Cardiff Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1108 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Steve Head
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good event, a little expensive though and a terrible t-shirt. Easy to get to, well organised, plenty of toilets and certainly not a hilly course.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: konstable Kev
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In full: cant see how some couldnt find a toilet, they were plenty around with the normal queues,would love to meet the person who describes the race as scenic as it is pretty drab.cant see how the inclines ruined the race for some as they were hardly hills. I thought it was a fraction over 13.1 I followed the instructions to the start and entered the correct pen. I think it is all about getting to the start on time.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Carolyn Ditton
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Need more toilets, much more signs, couldn't even find the start,crowd and marshals fantastic
In full: This was my first city half and I was surprised that it was almost impossible for the runners to get to the start and when we got there we had to climb over the barriers to get into the pen.Once underway the scenery was great until the dual carrageway when you had to make do with laughing at the irate queues of motorists! Nowhere near enough lucozade,had to pick up a half used one, shame as they know how many runners there will be. It was a pity that you could not see the actual finish until you were 100m away as it was always round one more corner.Crowd, other runners and marshalls were great.Atmoshphere was good especially at the end with loud music, and the baggage drop/pick up could not have been better.Weather was perfect and will probably be back again.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: B Drummond
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Crop the dual carriageway bit and it would be perfect
In full: The slip roads and bridge on dual carriageway section were steeper than organisers PB claims led me to believe. We need to go back to mixed ordinary roads and some parkland (better scenery). More room to get to start pens, and keep spectators out of runners village
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Dafydd Davies 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great race - well organised
In full: This was much better than last year. The start largely well organised but the pens could have been better signed. It wasn't pancake flat, but a few inclines which should have been advised. I really enjoyed them as most of my training recently has been on proper hills!
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: sheila mullett
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Route needs to include Cardiff's best features - its parks!
In full: Cut out the dual carriageway part and include running through the city's parks - scenery is first class.
Move the start and finish back to the city centre which is far more accessible.
Can anyone please tell me how far I ran this year, my Garmin shows I ran 13.34 miles?
Overall a great event, it can be better by going back to the city centre and its parks.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Paul Furlong
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Still some problems to iron out at the start, but an attractive race overall
In full: The course is not ideal but I'd stick generally with the present set-up for the sake of some stability at last. The only changes I'd make would be to the start: poor signage, pens too narrow, and the first half mile seemed constant turns. Otherwise, a fair course.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Jon Hourihan
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good, not flat though, as it was supposed to be. The flyover route was not stimulating.
In full: This was my first half marathon. The early start was good, the atmosphere fantastic. The route wasn't as flat as expected, and the weather (although uncontrollable) didn't help on the flyover run. I looked up at one point and saw two miles of runners on the road, it looked a scene from a zombie film, as everyone drudged on. Cardiff is a beautiful city, but some of the route hid this very well. I've also heard the route was longer than it should've been. I'm not a racer, so that's not such a concern to me, but last year it was too short. Use the green scene around this city and it will be a great run next year.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: jones tina
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Bring back the parks
In full: I preferred the route through the parks and having the start/finish in the centre. I know that the route was changed due to congestion, but as others have suggested, perhaps a wave system would be better than routing us on to dual carriageways. As a local I would have appreciated the chance to use public transport to get to the start - an early start on a Sunday morning meant that this was impossible.
Date of review: October 19, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Justin Westnedge
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Improved start and finish but...
In full: This was my 2nd Cardiff half. I enjoy this event due to the support but one of the things I didn't like last year was the same again this year. Too many non runners clogging up the way to the start. I know people want to see their family off but some space would be good. The toilets were spread out everywhere but poorly signposted. Glad I got there early to have plenty of time to get ready. I would like a different design with the medal next year as I have seen better ones. Always worth a go with Cardiff, just please loose the steep climbs and dual carriage way!
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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