Runners

RACEWORDS: ADRIAN MONTI. PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTYJULY 2018 RUNNERSWORLD.CO.UK 091``````STARTShere’s charm has been a draw forilmmakers over the years. It wasthe backdrop for romantic comedyThe Holiday (2006), starring JudeLaw and Cameron Diaz.``````FINISHYou’ll enjoythis: for theinal kilometreyou returndown thesteep hillthat youconquered atthe race start.Once youcross theinish line,relax on thegrass withyour well-earned medaland T-shirt.``````3KMYou’ll seederelictpillboxes(concretebunkers) leftover from theSecond WorldWar. Theseformed a lineof defencein case anenemyinvasionreached theSurrey Hills.``````29KMOnce youpass FarleyHeath, wherethe remainsof a Romantemple lie(there havebeen notablearchaeol-ogical inds),there is astretchthroughBlackheathForest.``````11KMYou reach Friday Street, a tinyhamlet with a large pond; theplace was name-checked on PaulWeller’s 1997 album Heavy Soul.``````20KMYou climb Holmbury Hill, the site ofan Iron Age hill fort, before scalingPitch Hill straight afterwards. Bothare over 250m high, so buckle up!``````14KMLeith Hill. Thetop of LeithHill Tower isthe highestpoint in south-east England(313m).``````34KMYou passNewlandsCorner, fromwhere AgathaChristievanished in1926. Sheturned upsafely dayslater.30KMHere you pass thesite of the ChilworthGunpowder Mills,where ammunition andexplosive materialswere manufactured fromthe 1620s until 1920 (atone time it was the onlyauthorised gunpowderproducer in Britain).``````Relax postracewith music, abarbecue,refreshmentsand a bouncycastle...justwhat your tiredhamstrings andquads will bescreaming for.``````ABINGER``````GOMSHALL``````LEITHHILL``````ALBURY WARREN``````Hurt Wood Pasture Wood``````Blackheath``````Farley Heath``````Deerleap Wood``````Winterfold Forest``````Wotton Common``````STARTFINISH``````02``````04``````06``````08``````10``````12(^1614)182026 24 22283032343638 400KILOMETRESMETRES50100(^200150)2503002 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42SHERE 42Race director Mick Cainguides you along amarathon througha hilly slice of SurreyROUTE RECCE‘The area is an ideal settingfor an ofroad trail run,’ saysCain. ‘We staged our irstrace in 2012 with 110 runners andreceived some really positivefeedback. The irst event was a40km race, but we stuck a 2km loopon it over the Greensand Ridge andmake it into a full marathon. Sincethen, we’ve added a 10K event and,more recently, a half marathon. It’sa challenging course with at leasteight climbs, adding up to morethan 1,100m of ascent. But someof the views are stunning, suchas the one from Leith Hill; ona clear day they say you can seeacross 14 counties.’This year’s race is on July 7.Visit trekhireuk.com