British 10KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (606 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: Shrek !
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great Race - Poor Organisation
In full: This was my first organised event of this kind - London is great and the scenery and atmosphere really good. The Toilets were a joke - about 30 loos for 25000 people ! Delayed my start by 1/2 hour and the finish was a shamble - no medals or goody bags left and I was about half way through so only the front section were worthy of such things !
Would I do it again - certainly but I would pay little notice of event organisers recomendations and do my own thing.
Date of review: July 9, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: mark owen
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not a patch on 2007. Too many runners with bad manners
In full: I have run this race for the last 2 years. The atmosphere was not as good as last year. I wasn't that slow and was weaving to get past people yet was getting barged from arrogant runners coming through who frankly should know better. The start is a joke. I was earlier than last year yet queued up for ever (or at least that is how it felt). I agree with comments about timing chips, it is a race crying out for them. Poor goody bags, and I would suggest do away with so many water bottles at drinks stations. Can the not do cups ? It is a hazard otherwise and such a waste in this day an age.
Date of review: July 9, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Kerry King
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Worst race I've ever entered!
In full: Hardly any toilets. The worst "goody" bag ever. Shambolic finish area. Half an hour to cross start line - the only positive being we got to see the elite runners pass us while we were waiting - they finished before we even crossed the start line!
Date of review: July 9, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: TrevK
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Low to medium expectations were met
In full: This could be a great must-do race but
too many runners for the road,
not enough toilets,
minimal organisation at the start,
the quality of the plastic goody bag was far superior to the contents.
The positive is as always the scenery and I will come back again in a few years time.
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Marcus Clegg
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Needs timing chips and better goodie bag, but loved the experience!
In full: This was my first organised 10k run, after a couple of 5k. Arrived there in plenty of time. Deposited bags without a problem, then made our way to the first 'mustering point'. Mildly amusing marshall trying to get everyone off the pavement, when there clearly wasn't any more room on the road. Got over the start line after 2 minutes, which I didn't think was bad. Despite warnings in the race pack, there were several people climbing over the 8ft barriers at the start. Only the first 100 finishers were recorded - out of a field of 26,000, that was the biggest disappointment. Timing chips are a must for next year, I feel. I took 5 minutes off my 10k PB. A few arrogant runners turned up late... thought they could just clap, and people would part in front of them. Anyone who didn't get out of the way quick enough got elbowed in the chest! My view is, if you wanted to use this run to set a PB, then turn up early enough to get a spot by the front! The goodie bag was disappointing - the £25 Asics voucher and t-shirt in the pre-race pack were more useful. Went to the loo at the hotel before the race, so didn't need to use the facilities. Only other tip for next year would be more advanced warning for the water stations - some did almost descend into scrums as people tried running sideways across the road to reach them. Would I do it again? Definitely! Just about to enter next years race.
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: bernard disken
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Only atttraction is to run through Westminster without having to do the marathon,
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Paul Treadwell 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great race if you are at the front
In full: I got there to drop off my bag at 8am. Queued for the toilet for 5 mins. Waited in one of the staggered pens for ages but it was well worth it as when we eventually walked through to the start we realised that we were almost at the front. Took 30 secs to get through the line so apart from having to zigzag like mad for the first km it was fine. I admit it looked rough at the back and positively dangerous with all those half drunk water bottles (it's only a 10k race for goodness sake).
I actually managed a PB of 49mins (4th race this year) but you have to be prepared to get there early to stand a chance.
Will be there next year but will get there earlier still. Waiting in a crowd of likeminded people for 90mins was all part of the fun. Might not be so great if it was raining though....
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Stephen Graham
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A disappointing race having travelled a long way. The start was horrific and threw health and safety considerations out of the window. Chip timing is also a must in future.
In full: This was the most disappointing race of the fourteen I have taken part in during the past nine months. The only plus is the amount of money I have raised for my chosen charity. There were massive health and safety issues at the start and the crush put paid to my chance of a personal best as I found myself having to avoid slower runners. Surely, a wave system at the start similar to the Great Manchester Run or time pens as in Leeds would have reduced the risk of injuries and made the race more pleasurable for all. The absence of chip timing was also surprising. It is unlikely that I will enter again next year.
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Matt Selman
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Truly awful - cynical organisation, bordering on dangerous
In full: This is easily the worst race I've run. Please don't do it - it may force them to change.
Only reason you might consider it is if you're doing a one-off race for charity. Even then, there are several much better runs where you won't get 'pushed along'
Otherwise, don't bother. Asics are out for maximum profit and have made absolutely no effort to make this value for money. Unfortunately, enough people enter each year that they have no incentive to improve.
Organisation would be comical if it wasn't dangerous - only enough space for half that many people and amazed I saw no accidents. No martials, km markers virtually invisible, no chip timing (for £30 - they're having a laugh!), no time waves, wastefully big bag that was almost empty, confused crush at end.
You get the general idea...
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Beanie Queenie
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Poor organisation, but a fun race
In full: The staff were rude and very unhelpful, espcially at baggage reclaim. Goodie bag was poor (I know you shuldn't do it for the bag but entry was £30!). Start was terrible as everyone was thrown in together. (I imagine this was worse for serious runners.)I put my self kind of middle to back section (was aiming for 1 hour finish)but found many slow walkers infront (in the middle of the road) just 1k into the race which I had to get past and saw many serious runners trying to zip past everyone. Wave system would have been much better for eveyone! However there was a lot of support and music along the way which was nice. Lots to improve on for next year.
Date of review: July 8, 2008
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