Nike Milton Keynes Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (558 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: phil the therapist
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I have always thought this is a great race in a great city
In full: Of all the races I attend the MK Half has a great atmosphere and excellent facilities. I know there is a huge amount of organisation that goes into it and the fact that 3000 runners got round more or less incident free proves that. The traffic queues on the way out weren't helped by people driving the wrong way on a one way system and over pavements. I think the atmosphere and the general good mood of the crowd help make this a great race for a great city. Can you tell I'm local....
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: McBood
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Yes a flat course, remembering you're in England!
In full: There's nothing like an average race to bring out the barrage of criticisms from people lol. For the entry fee you got chip-timing, bottles of drink and a decent medal. The key problem seems to be the unmanned baggage area which didn't affect me, thankfully but folk were warned in the race info. However you would hope this would be something they can look at for next year. As for traffic queues, you can't blame that on the organisers... we get roads closed for us during the race so we can't have it both ways! On the flat front...yes it is flat and no it isn't 100% flat but it only climbs about 30 metres over the whole course and the underpasses and bridge climbs are over in a few paces. The thing to do in all races is expect some kind of climb somewhere. A good race to do if you are pb hunting is the main point.
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Eric Cantona 2
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Can we hear from thwe race organisers please
In full: There's no point in me adding yet another list of all the things that went wrong on Sunday, so I won't.
Instead, please may I ask that the Race Director responds in some shape or form to the torrent of criticism and dissatisfaction that has been building up via the ratings over the last two days? Perhaps adding a thread on the forum would be the best place to start?
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Robert Leather
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good flat course only minor undulations, scenic in parts
In full: As others have commented, expected better organisation from a Nike sponsored race and definitely starter pens for expected finish times, all races should have this!
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: stephenr10
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not entirely flat! No parking problems but organisation was poor in some areass
In full: I had no problems with parking - Leaflet sent with race number etc..said to get there for 9am - This is what I aimed for, had a little delay due to traffic but nothing major. I do not think it is fair on the organisers to complain about this - they did advise people to get there for 9.
I was one of the guilty men in the Q for the Ladies cubicles. The poor organisation of the Qs meant that I just walked up to a female and said "is this the back of the Q?" to which she said yes. It was not until I got to the front of the Q that I realised that I was in the Q for the ladies, as did several other men in the Q with me.
I was right at the back at the start and it took me 4 mins to cross the start line, but I'm a slow coach so this did not matter to me, but timed pens should definitely be adopted next time around.
The water was exactly where the leaflet said it would be (3,6,9 + 11) but I did not get any Lucozade - I wanted some half way (as advertised in leaflet) but none on show.
Nobodys fault but the wind was really strong when we were exposed on the open road at around mile 9 - this knocked the stuffing out of me and slowed me down a bit. There were also some quite steep bridges we had to cross over..the one near the end hit me hard!
The finish line was a bit farcical - the man demanding the return of the chips was very rude...sorry mate I've just run 13 miles and I'm tired the last thing on my mind is the bl**dy chip!! I was a bit disappointed there was no banana but the offer of water and lucozade more than made up for this. I thought the medal was quite good as well.
No problems leaving the complex - but I'm a slow coach (finished 2hr 20m) so the Qs may have all gone by then. The Q to get back on the M1 was massive so I turned right out of the complex and went on the A5 - did not have any Qs at all!
Would probably do it again.
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: DJ OMG
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Course okay, organisation somewhat shambolic
In full: Flat?! The only flat parts were when we were running alongside the dual carriageway. The course was a mixture of fairly nice village and parks and main road and housing estate. Some of the early bottle necks were exciting. It would have been good if the course could have been designed so the field was spread out a bit more before we hit these.
Poorly organised at start and finish. I'm sure many people must not have got a medal as there was just one girl handing them out at the finish melee. It seemed a bit like a small village running club event that had had 3000 people turn up unexpectedly. Not the worst I've seen but close.
An enjoyable race despite the issues. Nice friendly atmosphere.
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Victoria Lincoln
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Appalling - will never do again: 45 minute queue in, 45 minute queue out, NOT FLAT, lack of starting pens and bottlenecks
In full: I'm in training for the FLM, and was excited for this race as it was advertise as flat and great for a PB. I was in excellent shape from my training and was aiming to complete under 1:30 for a PB. Very disappointed therefore to miss out on it for the following reasons:
1. The location of the race, or lack of traffic management, meant a 45 minute queue on the last 2 miles to arrive at the race, and a 45 minute queue to leave after finishing. We were on time to arrive at 9.45 for the 10.30 start, but sitting in the jam I ended up having to leave my boyfriend to drive to the race with me running the last bit to the start. With 3000+ runners, they need to plan for the traffic and re-direct or move the race.
2. No allocated starting pens and arriving 5 minutes before the start meant I was at almost the back of the group. I spent the first three miles overtaking slower runners and getting stuck in bottlenecks, which pretty much killed my chance for a PB.
3. The route is prone to bottlenecks (unless presumably you're at the front) as some of the paths are too narrow really for 3000+ runners
4. The route is across pretty bleak scenery - along (and across) highways and housing estates. The really strong headwind (obviously not the fault of the organisers) didn't really help the scenery.
5. Although advertised as flat, it is definitely NOT. Some gradual inclines, and many short steep declines and inclines as the route winds through underpasses and over bridges.
As I finished fairly early, I didn't have trouble with queuing at the finish line.
One positive is the cost - £14 is pretty good, however not even a free entry would entice me to do this again next year.
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Stu-pid
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A quick fairly flat race, but lots of underpasses!!
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Sutes
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race for beginners who train to do half marathon. great atmosphere!!
In full: Very good race challenging in places and puts you with club runners that can help improve your pace. Nedds training though as some bits are harder than others. Definitely doing it again!
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: ANGELA HIBBS
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: could have been organised better
In full: dont believe the advert that says this is a flat course! it goes down and up numerous subways and sharp bends in footpaths makes running in a rhythm very hard. got a pb but more due to my increased fitness than the course...was extremely windy too, as it flat scenery the wind just blows in and makes parts of the course very hard work.
i was up the front to water stations and getting out of car park was fine, but can see that later on when most people finished it would have been a nightmare!
dont think will do again, long way to go, and only got small medal at finish.
chip timing good idea...thought a nike sponsored race might offer more...
Date of review: March 10, 2009
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