Starting from the Pillars of Wisdom, this monthly VRR Tan Time Trial uses the "iconic Tan Track" around the Royal Botanic Gardens. It's a straightforward, practical run, not an elaborate event: line up, run hard, record your time, and check results afterward. The loop has served as a training ground for many local runners over the years, and the surface reflects that history.
The course is sealed and fast in sections, but the "challenging undulating course" requires genuine effort. Expect steady climbs, quick descents, "smooth sealed paths beneath magnificent elm trees", and glimpses of the gardens and skyline if you can spare a look. VRR members, visitors, beginners, and regulars participate; be mindful that the "rolling terrain demands respect", particularly if morning mist is present.