Edinburgh Forthside Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (236 votes). 2006 race reviewed by: Dod the plod
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Reality check
In full: Yes, there were some serious short-comings which have already been well reported which need to be ironed out should the event be held again. I suspected it was going to go pear-shaped when my runners pack (for a 4000 entrant half)arrived with no chip.
But:
1. Thanks to all the volunteer marshalls and helpers who did their best under trying circumstances. I hope they will not be discouraged from helping again - without these good folks, there is no race.
2. This wasn`t the Edinburgh half, it was the Forthside half, so no more nonsense please about the course missing the delights of Edinburgh`s sights.
3. There was no T-shirt advertised, so why complain about not getting one? You pays your money, you takes your choice.
4. My goody bag consisted of the bag itself (a duffle bag thingy which my daughter intends to use for school gym), water, cereal bar and banana - what else do you expect ?- Pandoras` box ?
5. I arrived from Aberdeen 90 mins before the start, and was on the road North 10 mins after I finished. A little bit of common sense and resourcefulness would solve certain issues.
Date of review: March 30, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: colin mccullough
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: I was disappointed....
In full: The cost £22 - £25. It started far too early 9am and with the clocks going forward really made it 8am - no consideration for people who had to travel. The start and finish were a shambles, I was unable to cross the finish line as I had to wait in a queue for 8mins!!! The course - run out the road half way, then turn and more or less back the same way... boring! it took in no Edinburgh sights what so ever you could have been running in any city docks area. BUT the biggy for me NO T-SHIRT!!! and the goodie bag was pants!!!! Bit of a shame....
Date of review: March 30, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Kazz
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Utter shambles; a joke
In full: It's all been said before but, for me, the finish was a total killer : 30 minutes to clear the area by which time I was really really stiff. Did not appreciate the pot holes on the route nor the doglegs - the last dog leg was outrageous ! And, as for the goody bag, well words fail me totally,
Date of review: March 30, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Sassenach
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very disappointing.
In full: I found the 'dog-legs' sole destroying and find it hard to believe that a full circular route could not be identified. Putting toilet facilities in holding pens was poor organisation! Lack of water at stations and the process at the end was pure chaos. For the entry fee, champion chips should have been provided as the finish times will not be anyway near accurate. Appreciate the apology from the organisers, but I don't think I could bring myself to do this again!
Date of review: March 30, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Bkealey
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Failed to attract top local runners to compete, but then again, compete with who? 3 African athletes should not these days credit an event with 'inter/national field publicity'!! Many low key rural 5k's attracts larger elite fields and top runners.
In full: Dear Reader
I entered, ran and completed the Edinburgh Forthside
Half Marathon this year (2006). Although just back
from injury i enjoyed this event and the course was
flat and most of the time scenic.
I've just surfed the web in search of full result
listings - unfortunately I was unable to find theses?
in comparison to other big city half's it lacked
spirit and promise's. The event compared to more low
key 5 or 10k events i've competed in in the past with
the only difference being the number of runners.
Well invested publicity contrasted with a pre race
start that lacked something which might well have been
also something to do with that hour lost to people via
clocks moving forward! body clocks suggested 8 a.m. and not 9 a.m.
Lacked promise's - goody bag, what a disapointment - (water & energy bar?),
energy drinks at water stops not included as promised, international and
national field promised. A few Kenyan or Ethiopian athletes (3 I think)
with probably big apperance fees doesn't equal an
international field. Many low key 10k's in the most
rural of settings will have much bigger elite fields.
A top city half Marathon should attract top local and
national runners. I was disapointed that the lead in
this event saw just few elite leaders then quite a gap
- it would be nice to see that gap being bridged by
top national and club runners clocking between 64 and
74 minutes. In this occasion very few top male
athletes were attracted to compete - but then again,
compete with who? It was encouraging however to see
many of our top women out there.
This could have potentail - to summarise - a large big fun run with 3 or maybe 4 well paid elite athletes.
Date of review: March 30, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: PAMELA WOODCOCK
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Has potential - shoe chips would be better than this year's finish line arrangements
Date of review: March 29, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Etta Gaskell
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: I really enjoyed the race - running along the waterfront was lovely
Date of review: March 29, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Paula Chapman
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The organisation was terrible. Not enough loos, baggage facility was a joke and the finish line wasn't a line it was a group of runners !
In full: A shopping centre is not the best place to have a race like this! After waiting a good 15 mins at the finish area I had to wade my way through shoppers arriving to get my water, banana, medal and goody bag (which didn't have any goodies in it, water and a nutri grain.
The course itself had too many hairpin bends! I would still do the race again as it's my hometown but I really hope they pay attention to all the feedback !
Date of review: March 29, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: steven sawyer 2
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Let's hope things improve for 2007. A lot.
Date of review: March 29, 2006
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2006 race reviewed by: Slow-Coach
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | PB potential | | 20% |
In short: So badly-organised I don't know were to start!
In full: Totally inadequate loos (loads of people still queing when race started); inadequate PA system/ no communication about changed start time; no marshalls for the start. I am a reasonable standard runner, aiming for another sub-1:30, and it took me one minute to cross the start line, and another 7:30 to complete the first mile as I was dodging and weaving slower runners/barriers etc. Appalled at absence of chip timing in a mass start event, and at slowness of getting results out. It's a race a I prefer to forget and thought it was an embarassment to Edinburgh and Scotland. I travelled up from London - I won't bother again.
Date of review: March 29, 2006
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