Diddly Squat Run: My Half Marathon from The Farmer's Dog (and Why I Owe It All to Jeremy Clarkson)
- Jul 25
- 6 min read
By Andy Hood: runner, cancer survivor, and proof that a nudge from Jeremy Clarkson can change everything.
Cancer reimagined every aspect of my life. The lens I view the world through today is very different to the one I could ever have imagined. Regular readers of the blog will know the story by now: a hot summer evening's run, a shower, a prompt from Jeremy Clarkson and his Grand Tour co-hosts, and a testicular cancer diagnosis. It put me on a path I never saw coming.
My running evolved right alongside me. After an extended period out of the running shoes for an operation and chemotherapy, I went from running without any clear purpose to a place where every decision I make is made with strong intent.
Take 25th July 2026 as a clear example of that.
A half marathon you won't find on any race website
No bibs. No ballot entries. No finish-line arch. Just a solo half marathon from The Farmer's Dog to Diddly Squat Farm Shop, two places that fans of Clarkson's Farm know well, and judging by the crowds at both, places that people from all over the world have a genuine desire to visit.
But while it was a solo run, I was far from alone. I had the support of my family, with two of our sons and their girlfriends acting as cheer squad and support crew, capturing amazing photographs and video along the way and delivering an enthusiastic finish-line cheer. And then there were the teams at The Farmer's Dog and Diddly Squat, who welcomed us like old friends. More on them shortly.
The comeback
I'd originally planned this run for April. At the exact time I was due to set off, I was instead lying in the A&E department of Guildford hospital, having been taken in by ambulance a few hours earlier. My health had deteriorated in a matter of hours late on the Friday night, so much so that 111 was called, an ambulance dispatched, and more morphine than can possibly be good for anyone administered.
So this run was a real comeback. I needed to do it to prove to myself that I could rebuild again. That's been the story since 2021: Andy v2.0. Knocked down, rebuilt, laced back up.
Why here? Why Clarkson?
In April 2025 I ran a solo ultra from the centre of Oxford to Diddly Squat, via The Farmer's Dog. It was 34 miles to say thank you to a man whose words had a profound impact on my life. Without Clarkson, Hammond and May, there's a good chance I wouldn't be here to write this.
This year I wanted to do something again, to quietly recognise that debt and to support everyone else in the fight against cancer. When I dreamt this run up, I had no idea that news of Jeremy Clarkson's cancer diagnosis was coming. Viewers of Clarkson's Farm series 5 will have watched him share the news of an aggressive but early-caught prostate cancer, and the wonderful update that followed: he's now in remission. First Gerald, now Jeremy. Both caught early, both here to tell the tale. Early detection saves lives. It saved mine. The run felt more fitting than ever.
The t-shirt that started conversations
25th July was also the first outing for my new "Cancer Survivor: running for those in the fight" t-shirt. I designed it to grab attention and start conversations. It did both.
The one that will stay with me happened at Diddly Squat: a young lady, there with her parents, who shared that she'd been diagnosed with cancer in her teens and is now two years in remission. Standing in a farm shop car park in the Cotswolds, two strangers connected by the same fight. Those conversations are exactly why I do these runs, and they reinforce that the path I'm on is the right one.
The run itself
The day was hot, hitting around 33 degrees. The route was a mix of harvested fields, the ground so devoid of moisture it was like running on concrete, and quiet lanes threading through picture-postcard Cotswold villages.
Running across those recently harvested fields, stacked high with bales, it was impossible not to let the imagination wander. I pictured Kaleb bringing in the harvest, shouting at Jeremy to bring the trailer alongside to unload the grain and to stop dropping it all over the field, while Lisa remained perfectly calm, talking to the camera about how well the harvest is going this year. If you've watched Clarkson's Farm, you'll know exactly the scene I mean.
Before setting off we spent time with Mark at The Farmer's Dog. I'd met him on last year's ultra and we've stayed in touch; he showed the family around and chatted like we'd known each other for years. On arrival at Diddly Squat there was a warm welcome from Scott at Baste, who treated us all to their incredible burgers (you really must try one), and from Ben and Lara at the farm shop, who presented me with a wonderful bag of goodies. The best finisher's medal I've ever received.
Doing things outside the box, designing runs I enjoy, runs that grab attention and open conversations: that's the mission. And my run from The Farmer's Dog to Diddly Squat delivered on every one of those points.
Fancy your own Diddly Squat run (or just a visit)?
Whether you run it, walk it, or drive it, both ends of my route are open to visitors and well worth the trip. A few things worth knowing before you go (do check the official websites before travelling, as hours can change):
Diddly Squat Farm Shop
The farm shop Jeremy Clarkson opened in 2020, star of Clarkson's Farm and home of "bee juice," Hawkstone lager and an awful lot of potatoes.
Where: Chipping Norton Road, Chadlington, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 3PE
When: Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm, including bank holidays. Closed Mondays. The bar runs until 4:30pm and food is served until 3pm.
Worth knowing: It's card-only and the queues are real, so arrive early. The car parks close at 5pm sharp. Dogs are very welcome, and the Diddly Dogs are a regular fixture on the farm shop's Instagram. And Scott and the Baste team's burgers are, as I can now confirm from personal experience, outstanding.
The Farmer's Dog
Clarkson's pub, opened in August 2024 on the site of the old Windmill, and famously committed to a 100% British menu. Nothing foreign gets past the kitchen door.
Where: Asthall Barrow, on the A40 near Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4HJ. It's roughly nine miles from Diddly Squat, which makes for a very handy half marathon, as it happens.
When: Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays. The pub runs 11am to 11pm, with the Grand Tour tent (home to the outdoor kitchen, butcher and farm shop outpost) open from 9:30am. Bookings are taken for weekday dinner and Sunday carvery; lunch and drinks are walk-in.
Worth knowing: Dogs and children welcome. Look up when you're inside: there's a chrome tractor hanging from the ceiling, courtesy of Richard Hammond.
Clarkson's Farm
If you've somehow not seen it, Clarkson's Farm is the Amazon Prime Video series following Jeremy's attempts to run the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm. Series 5 landed in June 2026 and covers both the pub and, movingly, his cancer diagnosis. It's the show that built the crowds at both ends of my run and, in a roundabout way, the reason I'm still running at all.
Check yourself. Talk about it. Get anything unusual looked at early.
It worked for me, it worked for Jeremy, and it might just work for you.
Every mile I run this year is raising money for ChemoHero, a wonderful charity supporting people through chemotherapy. If this run made you smile, or made you think, please consider popping a pound in the pot. Every single donation helps someone facing the toughest days of their life.
If my story resonates, you can follow the journey, support the fundraising, or grab some Check Ya Balls merch here on the site. Every conversation counts.
Article written by
Andy Hood, ultra runner, cancer survivor and advocate
Article includes affiliate codes/links, I may receive a commission from any products or services you purchase, at no cost to yourself. This goes towards running this blog, bringing you interesting articles, and supporting my cancer charity fundraising with over £27,000 raised to date.
Comments