Wendover Woods Half Marathon Trail

Race Description

Set in the Chiltern Hills forest above Aston Clinton, this is the standalone Half Marathon & 10k edition of Nice Work's Wendover Woods races, run separately from the bigger autumn event that adds a full marathon into the mix. The half marathon covers two laps of the same hilly forest loop that 10k runners cover once, on mature woodland tracks and gravel paths with around 181 metres of climbing per lap - so close to 360 metres of ascent and descent across the full half marathon distance. A couple of sections underfoot are flint and can be slippery, and runners are asked to take care there on each pass.

Reviewers consistently describe the event as hilly and challenging but also small, intimate and remote-feeling rather than a big-field road race. Doing the loop twice means runners know exactly what the second half holds after completing the first, which some find helps with pacing on the climbs. It suits runners who want a genuine trail-running test with real hills rather than a flat, fast half marathon, and those who enjoy forest scenery and a low-key, well-marshalled atmosphere over a big-city race feel.