Wycombe Half Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (332 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Julie Ann Muir
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Done this one several times - love it! Brilliantly organised, well marshalled, really enjoyable race, and very generous goody bag. Could do with some portaloos at the start....not enough loos for the ladies on the Rye. Overall - great, will definitely do it again
Date of review: July 29, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Frazzy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Almost very good, a few rough edges.
In full: Agree with comments previously about the loos and bag drop, though my bag was fine it seemed like no-one was looking after them. Tough course for a 'weight-control' runner like myself but happy with time. Also agree timing device a waste of time and inaccurate and found some of the course a bit dull, running along busy road on quite steeply cambered footpaths but would do it again and want to encourage the organisers to repeat. Could be a very good race and liked the hilly start (well I do now...).
Date of review: July 26, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Dutch
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hill, what hill? ;-)
Date of review: July 24, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: pmo
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The hill of course, but a fine run out
In full: The start was a little ocnfused, should have been seperate for HM and 10k IMHO. Lots of walkers on the hill and a tight pack so a little slow.
Once it opened out though it was fine. Glad for the support of so many locals, and the sporadic water stations.
Looking forward to this next year, would prefer 'proper' chip timing, but what difference does a few seconds make to almost two hours running?
Date of review: July 24, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: bob hardman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
Date of review: July 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: NeverMind
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: OK I guess
In full: The scenery was pleasant enough though not outstanding at some points I felt like I was running around the residential routes I do some of my training on. The good point about that was there were a lot of spectators out considering the rain. The best thing about the race was the goody bag at the end which is a shame.
I was surprised that this is a well established race as there weren't enough toilets for the women and the 2 race starts where combined leading to bottle necks at the start and on the hills which could have been avoided. If you train to run up hills having people walk in front of you blocking your way means they start hurting. In addition there was no advertisement on the web, with the number or when you arrive at the actual site that there was a baggage store. The organisers should note that not everyone lives in the area or comes with spectators.
I would only do the race again if they separate the 10KM and half marathon starts out.
Date of review: July 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: HuntPuntandSki
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: BIG HILL + GOT LOST
In full: Measured road races (10K, half marathon) normally try and avoid hills, Wycombe half and 10K have a killer hill of 240ft between 2km and 3km so you can forget any PB’s after 5 minutes.
For that reason I will never do it again unless they change the course.
I was sent the wrong way at 8km !!! Nightmare never happened to me before in 20 years of racing.
Why didn’t they paint arrows on the road ?
Date of review: July 23, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Sarah Cawley
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My sister & I missed the start as we were stuck in the queue for the ladies for 20mins. A very enjoyable race with some challenging hills. Just let down by the ambitious attempt to start a 10K & half marathon simultaneously & very poor chip timing.
In full:
Date of review: July 22, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: TippTop
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Same as always, good race with some organisational problems.
In full: This race is great vfm and a good hard workout, however, with some attention to detail it could be even better.
1) More toilets need to be organised - get some portaloos in (quite a few).
2) Lining up for the start is haphazard - pens are not necessary, but a few stakes in the ground with predicted times on would be a start.
3) Several of the 10k runners were sent the wrong way and I believe the banner wasn't raised over the finishing line as the winner crossed (had to be held up).
4) Given that the race was chipped the announcement of the results was particularly abysmal. It should be quite straightforward to see who has won what. A bit more haste in the rain would have been appreciated.
Having said all that though I will definitely be back.
Date of review: July 22, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Daniel Brench
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A tough start with a large hill but after that a good course and well run
In full: My second half marathon after the much-flatter Reading course just over a year before. A tougher course with more hills (particularly the first one, quite steep so training is needed) but I managed to shave a few minutes off my previous time.
Well organised and lots of stewards and water stations, plenty of goodies in the winners bag with a very nice medal and free t-shirt!
Date of review: July 21, 2009
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