BUPA Great South RunHere's how RW members rated this race (813 votes). 2005 race reviewed by: Blackers
 | | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: No thanks.
In full: I had a fantastic day and this feedback is unbalanced. The good things that people have said are true BUT:
(a) I lined up on the start just 10 yards behind the elite pen, only to see a captain scarlet and an 85 year old man in front of me. Were they really 55min runners? No. The organiser needs to do more to stop this or they will loose the club runner contingent. In fact they already have - at my 6min/mile pace, this was a lonley race. From 7 to 8.5 miles, I was alone, very alone (perhaps all my peers were stuck behind captain scarlet). Looking forward to Hayling 10 when there'll be a few more folks about.
(b) The mile markers employed that well-known technique called "nearest lampost'll do"
(c) Not a lot of support really. Portsmouth didn't really turn out - pockets of ten or 20 supporters at points along the course. (Well done to runners' families and friends tho - great support around the pier etc..) Portsmouth have got a long way to go before they match the east end of London during at FLM. And it *was* a nice day
So it's no thanks for me.
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Andrew Garnham
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: What can i say enjoyed every minute of the day.Where do i sign up for 2006
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: whyohwhy!
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: An absolute must!
In full: Wow, what a race.
I did this last year and have made the pilgrimage up from London once again, but this time have come up with a fellow running chum. (because its great!)
Very fast today, wonderful weather, and ran to perfection as an event. Others event organisers should take a long hard look at this one, the crowd, water stations, bands and marshalls take a bow!
Oh and Jimmy Saville would be proud of that medal!
Would i do it next? your damn right i would.
And ill bring more people, so spread the word!
Well done PortsmouthThanks for another great race.
1:15 and flying....Come On!
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Lawrence Smith
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Nice Weather, nice people, good run - 2006 beckons
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Rob Runner
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A refreshing change from the Great North- A wave start that thinned out the crowd and a good atmosphere-fro once, the end appeared quicker thanI thought! On the negative-couldn't see the mile markers until later.
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Evil Edna
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Thanks Pompey - you did us proud
In full: I've been looking forward to this for ages - having grown up in the Portsmouth area the chance to run this race was too good to miss.
Great day out - so many positives. The warm up guy, the support on the way round (including all the old people sat outside near the cathedral!), the musical entertainment, plenty of water, no real headwind in the last two miles, and most definitely the best medal and goody bag I have received. Saw Brendan Foster at the finish - hopefully this event will start to steal some of the GNR thunder :)
Agree about the mile markers - I saw them all but then I was doing ten minute mile pace, and a couple had twisted round on lamp posts so they were facing the other way! Tiny gripe on otherwise near perfect day. Now has anyone got a new hip-bone I could borrow???
p.s. a big thanks to the Cancer Research UK cheering bus at South Parade Pier, and their tent at the finish, for their support and good supply of chilled drinks. Most appreciated.
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Danny Norman
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Everything I could have hoped for
In full: Well, where do I start? The MC mentioned this website and and I hope the organisers read the comments.
This race has a high ranking on this site for a reason. It's brilliant. Best race I've done in a while.
I'll get the one negative out of the way first so I can compliment afterward. The slowness of others in the first wave. I know the waves are there to make it less congested but I still got jammed at the start, and I came top 200, so it's frustrating for me to have to pass people who have lined up at the front and then space themselves out in the first mile, blocking those who don't want to jog the first mile or so on a course that we could easily get a PB on. We've all paid the same amount on the entry, so please have consideration slower runners, if you cant run a 60 min 10 mile dont be in the first few rows. One guy fell over on the curb trying to pass on the inside, probably ruining his day/race.
All I would suggest to the organisers to try and sort this is have markers with predicted finish times and lets hope people know what they can run. Failing this, I'm just gonna push to the front.
Right, now for the good stuff. What a great chunky medal! Quite easily my fave in my collection, it feels worthy of the name medallion! Nice t-shirt, nice goody bag too. Best goody bag I've received.
The crowds were great, and the cheering cannot fail to help push you on, a stirring feeling that only cheering can give. Even those few spectators by themselves in the more quiet sections were clapping and seemed happy to have us there. Nothing more heartfelt to watch children cheer there fathers/mothers on and it's also sweet for those many older ladies who seem to possess a great amount of passion in cheering strangers on. Nice to see the group of real oldies siting outside to watch us young bucks fly by.
Mind you, anyone else want to boot that little kid in his doorway yelling at us to run faster? :P
Fast, really well organised, great atmosphere, great medal, fast results service online and via text.
It's been a great weekend, and highlight race of the year. From hearsay the only one I can think of that can beat this is the London Marathon. This race should be bigger and can only get better, just make sure if there are more entrants, get them positioned right on the starting grid.
This race is so good tho, it seems to have even tempted my friends watching and who live in Southsea to seriously contemplate joining in next year.
All out of superlatives now, until next year, I cannot wait...
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: CharleyFarley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: So much less congested than Gt North Run
In full: 1. 3 group start much the best way of aviding mass congestion - GREAT NORTH RUN TAKE NOTE !
2. Brilliant parking/marshalls/signposting
3. Easy to move around at start/finish
But
4.Where were the mile markers after 3 ??? Next one was at 10k! Why does this happen so often?
5. Seafront crowd gives great atmosphere, rest of crowds a little thin and quiet ! (def compared to other big events)
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Mightymatt
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: What a day, sign me up for next year!
In full: Really enjoyed the day!
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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2005 race reviewed by: Hairy Gibbon
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Why do I always seem to get fried doing a Great Run !!!
Date of review: October 9, 2005
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