Royal Parks Foundation Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (203 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Keith L
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good solid race - more an intro to running than hard core
In full: Organisation OK apart from weird over complicated baggage system that had 20 minute queues 30 mins before the race started.
Lots of freebiews before hand but slightly sparse after (bag, water and wooden medal)
Course of two halfs - well first 6 miles on roads around westminster/embankment etc. then into parks. Parks themselves were OK although route weaved around a bit and wasnt easy to work out where in race you were.
early pace markers out but later ones OK.
lots of friendly marshalls. Course largely flat.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: www.justgiving.com/superwoman63
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: HAPPINESS in HYDE PARK
In full: This was my first time running the Royal Parks and l really ENJOYED the atmosphere,route, the crowd & the freebies.The marshalls were excellent & encouraging. Every run l've done in this park has been fabulous ,the support from the crowd is second to none. This event although a tad steep in price will definitely get bigger and bigger and is worth doing. Thank you everyone
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Strawbs 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Extremely well organised race & stunning scenery.
In full: ... Just wish I'd been slightly less tired towards the end to enjoy the views of the Park, Albert Hall etc! Loved the beginning running past Big Ben along the Thames, Buckingham Palace etc. It's by far the best organised event I've done & considering the number of people there that's a great achievement. I felt I had more space to run at the beginning compared to say Silverstone. Fantastic marshalls & great support from the crowds too.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Cavruns
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Even better than last year
In full: No problems at all with the pens, everything ran like clockwork, smashed the PB and went home happy. A really good day and hope it'll be a third RPHM for me next year.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Valerie Martin
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great to run the streets of London without doing a marathon.
In full: Flat, fast course with really enthusiastic marshalls. Only problem was the slow runners who decided they had to be in the first pen, it was a really difficult first mile, and some of them started walking after 500m, why!!
For next year could the baggage tent be at the other end, so it was easier to get to when you finished.
Thanks to the organisers for a great day.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: shoegirl
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Loved every minute of it!!!
In full: This is a fantastic race, really well organised and the supporters were fab! Was a slightly long queue for baggage but probably my fault for leaving it so late!! Overheard someone describing it as hilly...not sure they run the same course as me....it was flat all the way...perfect pb course!
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: brian watt
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Fantastic course and great that so much of it was in the park itself. The marshalls deserve a big round of applause for their positivity and winning smiles. The weather was almost perfect for running - cool but not too windy. The crowds, especially in the park, were very supportive and helped you keep going. Only downside was the medal - I thought it looked and felt quite flimsy, but all in all a great race.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: helsdelamere
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: My favourite race
In full: fantastic scenery and people, very friendly. Perfect time of year. Good for all levels.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Tuesday Night Tortoise
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Faultless, a superb race
In full: Lucky enough to get in here last year and this. Incredibly well organised event exuding confidence; really is a must do race. Pre-race info and t-shirt great (except the colour!), great course through central London sights and autumn park colour, incredibly generous sponsors with freebies everywhere, a flat fast course with enthusistic supporters and marshalls and the 'festival' stalls really adding to the atmosphere. Also texted time soon after finishing.
Arrived reasonably early so no issues with baggage, loos or starting pens. For such big field did not feel crowded eg in the way that Bath did.
Could always do wth more loos but only real problem was public transport; seemed to be closures and delays all over the tube today.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Cobblers Mark
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A Great Race In The Capital
In full: I have entered the Great North for the past two years as my big autumn race but will never look back now after being suitably impressed with the Royal Parks.
The start was a little congested but what do you expect with so many people. There were quite a few slower runners getting bumped and bashed early on. Great opening few miles around Westminster, having done two marathons, it is nice to enjoy these without being totally tired.
Great support in Hyde Park, I thought that it would be a bit tedious running over half the race in the park but it wasn't at all.
Finally it was great to grab loads of freebies after at the Brakes Food Festival and what a medal, my first wooden one.
Forget the Great North, I'm coming back to the capital next year. My wife enjoyed spectating here too, again she favours this than the big rush to miss me at South Shields.
Date of review: October 11, 2009
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