Knowle Village Spring 10k

Another cracking run. The Knowle Village 10k is one of the Meon Valley running series, although this run was the first of that series that I have entered. The pre-race admin was handled well, with instructions sent out in good time, which was particularly important as the citizens of Knowle are seemingly less than thrilled at the idea of "outsiders" parking on their streets! The run itself was a well-considered and varied route that included sections on quiet roads in the village itself, some faster sections on pavement next to main roads, some into-wind slogging through muddy puddles, and some woodland paths to offer a taste of nature. The organisation on the day was slick, with clear briefings and a useful warm-up session [Did I mention the wind?! :-)] Although most runners were from local clubs, which concerned me a little as a middle-aged new-comer to running races, there was a good spread of talent ranging from a team of Belgian triathletes (!) to fun-runners who were happy to plod at a leisurely pace. After the run, the timings were issued relatively swiftly - although I did receive an email asking me to confirm my bib number, which worried me briefly - and the professional photographs were available for purchase on the same day... even if, as is often the case, they were quite expensive. Pros: Relative cheapness (compared to more formalised / prestige events) and excellent course variety. Cons: Lack of parking in the village itself and seeming confusion over bib number allocations. Overall though, I would definitely do this run, or another of the Meon Valley series, again, as it was enjoyable and the marshalling team was polite and friendly.