Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well organised, great atmosphere
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: A very well organised event
In full: Stonking run round beautiful coutryside (apart from a strange little bit around the six mile mark which went through a housing estate? - but no matter!) Just a shame that the organisers couldn't arrange for slightly more hospitable weather (the chill winds blew) but at least it stayed dry for the most part. Very nice touch that the finish is in an athletics track too as you have huge support as you cross the line. A very positive experience which I will definitely be repeating.
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Great race again. Too hot for a pb this year but that helped to bring out support
In full: Always a great race. The organisation is excellent and atmosphere friendly. I would have preferred the finish line bottle of water at 1/2 way, but this is a minor gripe. A good race for the newcomer as there's a huge entry list and plenty of encouragement (especially from the pub crowd!). I must agree that chip timing would be a nice touch although the finsh queue runs smoothly.
Well done again DK!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A tough race on a hot, hot day.....
In full: A wee bit demoralising for the full marathon runners as a stream of relay runners overtook every six miles. Crowd needed a good shake-up too - cheer,clap, shout encouragement, don't just watch me suffer!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well organised. Will be back
In full: Seemed well organised, nice scenic route with some challenging bits. Nightmare to get out of car parks, but will be back. Thanks all for a well organised race.
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Silverstone/Silson Joggers- we love you!
In full: My 2nd time at Silverstone and again, a great evening.Very well organised and marshalled.....a fantastic surface to run on...the experience of completing a race circuit.......parking near start/finish.......fab refreshments stall (!!)....and a T-shirt thrown in at the end...what more could you want! Well done Silson Joggers, see you next year!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: My third run here and its a great race.
In full: Thanks to the organisers and the marshalls. A very well supported race mile 3-4 is a bit tricky with more mud than I remember, but still a fantastic race with a challenging finish.
Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A good race but being my home town I might be biased
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Hill?... or a mountain?
In full: What a great race! This was a surprisingly very well organised race (surprisingly because its the residents that organise it rather than a running club - some lessons could be had here by some other clubs!). The route goes as follows: slight incline, round a bend, gets steeper, round another bend, gets steeper, runner looks up to see a wall of concrete, blinks a few times, realises its actually more road to run up (a 1-in-4 climb), digs in and just keeps going!!! The croud really helped at this point with their cheers of encouragement - possibly helped by the fact there is a pub just here to keep them interested! Despite the massive build up of lactic acid in the legs (they were very jellyfied) and the burning/freezing sensation in the throat and lungs I would definately do this again. Certificate is a nice change to a t-shirt or medal too. Bring on next year's!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great for the money! Actually 5.30 Miles.
In full: This race was set in a lovely scenic area, running along quiet roads and dirt tracks. There were a couple of good features such as the aeroplanes flying over head, running alongside the runway, a stream through a tunnel and lets not forget the 'killer' hill!

The marshalling could have been better, and I expected better from such a big club. There were cars pushing their way through and driving very close passed people still running (i am happy to say i wasnt one of them...but thats not the point!)..This was a bit dangerous, not to mention rude from the drivers with disgruntled faces.

Dont let the drivers put you off tho as this was only the last section of the race. Perhaps a better area for the finish next time?

I did enjoy the rest of the route and will probably do it again. But this is definately not a PB potential race as it is actually 5.30 miles, NOT 5 miles. No memento but what do you expect for less than a fiver?
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Brilliant race, Brilliant atmosphere
In full: This race has been on my calender for several years now - it is still one of my favourites. Hills are challenging - but the whole experience is great - good for spectators too with the May Day fete!!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Scenery beautiful. Race tough but enjoyable. Will be back next year.
In full: Don't want to put a downer on this excellent race, but the organiser's request for people not to leave the car park before the majority of runners had finished, was largely ignored. This meant a lot of runners had traffic to navigate on their approach to the finish. I'm not sure what the solution is to this as I believe they aren't allowed to close the road, but maybe a little bit more respect (or a different parking location)from those runners/drivers who feel the need to ignore the views of the majority and leave 5 minutes after they've finished the race. Overall though a first class event.
Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A good route, needs better planning
In full: I've done this event a number of times and enjoy the route, challenging but not too harsh. This year there were a lack of distance markers towards the end, the water station at 6/7K ran out of water at times, which on a hot day is unforgivable. The Start is very crowded and there is a harepin turn after about 50 yards, they need to re-think the start position with this many people. The finish was also shambolic with people queing for ages to get a T-Shirt. A real shame as in other years I've really enjoyed it and not encountered any issues. Considering the entry fees, they should sort these issues out!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Good support, let down by route
In full: Although this was my first marathon, i got the impression that it was more for the relay runners than for marathon runners.
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Very warm evening, but a good atmosphere with PB potential
Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: A very popular seafront race organised by Canterbury Harriers. No significant problems to report except for the course being a bit too narrow at times. A very quick course so a good race to target a PB!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: My first 10K was a very enjoyable experience
In full: Laid back start and attractive course made for an enjoyable morning,. Complimentary Red bull and post race orange juice well recieved. Nice medal and excellent marshalling completed an excellent introduction to my 10K running. Water station at mid point and each mile marked out.
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:

In short: Good run, need to sort out the relay changes, and small bottles instead of cups would have been better.
In full: This was my 4th marathon. A few things need to be addressed. The relay change over points, what a nightmare that was, especially the first one, things did get a bit better at some of the others, but the relay runners (sorry more like walkers, as most seemed to walk as soon as they started, don't think a lot of training was done for some) they were all over the place, just stopping in front of us marathon runners, looking for their change over! Also, what was with the cups of water, I have never had cups on a marathon, there is a technique to drinking out of a cup, which I have not quite got the hang of, sometimes (on half marathons) you can squeeze the cup, but these were polystyrene! But saying all that I did get a PB, as I had a disaster run at London last year with the heat, I was out to prove something to myself, and I found the route really quite challenging but good, we run in the Forest of Dean, its hilly and it did us proud all that training. Overall the crowds were great, apart from the stupid woman who crossed over in front of me just as I was going around the corner to the finish in the park, I nearly fell and had to grab hold of her!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: mixed thoughts
In full: This was my first full marathon, so I've no other marathon events to compare to. On the plus side, I didn't find the course as hilly as I had read about. There were a few minor inclines (nothing compared to the Donegal mooathon!), and a steep descent at one point, but overall the course was flat. Also the croud support was welcoming, especially through the last couple of miles! There were plenty of water stops and first aid points en-route too.

A few points which I feel could be improved upon, most of which has already been covered:

1. Collection point for race number was quite remote and difficult to get to.
2. The mile markers need to be bigger and clearer - I must have missed over half of them, especially towards the end.
3. The run over cobbles around mile 22 ish was difficult on tired legs.
4. Lack of energy drinks throughout the race, especially earlier on.
5. Having to dodge walkers at the start - couldn't they start in a different zone at the back?
6. I though the packet of crisps at the finish could be improved upon. I got a flapjack at Omagh 1/2 and that was better for me.
7. An early start at 9am, a little later would suit those having to travel in.




Date of review: May 9, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Unobtrusively well organised
In full: Yet again a highlight in the running calender. A mildly challenging course that tests strength as well as speed, so well organised that it felt like pulling on my shoes and going out for a run. Well done all at DK for another triumph, see you next year - if you could arrange the same weather that would be great too!
Date of review: May 9, 2008

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