23rd Great North West Half Marathon * Runnner's World pacing race with pacers 7 to 12 minute miling*Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (31 votes). | 1 to 10 of 31 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 |
| The big picture (31 votes) | | Overall score | | 73% | | How many would do it again? | | 73% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 66% | | PB potential | | 83% | | Atmosphere | | 61% | | Organisation | | 68% | | Value | | 61% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 73% |
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2012 race reviewed by: westy37
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Love this race .
In full: Got my PB under 1:30 by running with or just in front of the runners world pacer , big thank you goes out Steve , cheers mate.
Date of review: May 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Beefheart 4
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: terrible race rude organisers
In full: total chaos. rude organisers. horrible. fylde coast running races are expensive and terrible value for money
Date of review: March 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Shepley woman
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very poor organisation
In full: First off this is a good flat course and good for PB(if not windy) Blackpool sea front is Blackpool sea front. I was staggered at the amount of dog dirt on the front - however all of that is outside of the orgnisers control.
What is in their control was the total chaos at the start by bringing all the runners to the line through the start meaning many of the slower runners could not get to the back. I last did this in 2010 and then the loop towards the tower was midway through the race not at the start. This lead to lapping many runners over the last 3 miles. No instruction was given at the start for lapped runners to stay left and not impeed the faster runners. The worst culprit for this was the runners world pace group blocking the whole course. However one thing that did plesantly surprise me was the number of runners lapped who shouted encouragement after i passed them - thanks to all of you - I found all marshalls and the chip collectors friendly and encouraging that however can not be said of the staff at the Hilton who appear to have been on a "how to be rude and aggressive to potential customers" course prior to the event. Having paid £20 to enter why cant numbers and chips be posted ? I am not to bothered by goody bags full of flyers that go straight in the bin, but I just dont get a pair of 50p non running socks ! What was the point in that ? The medal was a vast improvement on the one given in 2010
This could be a fantastic race but it does leave a bitter taste for the price charged you do come away thinking it was organised on the cheap .
Date of review: March 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: AF_MURPHY
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Overall Good Race.
In full: PB potential - get in front of the pacers at the start of the race though or you'll be blocked in - everyone congregates around the pacers and with the sea walls, it's a fight to get past them. Apart from that, and no gun at the start it was a good race. Thought we may be queing for ages to get race number and chip, but that was well organised - only took 5 mins. Plenty of parking down side roads unless you're looking to park 10 yards away from the start line! Water tables were Ok and marshalls were friendly - I think helping to take the tops of the bottles slowed things down though - bottles were good. See ya next year.
Date of review: March 3, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: slowhand
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great medal.
In full: Once again a well organised race on the coast,thanks to all who helped especially on a cold day.Perfect race weather and a great medal and I am sure the pacers helped a lot of runners.
Well done to all involved,plenty encouraging marshals.
Date of review: March 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: R-Mark
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Always a well organised and friendly race. A good early season race to target with PB potential if you're in good shape. My third entry in five years and will probably return again.
In full: Always a well organised and friendly race. A good early season race to target with PB potential if you're in good shape. My third entry in five years and will probably return again.
A big thanks to the guy in union jack kit who pushed me on over the final mile to a PB.
Date of review: March 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Pagester
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Most things have been said really. Parking wasn't good, toilets weren't enough. People trying to use the Hilton were rudely turned away and told to use the outside portaloos, even though the queues were so long you would miss the start of the race.I couldn't quite believe the goody bag - decent medal but the rest??? Strange socks?? Not running socks. For what is one the most expensive halfs I've done in the UK this was disappointing. We all know the goody bag is not why we do races, but even so, especially with the price, I expected more. I appreciate chip timing increases costs, but it's not like there's the cost of road closures, and I thought we had the prestigious support of Hilton Hotel.
One other gripe, as someone who travelled 140 miles to attend- couldn't the race number and chip be sent out in advance? I sent a SAE for this, but still had to collect on race day, which isn't ideal. And placing race results on the door of the registration office- people seemed very offended that others needed to get in and out whilst they were perusing the results.
Date of review: March 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Mr Minty
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: At least it was a day out.
Date of review: March 1, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Orbutt
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Friendly and fast - good fun
In full: This was my first ever Half, so I've nothing to compare it to but I can talk from a beginners point of view.
I stayed at the Hilton so had none of the problems with loos. Registration was straight forward.
I enjoyed the Piper but I wasn't trying to get into the zone I was just soaking it up.
The start was a bit back to front, as the way to the start took us to the front but I easily found my way to where I wanted to be - thanks to the Runners World pacers and their lollipops.
I did hear a gun fire but that was at 10.55, so I'm not sure what happened for the 11.00 start.
Marshalling was very good - and I found them to be encouraging (thanks guys).
I didn't run with a pace group but those that I saw were great, encouraging everyone and metronomic in their accuracy. Congratulations.
I can see why people were upset by the goody bag but I loved the medal. Yes, they were just handed out with no ceremony but I was ok with that. Let's try to forget the socks, eh ;o)
One other thanks, to the people removing the timing tags at the end, They were frozen but still friendly.
I enjoyed this event.
Date of review: February 29, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Maxpower North West
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Well organised. Fast course if the wind stays away!
In full: This is a really good race and is very well organised. The only area for improvement for me would be the baggage area which was really just a pile of bags and in no way secure.
Like most Fylde races, if the wind stays away the course will be fast.
Date of review: February 29, 2012
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