling of types, nets and sandbags. If you suffer with an upper body injury (like me) then this is great as its a full running, jumping and (hill) climbing workout without the hanging from monkey bars and all that. The course is a double or quit either doing one or two 5 mile laps. Being a sprinter rather than an work-horse I opted to quit and let the hardcore runners do the 2 laps that way you can make sure you get to the flapjacks first - the flapjacks are amazing and this race is worth it for them alone. It's a well run small event - I think there were around 250 runners and has all the necessary facilities baring post race showers, but that's no biggy, just bring a towel and a change. One of my favourite races and would thoroughly recommend

Was a hard run. No one could prepare me for those hills. However It was fun and super organised. Wouldn't have minded some more water obstacles but that's because it was a warm day.

Beautiful day for the Winter Beast, but more of a trail run than an OCR, personally I'm a big OCR fan, so was a little disappointed that the main challenges on the day where the hills rather than the obstacles. Ran over an equine course expected the obstacles to be trickier than some jumps.Well organised and went off on time.Small village and therefore not much atmosphere, as most people ran then left.