01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
Enjoy the changing scenery
The loop links riverside paths with the Chiltern Hills, visiting areas around Turville, Christmas Common and the Ridgeway. It offers frequent changes of terrain and gradient. Use those changes as cues to relax your stride and check that the effort remains comfortable.
Prepare for repeated rises
A rolling route rewards the ability to climb, descend and settle again. On training runs, practise keeping the top of a hill calm: ease into your next stride and allow your breathing to settle as the ground opens out.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Build variety into your easy running
Use woodland paths, rolling trails and firmer linking sections where available. Keep most running easy while you become familiar with changing footing. Add duration gradually and include strength work that fits the rest of the week.
Develop comfortable descending
Introduce downhill exposure in small steps on suitable terrain. Focus on relaxed movement and attentive foot placement. Give your legs time to adapt before extending the duration, especially when adding a hillier long run to the same week.
Rehearse self-sufficient sections
Carry the supplies you need between planned stops on selected longer outings. Practise checking directions, reaching your food and adjusting layers while keeping the routine straightforward. Review how your pack and feet felt, then make one or two useful changes for the next outing.
Bring your running and strength work together. Explore MaxMile for your Chiltern Wonderland 50 preparation, or compare our personal coaching options.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
Start with an effort that leaves you comfortable on the first climbs. Choose a run-and-hike rhythm that suits the gradient and your training. A single loop gives the day a natural sense of progress; use the next section as your immediate focus.
Plan stops around the current checkpoint table, including time to refill. Keep eating regularly and adjust pace to the conditions. In the final part, concentrate on moving comfortably towards Goring with the routine you have rehearsed.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
An example 20-week block ending on 18 September 2027 begins on 1 May 2027. Use that as a planning marker, with a consistent running base already in place. Your own preparation may need more time.
Map work, family commitments and other races into the calendar first. Build the specific hill and long-run work gradually, make room to recover between demanding outings, then ease the load towards race day. Regular, manageable weeks give you a strong foundation for the adventure ahead.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
Test your shoes and pack on comparable trails, including a longer outing in the kit you intend to use. Check the full mandatory equipment list and your lighting arrangements. Keep spare clothing dry and easy to reach.
The 2027 event starts and finishes at Goring Village Hall. The organiser does not permit crews or pacers, and offers a finish bag rather than aid-station drop bags. Make your plans within those rules and use only the published supporter locations.