Windsor Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (279 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Gemma Tiley
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Gorgeous scenery, bad toilet organisation, too late start, very hot, a bit hilly, no goodybag!
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Simon Dixon 5
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Should start earlier
In full: Second time running the Windsor Half-Marathon. The run is basically enjoyable - a great setting, although quite challenging in places (those inclines at the end are a killer). Support around the course is excellent too, and there's a good atmosphere. But... why the hell does it start at 1pm? Presumably to allow people time to travel, but this is the second year in a row it's been unseasonably hot. Bottles of water need to be given out rather than 150ml plastic cups. The only other option is Lucozade which not everyone wants to drink. Took us 30 minutes to get out of the car park. Friends who'd arrived earlier took an hour and a half. All in all, a great setting, a good course, but organisation could be better.
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: SuperTed
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Never again.
In full: Good points: Good medal, pretty run.
Bad points: No goody bag, not a pb course, too hilly. But most of all the car parking was disastrous, well over 2 hours to get out, no communication, no organisation, just ruined the whole thing.
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Vicki Hammond
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: AWFUL ORGANISATION, LONG QUEUES FOR TOILETS AT THE START, NO GOODIE BAG AND BAD MARSHALS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR PARK AT THE END
In full: I had really high hopes for the Windsor Half Marathon and ended up leaving very disappointed with the way that it had been organised. I can't fault the course at all, the scenery was amazing and it is the most picturesque half marathon I have ever taken part in. It was frustratign queuing for the toilets at the beginning - there was no organisation, and no one knew what queue they were meant to be in. Also, when the ten minute whistle went there were still lots of supporters in the queue who weren't letting the competitors go first. Throughout the course it was a shame that there were cars and cyclists on the course......at one point there were cars in both directions, leaving nowhere for us runners. I couldn't believe that there was no goodie bag at the end of the race and that we only got a tiny Mars Bar at the end. And the communication at the end, with cars trying to get out of the car park, was a farce.......
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: FandangoUK
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hot, hilly, terrible journey
In full: Not an enjoyable day. Having left in enough time to get there 90mins early spent that 90mins stuck in roadworks on M25 and then M4. Got to the start some how at exactely 1pm and no time to take on water. Incredibly hot and hilly, limited water on route for the conditions and managed to accidentally drop a lucozade sport at 11mile mark. Back in the car after for another 3 hour journey home. Would like to do again but only if knew earlier start and journey would be better.
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Suzie Durham
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hot & hilly but worth it!
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: cdsman
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic event .... which came with a few glitches!
In full: I have just read all the reviews for yesterday's race and I am amazed at some poeple's negativity!
Whilst I agree with some of the comments - some of them are really petty!
My overall feeling driving home from this event was of the fantastic support all around the course! When we finished the 1st lap and came past the copper horse 5-6 miles... the supporters were incredible!!! They were clapping and cheering... it was how I imagine the Tour de France to be... with people crowding the road!
Yes it was hard, hilly and hard - but I loved it!!!
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Barry Macdonald 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: badly organised
In full: Traffic was horrendous, will not be doing again. 1pm start???? really messed with pre-race eating, couldn't work out when to eat beforehand, ended up empty on 8 miles!
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mark Street 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: very hot, very undulating, shocking car park, nice scenery
In full: my first half marathon, really nice setting, scenic, challenging course, lots of support and volunteers. Very hot (24C!), toilet queues and slightly disorganised. Car parking was shocking. took us nearly an hour to leave the site.
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Beware Of The Fish
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My Last Time
In full: As someone who runs in the Great Park on a regular basis you'd think that I'd know better by now wouldn't you, but I still entered. I know to cycle to the start to avoid the annual car park and road chaos, I know there are never enough toilets, and I know the drink stations aren't regular enough because it's always a boiling hot day, and I know you get nothing at the end (got to make profits somewhere). I entered in the hope it would be a cool day, but it wasn't, and I should have stayed at home. This race could be so much better, and running it in the morning would be the best change of all, then I might think about it again, but for now that was my last time.
Date of review: September 28, 2009
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