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BUPA Great North Run by sussexcarl
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great party atmosphere more than serious run. Just needs the start line sorted out.
In full: What a great day, and hats off to the organisers particularly at the end, where the runners were crossing the finish line at a rate of 10 per second when I finished. HOWEVER, why do runners have to be so unrealistic about their time expectancies? I was aiming for 2 hrs so I dutifully queued up at the 9 minute/mile part of the start line, and indeed I finished in 2 hrs 3 mins. Why then did I spend the entire run having to pick my way around hundreds of slower runners? They should not really have been ahead of me if they had started from the correct place. And if you do have to slow from a run to a walk, how about moving over to one side to get out out of the way of everyone else? These were the only negative points in an otherwise great experience. As to the answer, I guess there's not much one can do on such a large event other than perhaps introducing more colour-coded categories of numbers?
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by jo Bright
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: First time so happy to finish, walkers bit frustrating though
In full: Plus - well organised, fun and uplifting
Negatives - the walkers slowing down the start!
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Hassolhoff
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great atmopshere but far too many people...
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Tino
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: As a local this is a must on the athletics calendar, but make sure your positioned towards the front.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by bluemole
| | 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: The best race I have ever run
In full: My initial fear was not finishing, it was excellent, looking out for others running for yor charity.We ran for Motor Neurone Disease - one bloke came up and thanked us for running for MND, his mother had just been diagnosed.His comment made it all more worthwhile running.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by jonathan beamish
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great event, spoiled only by the sheer volume of runners who were inappropriately positioned at the start. It would be better to start the race in phases.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Slow Sue
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: My frst half marathon and I'm still high off the euphoria of not only completing it but also with a great time of 2:14 official and 2:09actual. The atmosphere was incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed every step.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by CosmicGaz
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Special, but...
In full: This is the perfect half marathon for someone like myself starting up running. Heart-warming to be cheered on by so many people. But, there's no doubt it would be better still if walkers and slow runners started in the right place.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by DanEdwards
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A top event but got a bit frustrating at times by walkers restricting my progress, expect I'll be back next year though.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Gordon Hutton
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good for getting people running.
In full: I feel guilty about saying it really cos I loved this one two years ago. The start was awfull. People obviously can't read 7 minute miles means you intend to run at 7 minute pace. Simple surely? Stopping dead on the road will mean you get bumped into....get over it or move over. Dropping your water bottle by your feet will cause the person behind you to have to jump to avoid it. This is a would be a great course if you could get away from the masses. Great atmosphere I must say.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Curtains
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: lets face it its there to get the masses out and fit. If your not elite or have a really slow PB your not going to improve much at the event . I wish they would have more than one start and use championchip timing it would make the timing fairer.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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Epsom College 10 by fuzzy mike
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Challenging 10miles of road and hills.
In full: Not for the weak of heart or knees. Tough going and challenging for begineers and intermediates (me). 10miles of tarmac, most of which seems uphill. A race you're glad and proud to finish, with aches and pains to prove it.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Kevin Furey
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Get rid of the people walking!
In full: A good event spoiled by "runners" walking in the middle of the road before we got to the Tyne bridge,and what felt like every mile afterwards.Can't the organisers ask these idiots to move to one side to let others get past? Apart from that a good day out, thanks to the marshalls and everybody who helped out.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Gareth (gettin' down and dirty)
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Superb day. Great atmosphere, great people, great organisation, very emotional. I'm hooked!
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Sheryl Barber
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Can't wait to do it again!
In full: Fantastic race. First time i've done it and would definetely do it again. Disappointed took 15 minutes to cross line and before I got to 1 mile had to dodge walkers!! Start needs to be looked at - chips should make for more accurate times. Friendly Geordies kept me going - great atmosphere
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Kate twigg
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Loved it - very emotional
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Danni Bailey
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Really enjoyed it, will never forget my first half marathon
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Lindsey Bain
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Elbows out!
In full: Managed to get close to my personal best (ignoring the 6 minute walk to the start line). The trick is to push your way through the walkers, elbows out! Very flat course, nice of the locals to give out sweets, oranges, and showers with a hose pipe. I had no trouble whatsoever getting out of South Shields - Finished under 2 hours and then sat around in the charity area watching the red arrows for about an hour. My advice is get the ferry and then the metro - as it seems like people who got the metro from south shields were the ones taht queued.
Championchips next year should get rid of the starting problems - Sotckholm half marathon had staggered start with bands of people according to previous race times. No weaving there.
Wish people would not stop when they get to water stations tho. Nearly tripped over several people!
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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BUPA Great North Run by Genie2010
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: first half-marathon, to be honest first race! Excellent start and sure gives you the running bug!
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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Faversham 10K by Memo
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good work out.
Date of review: September 28, 2004
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