The competition’s races are short, intense and not for the faint of heart or the easily bruised. The organization of the race itself is as informal as it can possibly get. If you want to enter, you just show up and do it. There are no application fees or forms. Traditionally, it’s been held by and for the people of the local village Brockworth, about a mile away from Cooper’s Hill, but it’s grown a bit beyond that to attract international attention in the past few years. Last year’s competition attracted more than 5,000 people, but previous years have attracted upwards of 15,000 (in 2009—the last officially-organized event).