Nike Milton Keynes Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (558 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Sophie Haveron
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Nice and flat!
In full: The organisation let the event down.
Had to queue for the toilets for a long time and it took us an hour to get out of the car park.
NEED BETTER PARKING ORGANISATION!!!
Date of review: April 14, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: gladtobedifferent
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Enjoyed for a first half marathon. Shocked to read that people had stuff nicked from unmanned backage area. Not in the spirit of such events.
In full: We arrived early enough to see the entrance that the instructions sent you to closed!!! Luckily my husband wasnt staying so he went and came back later. Within 3 minutes there was a very long queue. really not acceptable to direct everyone a particular way and then close the entrance you sent them to!!! Disgraceful (and we were there an hour before the race!!).
Chaos in side the room where you left the baggage and poor signs everywhere. The outside toilets were madness with a very silly system for waiting!!
-ves: Closing directed to entrance 1 hour before race; people slow to react to collapsed racer at 7 miles; underpasses not very nice; wind a nightmare on return leg
+ves - Good atmosphere, nice marshalls, scenery better than expected (loved the pretty villages); lots of runners around you to keep you moving fast; fab medal; got a pb !!
Date of review: April 13, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Ronald Searle
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% |
In full: Took nearly an hour from M1 to HQ almost missed race very poor organising put me on the backfoot never enjoyed it even though I won my age group
Date of review: April 6, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Trotters
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short:
Date of review: March 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Joanna Prichard
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Definately great for a PB and good crowds cheering you on
Date of review: March 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Jamie Leake
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A cracking morning.
Date of review: March 17, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Ady shepherd
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: great race with a couple of niggles
In full: A lot of people seemed to have many problems but i can only go on my own expeiriences. Got there 45 minutes from the start & i drove straight in with no queues. Marshalls were very good directing me in but there could have been a few more signs directing me to the actual race start. the start was a little congested but not too much & managed to run at a good pace for all the race. Water stations were good but could have been manned better. The finish was good but very congested. Missed getting medal at first but then went back against the tide to go to the one lady giving out medals. Left the car park at about 1.15pm & drove straight out, straight to ikea & spent a fortune lol. All in all this was my first MK race, loved it & will def be back next year. One tip for runners next year... GET THERE EARLY
Date of review: March 15, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: RobberD
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Same as last year queueing to get medal / drink CHIP OFF, bit tight on the course in places with volume of entrants.
In full: Don't expect an easy ride it is a half marathon after all!
Date of review: March 14, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Tags
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great race, good course
In full: I really enjoyed the race, it was well organised and I think it has absolute PB potential.
Date of review: March 13, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Windy!
In full: I travelled a long way to this event as it advertised itself as "flat and fast". It was flatish, but had a lot of ups and downs through underpasses/ over bridges. The main problem though was that there were a large number of sharp turns which were not condusive to a fast course. The course was also very narrow in places, and quite unsuitable for 3000 runners. Bottlenecks arose.
The advise given on the website stated, and I quote, "Please allow enough time for your journey. We suggest that you arrive at least an hour before the event." I would have been in the carpark with an hour to spare if it wasn't for the 50 minutes in the traffic jams into the event. Jams in themselves are not unforgivable at large events, but the lack of warning was poor.
I had to sprint from the car to the start and so missed my usually essential pre race toilet stop. I jumped in where I thought would be the right place, but there was no guidance on where to start with regards to expected finishing time. With an apparently large number of newbies at the event more should have been done to let them know the importance of where to stand, especially in a chip timed event. I spent several miles negociating my way round some very slow runners who started at the front of the field.
I didn't suffer with the theft from the baggage area, but feel appalled it occured. "Left baggage at owners risk" - fair enough, but it is not unreasonable to expect the organisers to take some care over it. Leaving it unlocked and unmanned was a disgrace!
I finished earlyish so the finish wasn't congested for me but I hear others had a bad experience. The total lack of any signs on where the finish was in relation to the start was confusing. No idea where to go to get back to the car. Wasn't alone.
The showers were lovely and hot and uncrowded. I thought the medal was nice. Was glad not to get the usual "goody bag" full of old toot. Saw some excellent, friendly marshalls who were the one saving grace of this event.
Overall, felt like an event that had grown rapidly and the organisation was, shall we say, lagging a long way behind.
Date of review: March 13, 2009
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