Events

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: Well organised 20 mile road race
In full: Really enjoyed this one - 2 laps of country roads, well marshalled at every point - with lots of drink stations, some with energy drinks.
Friendly atmosphere, first lap included the runners doing the ten mile race as well.
Decent goodlie bag, loved the Roadrunner medal (although a separate medal for 20 mile runners would have been nice)
Use of the school with tea and coffee on sale was great, the weather was great but the school would have been especially useful on a cold, wet day
Somehow managed to squeeze a pb, my friend also pb'd so all in all a good day!
Thank you to the Reading Roadrunners! :)
Date of review: February 21, 2013

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

In short: A Good Pre-London Workout
In full: The 20 ticked the all boxes that I was looking for, right time in the training, close to home, OK value, good organisation.

On the day I arrived to see a long queue of traffic, but was surprised by the organisation to move it into the car park and take £1 at such speed. The mile to the start worked as a warm-up which had most of the facilities that you need (can any race ever have enough toilets?). The start worked well with the 10 & 20 mixed in. The course itself was well marked including every pot-hole, which after this winter that is a very large number and must of taken a considerable effort. The first lap went by uneventfully and this time I avoided racing those running 10 miles. On the second lap the course became a little lonely and only about half of the marshals were cheering by that point. Then someone sneaked in a few hills that I'm sure weren't there on the first lap. After running 20M at marathon pace (according to my Garmin) it was a bit disheartening to find I still had 0.15M to run meaning I just missed 2hrs. I'm not sure if the course was long or the fact that I took the marshals directions to run on the left or I was weaving about like a drunk at last orders meant I ran too far but it was annoying.
The goody bag was way more generous than I expected and the food and drink was well recieved.
In short I would run it again in the build-up to a marathon
Date of review: February 20, 2013

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

In short: Very well organised race along scenic country lanes.
In full: Did the 20 as part of my build up to Paris Marathon in early April and much preferred to a training run for nearly 3 hours in my own company! Arriving on a cold morning in fog and faced with a long queue for the car park my mood wasn't great. Within minutes I was in and parked followed by a stroll back to the school HQ where the atmosphere buzzed. The gun went on time and lo and behold by mile 2 the fog had cleared and we were treated to what felt like an early spring sunny day. The mood of the marshals was equally cheery and although the crowds were thin there were enough "well run"s and "keep going"s to satisfy anyone. An undulating but far from tough course. Home made sandwiches and cakes in hall at the finish a bonus. Oh, and a goody bag better than many supposedly bigger races. One for the diary.
Date of review: February 19, 2013

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

In short: Good course - will be back
In full: Excellent marshalls support, especially the enthusiastic lady advising us of pot holes,my only gripe was the queues for toilets.
Date of review: February 18, 2013

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

In short: Great race
In full: One of my local races so I'm biased and it always helps if the sun shines!
Bag drop worked really well this year, great tea and cakes.
Agree with another review about runners dropping gel sachets, I was behind a chap who just threw his into the bushes, why not carry it a bit further to drink station?
Date of review: February 18, 2013

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

In short: Good all round event.
In full: Good distance race at the right time of the year with good organisation, great marshals, good rewards (medal and goodie bag) and suitably tired legs and a warm glow of satisfaction.
Date of review: February 18, 2013

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

In short: A very well organised race, with a very friendly atmosphere
In full: My first entry for the 20 mile race and really enjoyed it. I wasn't put off by the fact that there were two circuits, and found the second 10 easier than the first. Probably due to sensible pacing.

No problems with the toilet facilities which were adequate. The Marshalls were very friendly and encouraging, and the drinks stations were situated at just the right places.

A generous goody bag, but a bit disappointed that there was no engraved wine glass, as had been received by running friends in the past.

I suggest that the race organisers make runners aware, in their race pack, that they should allow extra time, in case the level crossing gates are down. This does cause a long tail back of cars, and as there is a mile walk to the start from the MoD car park, late arrivals could well miss the start.
Date of review: February 18, 2013

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

In short: More loos next year please
In full: Great marshals, generous goody bag and friendly locals. Will come back next year.
Date of review: February 18, 2013

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

In short: military organisation
In full: lovely run, really really well organised, lovely marshalls. my 1st 10 mile run, was hard work but well worth it. great training for the reading half!
Date of review: February 17, 2013

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

In short: Extremely well organised event
Date of review: February 17, 2013

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