Use our events finder to see or add a rating to any race.You need to join the site free, as a member first.
BUPA Great North Run by Firestarter
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: well worth the effort, enjoyed every mile!
In full: Absolutely brilliant, this was my first time at GNR and loved every mile!! The atmosphere was incredible, both from the runners and spectators. A little disappointed with my finish time,(I was never going to get a PB with that many people running), but hey, isn't that what makes us come back for more?
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by julie coopland
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: First timer but it won't be my last!!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Mark Symmonds
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: This is the 15th time I have participated in and completed the GNR. It is what it is, a race for the masses and very different to most other races in the UK. A fairly flat course and fairly enjoyable. I'll be back next year for 16.
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Neil30
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent, though heavily congested.
In full: This was my first half marathon, I've done a few 10km races previously, and I found it difficult to keep an even pace, which I'd done during training. I found myself slowing down and speeding up as I came up to people in front of me. This slightly tarnished my expectations of the race, but for the rest I found it very enjoyable and exceptionally well organised. I look forward to next year.
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Jonathan Shearing
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: You will want to go back and do it again
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Calum Harvie 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: If this race can't inspire you, nothing will...
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by satsumo
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great experience and a pb to boot on the way back to form after injury. Great to be started by Kelly Holmes and to see the man mountain Matthew Pinsent out there toughing it with the rest of us!
In full: Despite a lot of griping, I think that the GNR is well run as they have to consider a huge field of a far more mixed ability than a big city marathon. If you can run a quarter decent half marathon time, then you can get out of South Shields when there are less than 5000 people trying to. If you can't then the atmosphere and the crowds are a big part of why you're there so you should be prepared to take the rough with the smooth!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
The Windsor Half Marathon by AJ Thompson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: What, more hills?
In full: Good race, well organised but quite hilly. Good crowds and great atmosphere.
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Ross McElhinney
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Worth the pain year after year!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
Burnham Beeches Half Marathon by IAN CONNOR
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice scenery but felt them hills!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by yolanda baker 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: \my first time in New Castle doing 1/2 marathon will alwsyd be special
In full: Good day out but too many people and I think it need better organisation .
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by William Sommerville
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Below average race. Water stations were a farce and pre race pasta party a complete rip off.
In full: Below average race. Realise this race is more of a fun run but travelled long way merely to do a "personal worst" time. Started in correct (?) place but clearly majority of people did not. Passed hundreds of people walking witin first 2 miles.Water stations were a farce - why no signs saying e.g "Water 400 metres ahead on Left".People could then have gradually moved over to correct side
Pre race show not a patch on London. Bought tickets for "Pasta Party" at £6 each back in January, never again. Tickets then on sale per last magazine for £3 - this does not encourage pre-booking. As for the pasta - 11 pieces of ravioli for £6, come on GNR organisers, get real!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Jenny Fraser
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great atmosphere and well organised, cant wait till 2005
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
New Forest Marathon by IAN CONNOR
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: well organised ,friendly race-definitly undulating!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Ian Cooper 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Except for slower runners in the wrong place, good run to be involved in
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Lesley Thornton
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent
In full: I think most of its been said; walkers after the first mile. Better organisation at start. Water stations etc., Overall GNR is excellent and people still want to complete after 24 years. It will depend on its future with the new proposed system being introduced for 2005.
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Stig O'Hara
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Far too many people in it now. Staggered starts might be needed
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by chocolatelab
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A run/race like no other !
In full: There were a few problems ie water stations, yes the walkers within a mile, getting in and out of the meeting field was amazing! but for goodness sake there are over 50,000 people around. How better could they be organised. The bag buses work brilliant.
We finish and go in a few pubs and wait for the queue to the ferry to go down - which it does by around 5.00pm - thats all part of the day, maybe people should make it a long weekend like my husband and I do, have the Monday off.
Must be a completely different day if bad weather though.
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Davester
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A good day out. Not one for the ambitious club runners but just a fab day out
In full: It still disappoints me that the start is graded according to anticiapted running times and there are still plenty of poeple who get themselves as near the front as possible in fancy dress when obviously they will have no chance of finishing anywhere near to the times on the boards they are setting off next to. This spoils it for those who want to push themselves adn can't be much fun for those starting in the wrong place in the grid getting in the way of those who are trying to pass them. Three years ago we were passing snow white and the seven dwarfs just before the bridge!
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
BUPA Great North Run by Victory V
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Better basic organisation needed for an event this size
In full: Well I managed a PB! But then I also managed to clamber into a pen near the front - the large numbers of costume clad bucket carriers in the sub-1.40 pen and total lack of organisation at the start made me realise it was going to be free for all. I'd come here for the race, the occasion and atmosphere, but also as a warm-up for a marathon next month, so I sympathise with the people stuck behind walkers after two miles. The organisers should sort out the start - it's not rocket science - which would keep everyone happy. It can't be glossed over by saying it's just for fun and charity - if the race loses credibility as a competitive event, people will start to drift away and it will quickly start to look less Great.
Date of review: October 1, 2004
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
