BUPA Great South RunHere's how RW members rated this race (813 votes). 2007 race reviewed by: Dungey2002
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well Organised Race
In full: Would say its a poss for PB but really depends on weather, which was really rough in the last couple of miles. Enjoyed running through the dockyard and watching the boats go in and out.
Well organised and marshalled on the course. Plenty of water, drinks etc and for a change plenty of toilets. Something most races dont get right.
Atmosphere was really great, plenty of people braving the weather to support - thank you.
Parking was a mare. I took a park and ride option but when I got there the Hotel knew nothing about leaving the car there! Good start. Coach had difficulties getting in and out of Portsmouth. Did watch the fun from those parked on the Common, agree with the comments that the marshalls didnt seem to know what was going on or co-ordinate with Police who controlled roads further up.
Real shame trains werent running as that was my preferred method of travel.
Overall great race, shame about the weather. Hope to be back next year.
Date of review: October 29, 2007
|
|
2007 race reviewed by: Nathan Scott 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: What is it with the Weather and this race !!!!!
In full: Second year I have done this now and the weather was just as bad as it was last year, OK it wasn't raining as hard but the wind on the last 2 miles!!!
Anyway apart from Mother Nature being a B**** the race itself still remains one of my favorites of all time. Nice fast flat race - loads of public support. Well marshaled. My only real complaint this year was that the goodie bag was very tight. They seriously need to start putting some effort into those! Me personally I got a PB by about 30 seconds (would of been a bit more if it wasnt for the wind!) Great day.
Oh one more thing .... they are now charging £3 for parking????? Whats that about
Date of review: October 29, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Elli-phant
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great course, good organisation shame about the weather!
In full: My first GSR, the flat scenic course lived up to its reputation and despite the weather the support was great all the way around. We followed advice and got there by 9am and managed to street park which allowed quick getaway. If weather had been better we would have stayed and enjoyed the ample hospitality and atmosphere. Much thanks to good marshalling and organisation. But why so many water bottles when a wet sponge would do and the lucosade sport juice packs were lethal once thrown across the course.All in all though a good event that will survive despite the parking complaints today, I'm sure if more had stayed then a staggered exit would help get cars off the common.
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: HarryDejan
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Very enjoyable - miles 1-8, not so miles 9 & 10
In full: Great run, excellent flat course, good atmosphere, the weather again was atrocious, not too bad for runners but it must have been hell for the supporters - fair play to every one of them. High winds and driving rain as the course turned back along the seafront was a bit of a shock for the first timers but although expected was still a bit of a nightmare for those of us who knew the course. Will definately do it again. PB 1.12.57 (10 mins 45 sec better than last year)
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Terence Earney
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Far too many runners and cars for the infrastructure to cope with.
In full: The race itself is excellent, well organised and plenty of marshalls. A very good atmosphere and good drinks stations.
What spoilt it for me was the car parking on the Common, and leaving it. I said at the outset that the £3 for "Professional Parking Stewards" was a rip off, and I have been proved to be correct. Cars were directed into parking positions, making it very difficult to reverse out of after the race. We were then directed to one corner of the Common, and were stationary for over an hour. We were then directed to the other corner, and had to drive over the kerb, and a plastic fence, which had obviously been put there originally, to prevent parking without paying.
I acknowledge it is not the Organisers fault for the traffic, but the Stewards could have been more helpful. It would also have been appreciated if we had been informed what was going on. Siting in a car with the engine running for long periods, is not good for the atmosphere.
I hope the Organisers take note of the chaos, and ensure next year that the Stewards are as efficient in directing traffic off the Common, as they were in taking the money on entry.!
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: michael rix
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: DIABOLICAL PARKING (MIS)Management!!More NHS than Bupaa
In full: The race - Fantastic course, PB potential if it wasn't for the last 2 miles which ALWAYS seem to be into the wind. Only problem that I could see was that the Orange start was too inclusive - I passed a lot of very slow runners in the first 400 metres who were obviously shocked at the speed of the pursuing athletes. Also, I fully respect the TVtimes runners/actors but putting them at the front is madness. I saw Nasty Nick Cotton in front of me the he finished 40 minutes behind me. Those guys do a good job but just aren't quick enough and need to be in the white start and not obstructing others.
Car Parking - Next year to save money stick a chimp in a flourescent jacket and they'll do a better job of organising it. I've raced all over the world and most of the big uk races. Hell I've even been to Glasto 10 times and NEVER have I seen such a cock up. I witnessed a (marshall??) hold a line of traffic back for an hour then throw his hands up in despair and tell motorists to leave an exit at the opposite end of the field. Incredibly inept.
How about park and ride etc?
See you next year but only if they sort things out.
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Chynah
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Wet and traffic chaos but the race itself was good.
In full: Last 2 miles were a killer!! Wind and rain headlong!
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Big JT
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Really enjoyed this race, great support and well organised. Shame about the trains not running, as the traffic was a nightmare, but that's not the organiser's fault (typical trains!). Good to see HMS Victory and some of the newer warships moored up.
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: Alex Davies 8
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good support, flat course, but transport bad and expensive entry
In full: This was my first ever organised race, so I enjoyed it for the novelty factor at least.
Rain and wind I think helped keep the temperature down and get me a personal best of 1:29 (well the chip says 1:30 but I believe my Garmin!)
Driving in and out was horrific lots of delays due to jams and roadworks. The lack of trains didn't help.
Now the important bit, the goody bag!:
- Nice solid medal
- Heavy cotton t-shirt, no good for running :(
- Space blanket
- Fish oil capsules (!?)
- Lucozade Sport drink
- Lucozade Sport Energy bar
- Pile of random leaflets
Not a great collection IMO.
Overall the race was fun but I don't relish the 5 hours in the car next time (driving time on a normal day would be about 2 hours)
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
2007 race reviewed by: TZ
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Flat, fast, spectacular. If only the weather was nice, this would be perfectt.
In full: This is an awesome flat 10-mile blast around some of the most picturesque areas of one of the best cities in Great Britain. You pass the world's first ironclad warship, Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, Charles Dickens's birthplace, views of the Spinnaker Tower and the Isle of Wight and get to see Europe's only scheduled hovercraft service. Even even you walk this race, you'll love it.
The course contains the perfect mix of a few bends, pancake-flat terrain and roads as broad as Cheri Blair's grin.
It was most unfortunate that the weather Gods delivered heavy rain and gusty winds today. Met reports show the headwind in the last two miles was 25mph, gusting to 45mph. It felt more like 70! Character-building stuff that, my lad!
Seriously, for all the hard work on that final stretch we were all entertained by the parallel run (in the opposite direction) with the big tailwind.
Portsmouth is an island with only two roads connecting it to the mainland, so not a lot anybody could do about getting all those cars out any faster. If anybody is to blame it is the company maintaining the railway network, who are months late with an upgrade and who closed all rail routes in and out all weekend.
My only gripe is the usual high price charged by the Great Run company. Still, their races fill up within a few weeks, so if people are willing to pay...
TZ
PS The "Portsmouth Mile", held the day before the GSR, is a great warm-up, although poorly advertised. Look out for it next year on the Portsmouth Council website.
Date of review: October 28, 2007
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
