That all sounds wonderful, thanks all for replying. I'm slightly overwhelmed - I've been regularly checking for replies since my post and nothing has shown up, and now 5 show up - apparently from the last two days! So I'll be checking my browser cache and also checking out the replies in more detail tomorrow. Fantastic that there are a few people on here with experience of the Downs, and that they seem to at least be preparation for the hills I'm likely to expect. I went out on Horsell Common tonight (near Woking, where the Martians landed in War of the Worlds) for a quick 5-miler, because the terrain in and around the woods there is really mixed - from thickets, ferns and heather to fairly deep patches of mud and horse muck, lots of fallen trees to hurdle and plenty of places to go off-trail. First time there and really enjoyable, but yes - I twisted my ankle!

Mattp/plodding bear, yes I plan to come up beforehand at least once and recce the route. I had a lovely private IM from a member who offered to show me some of the route, and also by chance I was talking with my next-door neighbour who has relatives a few miles from Haworth, and they've offered to put me up in their spare room. I also found out a few things about Haworth - not only the link with the Bronte sisters, but also seemingly it's twinned with Machu Picchu!

Farfromthefells - I think you're quite a way from me, but maybe we can meet halfway for a cuppa and some cake The various races sound good. I only picked the Yorkshireman because it sounded interesting, slightly eccentric and beautiful, so I'll be on the lookout for more next year. Out of curiosity, how do you run for Cambridge if you're local to Kent?

Thanks again to you all for replying and making me feel welcome. I can't wait to get going now.

Cheers,
Andy