Cardiff Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1108 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: nickyfran75
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Course was long, boring and not what advertised.
In full: Finished in 01:33, 3 mins off PB and I'm sure that if it was as flat as advertised or the correct length then that time would have become a new PB. The long slow inclines were ridiculous given the fact that it is advertised as flat and quick. Running along a bypass is not enjoyable, no crowd access and soul destroying for some who were looking to enjoy the day out as opposed to race, and don't get me started on the goodie bag.....
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Russell Deane
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Not as flat as advertised, still good.
In full: I did this run in 2008 and got my PB (sub 1.30). Was on track for the same to mile 6 when the uphill slogs began. OK hardly fell running, but what a long climb onto the viaduct/dual carriageway. I agree this was hard, dull and energy sapping - advertising as a flat run is a bit much. By the way I finished in 1.33, so no PB! The start was indeed congested and my friends all had to abandon toilet queues, but on the race itself there was plenty of space. Still a lovely city and race, and the barrage was so scenic with the sun, but surely a bit of park can be included in place of that dual carriageway?
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: stuart dolbel
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: really enjoyed it only 2nd half ive done and got a pb
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Stuart Howells 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not good enough - poor effort
In full: Nowhere near enough toilets and people were still queuing after the race had started according to my wife, an hour for a pee.... sorry not good enough, poor signage to start line, had to climb over crash barriers to get into pen along with many others, had to start from 2hr 15m not the 1hr 45m I should have been on, start area in a side street, terrible idea and lucky nobody was injured in the crush, totally pedantic organisers, needed to run for a friend who was taken seriously ill a month before so agreed to run to protect £2k in sponsorship money, even with a doctor's paper they refused to change the name meaning my new PB was under someone else's name, yes - I did run under another name as the organisers couldn't be arsed to change it even with a full month's notice, I started my GPS bang on the start mat and tracked 13.33 miles almost a full quarter mile over the distance, not the only one to notice this as several runners at the end were commenting, several friends and associates also tracked upward of 13.3 miles. In a nutshell, poor organisation, boring course and not likely to do this again despite knocking 3 mins off my best
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: legend777
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Liked the new route - definite PB potential
In full: Enjoyed the new route although the doubling back on the dual carriageway wasn't ideal. Bit cramped in the pens at the beginning but surely this is the same in any event with over 10,000 runners. Maybe they could consider a 2 wave system like Bristol though which had similar amount of runners this year. Would love to finish in Millenium Stadium which they did a few years ago or Cardiff City Stadium as an alternative. Well organised and I'll almost certainly be back for 2012.
Oh, and I beat my PB by over 6 minutes to finish in 2:03:08 even though I'd agree with others that it was probably a slightly harder route than last year despite the organisers claims it was improved for PB potential.
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: jayne jones 4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: fab crowds around the course, magnificent atmosphere at the finish
In full: The start was a very Low point this year, hectic, no sign posting runners frantically looking for the right pen. Big minus...Not enough toilets this caused a lot of panic and rushing. I liked the course!! although the four miles on the link road was very boring. The end was a lot better than last year i thought and the atmosphere at the last 500m was fab, Even though the start was very bad i still enjoyed it and have already got my place for 2012
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Jester Rambo
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great opportunity to see a fantastic city.
In full: 13.3 miles - Oh no it was too long!!! Was this to make up for the shortfall last year? Did anyone else measure this?
Anyhow, this was the 8th Cardiff Half that I have run and I never get tired of this fantastic city. I like the way the route of the latest years gets in all the major sites. Did not like the dual carriage way slip roads and doubling back. Bring back the Millennium staduium finish. 1 hour 34 this year - I long for the sub 1 hour 30.
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: james matheson 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first half marathon...so difficult to compare but found it much easier than expected supported by friendly crowd, apart from one dull stretch on the dual carriageway the finish in the bay was a welcome sight
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: DimTimTris
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: This was my first half marathon, and I enjoyed it. A bit overwhelming running in such a large race after a few local 10k races, and I found the start very cramped and claustrophobic. But once out on the run, the atmosphere was great -- friendly crowds, friendly runners. Scenery could have been better, as Cardiff has some beautiful places, and that loooooong drag along the dual carriageway was tough. But overall I really enjoyed the whole day, broke 2 hours (by 6 minutes!) which was my main aim, and I'll be along again next year.
One thing, runners -- please look beside/behind you before spitting. That's just gross.
A big thanks to the organisers and the excellent marshalls.
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Gillian Murphy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: GREAT EVENT - WELL WORTH THE EFFORT
In full: A really good event, well organised,plenty of nice touches to make it worth while for everyone.
Date of review: October 18, 2011
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