Dunstable 20 Mile ChallengeHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (110 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Tags
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Actually did 10-mile. Good course, poor markers
In full: I did the 10 Mile sub-race, which I really enjoyed and I was doing a great personal time. Unfortunately a lot of people got lost on the course as the markers were poor / moved. Less than a mile from the end myself and another runner both took a wrong turn and ended up lost in the woods. I reckon we ran well over 11 miles in total in the end finding our way back.
I'd recommend it, I am a non-club runner but did not feel intimidated, but they need to get better organised next year.
Date of review: September 28, 2006
|
|
2006 race reviewed by: Jim B
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great fun and perfect pre-marathon training.
In full: It was great to run in such a friendly event, where almost everyone could target just finishing instead of chasing a PB. I've seen all the other comments and agree with many of them. I didn't mind the lack of mile markers but wouldn't have minded them at 5, 10 and 15 miles. I also took several wrong turns and I promise you I did have my eyes open. I ran the last 6 or 7 miles alone and had no-one to follow. The winner told me he went the wrong way twice. This is a terrific route through a lovely area and we had good weather too. Five more marshalls and ten more arrows would make all the difference. I believe that word of mouth will attract more entrants in years to come. All of the race-day helpers were as helpful as you could ask. I hope to return next year. In the meantime I'll be starting a petition to get that bloody ploughed field paved over.
Date of review: September 18, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: a.k.a "billy"
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic day out in the Downs
In full: Firstly i should say i am a local but even bearing this in mind i really enjoyed myself.
My thanks to my fellow runners it was great to meet you something i never seem to do or have time to do when at a road race. I ran a PW for 20 miles but i don't care i had a great time.
Date of review: September 18, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: chumsy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: a real feelgood race
In full: A fantastic offroad event which was my first try at offroading. Fantastically friendly runners and superb organisation. I will be back in 2007
Date of review: September 18, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: snook
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: a tough but fun 20 miler
In full: Great event ran this year in very warm sunshine.
The course is run through beautiful countryside with a few big hills.
4 well stocked feed stations with a choice of water or squash and also sweeties and bits of mars bars.
At the finish you are also given a roll and cake and a cup of tea as part of your entry fee.
Thank you to the organisers see you next year
Date of review: September 18, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Kelvin Prince
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Very friendly race.. as many styles as miles!
In full: This is a great race which has many things going for it. Very friendly organisers and runners, some stunning scenery from the downs, choice of water/juice/biscuits/mars bars and sweets at the drink stations and free food for the finishers! This race oozes the feel good factor, but is let down badly by one thing and that’s the course marking. For those not familiar with the area, or a member of the local running club, trying to follow the route if you lose the runner in front of you is complete guess work at parts. An effort has been made to mark out the course with red streamer at key points, but often these could be missed, or didn’t give you an indication of which way you should be turning. I went off course twice – once with one other, and the second time with about six runners – so still persists as a problem. I think this could be easily fixed with 10 – 15 fluorescent arrows hammered into the ground the morning of the race by someone on a Mountain bike. The course is tough already, and so with the problems following it, had to mark down on beginner friendliness – but no reflection on the friendliness of either the organisers or runners. I hope that the marking improves next year as the runners I spoke to after the race, like I thought that they got everything else spot on. Well done to the organisers – Just buy a cheap pack of fluro arrows for next year!
Date of review: September 17, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: grecian 2000
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent off-road event for the purist!
In full: I personally had a rough time in this race due to the very hot weather (24C and blazing sunshine), lack of fitness, and one or two injury niggles. None of this was the fault of the organisers who laid on a fantastic event for those of us that love to get away from urban races, but at the same time challenge ourselves with a testing course involving some strength-sapping hills and some mental battles due to the long periods on your own due to the smallish field.
Unlike some comments, the course directions were clear to me (but you had to concentrate as some of the turns were sharp).
The absence of mile markers is the norm as far as I am concerned. This is the essence of offroad running! - an element of uncertainty and challenge. All the offroad events that I've done in the past 12 months (except North Downs 30k) don't have mile markers (this will include Beachy Head Marathon due next month).
There were four checkpoints/water stations/food stops. This will normally be suuficient, but maybe another one or two were needed today as it was so unseasonable hot. Or carry a water bottle (as I did due to the weather forecast). There were also additional marshalls at the road-crossings.
The scenery was glorious, and showed-off well in the bright sunshine.The Dunstable Downs is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The three big hills knocked the stuffing out off me in the first twelve miles, but I welcomed the last half-mile which was nicely downhill.
I adore this event, and the Dunstable Road Runners should be commended for staging such a great event - obviously organised by runners for runners. The event also toughened me up as part of my autumn marathon training. Well Done and thanks! See you in 2007!
Date of review: September 17, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Gary Clayton 4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: top race.
In full: a fantastic race, not my greatest time, i stopped a couple of times but totally enjoyed, thanks to all, do not change a thing,see you next year.
Date of review: September 17, 2006
|
2006 race reviewed by: Blobsie
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Superb scenery - Autumn 20m needed
In full: Triffic views and varied terrain ; friendly marshals; there's a dearth of 20m runs for those doing autumn marathons so this race is needed
However it could be improved by
1)investing in some big yellow card arrows for turns - I got lost 2x -the second guided by a Dunbstable Runner (may he rot!). Spray and tape were not adequate 2) mentioning showers on race info 3)Having water ready at drink stations- it should be poured for you 4) putting up a few mile markers - 5) producing a decent map - it was blurry and sodall use if you were lost
Just opinions! A great relaxed challenge, that I would like to do it again ....without getting lost
Date of review: September 17, 2006
|
2005 race reviewed by: Kelvin Prince
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good little race - but I was one of the runners who got lost!
In full: I did the 10 mile challenge, and overall everything was good. Nice roll at the end and friendly marshals at the stations with sweets and mars bars! Only gripe was that in some areas the marshalling was sparse. Not knowing the area, I missed one of the turn offs, and didn’t realise anything was up until I had run on for a mile or so without seeing another soul! If it were a little better marked this race would be spot on.
Date of review: September 8, 2006
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
