Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		60%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Special event but felt overcrowded compounded by runners of varying abilities mixed together.
In full: Heard on Monday morning about the sad deaths of 4 fellow runners and like the previous writers would pass my sympathies to all the families concerned.
The run itself felt overcrowded compounded by participants of varying abilities mixed together. It may be that clearer guidance on where to start dependant on ability, the effect it has on others if you overestimate your ability and some etiquette guidance in the pre-race literature could help. If you accept the for a lot of people this was a huge challenge, with great support and atmosphere, raising substantial monies for charity it is a special event. Saying all that, the entry fee is criminally high, Worth doing once but probably wont do it again.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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

In short: Fantastic but crowded
In full: First half. In hindsight running at pace was difficult due to sheer volume of runners which I anticipated at the start but not along the entire route.
Lack of bottled water at the Start could have made a big difference to my performance(even an official ahd no idea where the water was either!). Hope the very unlucky few didn't have this problem.
Sympathies to families of the four souls lost on Sunday.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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

In short: What a fantastic day
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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

In short: Nice event to say that you have done
In full: Too Hot? Not a race for a PB? Come on, it was warmish and all your training should have been done during the summer so everyone should have been used to the heat! I stood in my allocated place at the 6min mile marker and was not held up by any walkers or slow runners etc, in fact was only 25secs off my PB - so no complaints here about getting away from the start.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great Race, Difficult to get a good pace going due to number of runners, very stop/start at times
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great event in theory, but spoiled somewhat by the dead runners.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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

In short: A good experience
In full: Difficult to add much to what has already been said. If you want a quick time get there early and stand with Paul Tergat. There were plodders aplenty, more than I had expected. Highly irritating to be held up by morbidly obese walkers within the first 400 yds but I know for next time. Having said that, I'll probably do it again.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%

In short: 1st time at this race - Amazing, well worth it
In full: I ran this for the first time this year, as did my husband. Both thoroughly enjoyed but no chance of PB's. Agree with other runners, spent a lot of time weaving in and out even just 3 feet from the start line. I have nothing against walkers participating but for their own good and the good of others they should not be near the front of the line. Took 28 mins to reach the start line. Pleased that we both finished, very very sad to hear about the deaths of those four men - their family and friends are in our prayers.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Too many people, and too long to get away afterwards
In full: As many other people have said, I made the mistake of lining up in the correct place at the start, only to find that several thousand people had ignored the appropriate time and got as close to the front as possible. I must have run 18 miles in total, weaving around the road passing people who had stopped to walk - some in the first mile !! The last mile felt like five despite the support from the crowd.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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

In short: sensational
In full: It's obvious that starting position, ability & expectations, dramatically influence your opinion of the race.

I guess I was lucky. For me it was sensationally organised. There was plenty of water at all of the stations. The crowds and fellow participants were exceptional. I loved the en-route music and after 1 race I have become a GNR convert.

From talking to others, it does appear that more 'runners' would enjoy it if the start was staggered.
Date of review: September 20, 2005

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