Too late to join but I just wondered if anyone was doing this one - 2,000 entries makes it quite a biggie and i hear from the orgs it's over-subscribed.

Ill be there (it snowed last year) and there are at least four chilterns to chug up and down along the way so its sloooow.

Anyone looking to re-consider their PB this is the place. Pretty route tho and well organised by Watford Harriers.

At the risk of appearing to be talking to myself, here is my race report on The Asics Watford Half - ably managed by Dick Parles' Watford Harriers.

Cassiobury park is a big park but was a chilly standing start for the 2,000 plus runners who took part on Sundays half. And although the facilities were ample, Park Tea House "Cha Cha Cha" was filled to the gunwales with those looking for a warm loo-seat!

10.30 saw two packs of runners cross the mats and flowing down to merge at the park exit and head out towards the Grove. It was a nice flat start though an estate and out onto Grove Mill Lane and up past Wippendell Woods. This, the first hill challenge is the easiest of about five rises that dominate the course most of which are in the first half.

Over the M25 at about mile 4 and onto Old House Lane sees the ground drop away dramatically and down means up and the up was fierce! But the scenery is green and pleasant and I know these lanes well so my plan was always to push the back half not the front. Still more up to the brow of Bucks Hill past the half way marker (59mins) and then - ah! the relief! downhill to Deadmans Ash and Bottom Lane. But only for a mile or so before another Chiltern rears up and mile 8 seems to go on for ever. Back down to Wippendell woods again past the lovely Clarendon Pub (gourmet-tastic but well over-priced).

Rousebarn lane is a 2-mile delight through woods and hedgerows and well on the way home. Mile 11 and im flagging a little having stretched it for the downhills every time. I grab a jelly baby from a goodly resident of Canturbury Way and as I pass the 12mile marker I up the pace again to cruise past some flaggers. But it's up again to the top of the park - a cruel ascent magnified by the late stage of the race and tantalisingly, we spy the finishing line as we re-enter the park - almost half a mile away! 400m and 200m markers fall away and I maybe think I peaked too soon...but at last the Asics bridge looms and im through; passing at least a dozen runners with a sort of sprinty, floppy, knackered bloke finish which felt better than i'm sure it looked. 1h54m is good enough for me.

ever the optimist bat...

Hi Johnny, good time mate.

Well done Johnny,
A time I could only dream of! Clever boy!