Events

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Excellent
In full: I think most of its been said; walkers after the first mile. Better organisation at start. Water stations etc., Overall GNR is excellent and people still want to complete after 24 years. It will depend on its future with the new proposed system being introduced for 2005.
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Far too many people in it now. Staggered starts might be needed
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A run/race like no other !
In full: There were a few problems ie water stations, yes the walkers within a mile, getting in and out of the meeting field was amazing! but for goodness sake there are over 50,000 people around. How better could they be organised. The bag buses work brilliant.
We finish and go in a few pubs and wait for the queue to the ferry to go down - which it does by around 5.00pm - thats all part of the day, maybe people should make it a long weekend like my husband and I do, have the Monday off.
Must be a completely different day if bad weather though.
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: A good day out. Not one for the ambitious club runners but just a fab day out
In full: It still disappoints me that the start is graded according to anticiapted running times and there are still plenty of poeple who get themselves as near the front as possible in fancy dress when obviously they will have no chance of finishing anywhere near to the times on the boards they are setting off next to. This spoils it for those who want to push themselves adn can't be much fun for those starting in the wrong place in the grid getting in the way of those who are trying to pass them. Three years ago we were passing snow white and the seven dwarfs just before the bridge!
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Better basic organisation needed for an event this size
In full: Well I managed a PB! But then I also managed to clamber into a pen near the front - the large numbers of costume clad bucket carriers in the sub-1.40 pen and total lack of organisation at the start made me realise it was going to be free for all. I'd come here for the race, the occasion and atmosphere, but also as a warm-up for a marathon next month, so I sympathise with the people stuck behind walkers after two miles. The organisers should sort out the start - it's not rocket science - which would keep everyone happy. It can't be glossed over by saying it's just for fun and charity - if the race loses credibility as a competitive event, people will start to drift away and it will quickly start to look less Great.
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Not one for speed but a good learnikng curve.
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: My first half marathon so will always be special
In full: A great way to do your first half marathon. The spectators and fellow competitors made it a run to remember. Can't wait to do it again next year.
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: If ever there was a road that needed to be made into three lanes then the A1 is it!!!!!!!!
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great to be a part of it!
In full: No good for a pb too many people & I did not understand why people did not start in their realisitc time!! I was amazed to pass people walking in the 1st mile. The atmosphere was great in places & the bands were brill but if it wasnt for the crowd the course would have been awful just through streets of houses!?! The run down into south shields was worth it & the crowds were great there too. As far as organisation, more toilets & getting out of south sheilds was hell. But all said I would do it again!
Date of review: October 1, 2004

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Poor organisation at start and at water stations
In full: Nobody seems to take notice of starting order, which makes the first few miles very chaotic. Really should use chip timing to give all runners an accurate time from the start line. Then people might be less inclined to herd together at front.
Date of review: October 1, 2004

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