I was searching for something that would be good training for a summer ultra and this Howler event fit my race calendar perfectly... I've now done it twice (2017 & 18 - loved it so much I came back and entered other events in the series too) - it's worth noting that parts of the Double Marathon courses came in really handy as route recces for Howler Events' 3 Towers Ultra (October) and the Howling Trail Chase (November).

The West Pennines Double Marathon is an amazing weekend with a fantastic community feeling to it - the event has a very friendly and personal level of attention from all the event team, marshalls and volunteers. These challenges can often be quite daunting, but the welcoming and friendly atmosphere quickly ease any nerves with the emphasis on getting round and enjoying the trails. Two beautiful (and different) routes on each day (with no repetitive laps!), with 3 well-stocked checkpoints (water, coke, redbull, sweets, biscuits, crisps, peanuts, bananas and vegan options too etc) distributed evenly throughout, over a variety of terrain. The courses comprise of a lot of dirt track/paths with very little tarmac/roads, and a good portion of trickier moorland bogs with knee-high grass tufts and knee-deep mud in places - wet weather leading up to March adding water and mud to the toughness of the terrain but nothing my trusty Speedcross couldn't handle.

The routes were well marked but you can find yourself spread throughout the field with nobody to follow or aid with nav at times, so careful navigation can be required over some of the more cross-country routes where paths or trods aren't as obvious. Gpx files are provided and helped aid navigation on my watch (or others used smartphones with success) and Howler events offer organised recce runs throughout the year. The marathons this year actually came in at 28 and 30.5 miles so you definitely get value for money in that respect - also worth noting that the route has changed each year - which also adds to the uniqueness of the event - I've loved exploring new trails each time.

No doubt about it, the double marathon is a tough challenge, but that's where the reward lies - the sense of achievement is great, and the stunning views, the adventure, the fun and camerarderie of it all make it well worth the effort. Hot food and post-race massage (optional donation to Bolton Mountain Rescue) on both days together with a stunning medal and tech t-shirt seem worth the entry alone - not to mention the work that goes into creating, marking, marshalling and covering safety on the routes for both days.

If you enjoy adventures in the hills, this one is a must.