My main memory of Salisbury Plain as part of the Neolithic Marathon was dust, dust and more dust. And tracks(covered in grit and more dust), that, intended for tanks, were made of concrete unless I’m much mistaken. Concrete is 10 times as hard as tarmac, and that means very hard when you are running over it with joints already feeling sore. The wind created dust devils, passing coaches and tractors raised more. And the sun baked down. I finished the day coated with dust and white socks that are still orange from it. Apparently some areas we crossed are usually closed to the public as the Plain is used by the military. This means it’s also something of a haven for wildlife, but I didn’t get to look for it, and I’ve been in a lot prettier places. In spite of being a plain it is undulating. Though the undulations aren’t huge, there are some valleys that are quite noticeable and include steep, if short, slopes. The northern part seemed pretty bleak to me. I’d probably have enjoyed it more without all that dust, and feeling pretty exhausted! As we headed south we hit more areas of pine woodland, which made it prettier. There were frequent marshal points with water, toilets and sometimes medical care. Brilliant! And though I’d lost sight of any other marathon runners, there were plenty of walkers on the course to chat with when I took a rest. It was quite a relief to reach the Bustard Inn, Shrewton, and know there were only a few miles to go. No review of the Inn from me, sorry. I didn’t stop! Search for ‘neomara’ in the United Kingdom for more reviews along the course.
