Coastal Half-Marathon, Portsmouth  Here's how RW members rated this race (182 votes). | The big picture (182 votes) | | Overall score | | 82% | | How many would do it again? | | 84% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 73% | | PB potential | | 64% | | Atmosphere | | 71% | | Organisation | | 75% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 74% |
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2013 race reviewed by: Hill Monkey
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Need to have some more drink stations and change the route at the western end
In full: Great fun race but there needs to be more drinks stations and the route from Pyramids to the west (old town) and back was marred by lots of joe public milling about near the arcades and fast food restaurants.
Date of review: February 24, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Steve Hughes 11
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Surprisingly pretty and well organised
In full: Really enjoyed this race. Despite being in a largish city there was plenty of parking, no extreme queues at the toilets, and easy to understand directions. The weather was glorious which helped make the views and the scenery look really pretty and the terrain was challenging but didn't impede anyone who had trained hard and was looking for a good time. The only slight gripe I had was I wore off-road trainers as the pre-race notes suggested it would be a mud bath and there would be lots of off-road running. In fact the vast majority was on concrete and the off-road bits would have easily been dealt with in my normal trainers. However this was a small issue that (only) I had so no real complaints.
Date of review: February 21, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Chris Carey 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A flat race with a mixture of surfaces
In full: Enjoyed the race - though the weather may have had a significant contribution. Scenery was ok, but i didn't like the council estate section after the park (mile 5ish), but this was only minimal section and needs must in an urban setting. Finished mid pack so had no problems with the goody bags etc, that others have indicated, though the funnel was sooooo slooowwww. Dodging strollers added to the fun but the trail sections on the sea shore became a bit traffic jam. My only issues were open cups of water as i like to sip a bottle as i run and the final U-turn was not really indicated clearly, and i was pooped by then and looking for home - but both really minor issues that wouldn't stop me doing it again. Spoke to some marshalls collecting signs in the afternoon and they indicated local scrotes had robbed some which may explain some of the other comments regarding signage. Overall a good race, just not perfect.
Date of review: February 21, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Emma Woolerton
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: This is for the coastal half, run in February
In full: Third time I've done this (first in fancy dress). The course is lovely. I managed to run a bit more than I should have at the second turning point--a bigger, clearer sign next year might be nice. A lovely medal, and though at the back I had food, sports drink tablet, water, shampoo sample and 15% off voucher for a local sports store in my goody bag, which seemed reasonable (I got nothing but adverts in a carrier at a 10K that cost more than this a couple of weeks ago). Many more people on the course at the end than the first time I ran it (2010, when the driving wind and rain might have made an impact), but to be fair that is mentioned in the race literature as a possibility. All in, I love this one, just for being something so different and friendly.
Date of review: February 19, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Sarah Evans 19
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: poor organisation, rubbish goody (if you got one!) and expensive
In full: I ran with a friend who was doing her first half. From the begining it lacked organistion, we arrived at 7.30am to collect our numbers and were kept waiting for 20 mins with no explanaton or apology. There was a serious lack of signs and marhsalls. A group of us got lost between 5 and 7. the last 3 miles were dangerous dodging pedestrians and with vertually no signs we had to guess where to go and we had to ask other runners who had finishes where to go. The goody bags were a carrier bag with some leaflets. I won't be doing again it again which is a shame for such a worthy cause.
Date of review: February 18, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: DENISE WIGHT 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: nice coastal half but not enough signage
In full: shame about the signage...spoilt what would nave been lovely run. saw people going wrong on langstone common, we were only kept on track cos saw mile marker from the car on the way in!
agree with previous that as a slow back runner felt our goody bag was a bit sparse and no water! needs a few little tweaks to make it a great race.
Date of review: February 18, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Liz Ayling
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Organisation needs improving!
In full: As a local I knew the route well, thankfully I did as there was a general lack of signs and marshalls throughout the course. Can quite understand how people went wrong !
I enjoyed the race, it was hard along the beach and muddy along Bransbury Park, so energy zapping and unlikely to get a PB... but good fun all the same...
I agree with other comments about the seafront being busy and as the weather was good there were lots of pedestrians and hazards along from mile 10 onwards. Not sure what you can do about that unless you went for an early start perhaps?
One thing I have to comment on is the lack of drinks at the finish... I know I finished 813 out of 943 runners, but really there should be drinks ready for everyone at the end. A bottle of water in the goody bag would have resolved that one.
A good course, but needs some attention!
Date of review: February 18, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Dawnieeee
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In full: I am one of the slower runners and due to lack of adequate marshalling ran an extra 600m which wasn't fun! If you're not part of the main pack and you dont know the course, it is not a great boost of confidence having to weave your way around a very busy esplanade, particularly having run off course - with others - earlier on. Mile markers were not present every mile, as the publicity indicated. Pleased to have completed the run in such fabulous weather but disappointed with the inadequate marshalling and signposting and having to do all the crowd weaving for the last 4 miles. Most of the goodies had run out by the time I finished and I wasn't at the very end at all. Come on organisers - surely we should all feel like winners whether we are first or last???
Date of review: February 18, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Nick Clarke 8
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great but dangerous!
In full: What a great race but left dissappointed! Fantastic multi-terrain course which is really challenging but has great potential for a quick time. Lots to see on-route and plenty of digging in on the harder sections. The goodie bag as top notch and takes alot of beating compared to other events of this size. Only thing that needs addressing is the organisation of the route. Some areas were extremely badly signposted and the seafront was simply too busy with pedestrians for a race of this size. Nobody knew a race was going on and as the sun was out, lots of people were enjoying a weekend stroll. Bang, 2000 runners thrown into the mix and it starts to get dangerous. Saw several fallers and i almost fell over someones dog - not their fault at all but something needs to be done by the organisers to address this. Not fair on the runners or by those trying to enjoy their weekend
Date of review: February 18, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Possum hopper
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In full: LOVE this event. It is multi terrain and I like that. Slightly different route this year due to muddy coastal path so that threw me a bit but I understood why. Very friendly run, great mix of abilities, gorgeous weather - and I did this in 2010 when it was just dire !! A challenge to wend your way through the happy sunny seeking strollers along the seafront but I was expecting that and just kept my wits about me. I have no problems with that. Fantastic goody bag - the freebies just kept coming !!! Thanks to organisers for putting on yet another great event.
Date of review: February 18, 2013
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