Tonbridge Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (131 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Mark Ashmore
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Challenging is certainly an apt description
In full: Good first time event,the first three or four miles were brutal, and put a bit of a dampner on achieving a good time, great support in Leigh. Only negative comment was the location of the stalls etc not sure that most people knew they were even there.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Chris Mullaley
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great organisation for a first running
In full: A big thank you to all the organisers, marshals and supporters for a great race. A challenging course but well chosen and good to have so many roads traffic free. Perhaps next year we can get a finish at the castle to match the picture on the medal!
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Liz Wilkinson 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bit of a long drag..............
In full: I have mixed feelings about this race. Although I didn't think the hills were too bad - I found that they were too much of a drag.... which went on and on and on............ so I lost a bit of enthusiasm for the race.
Things that I liked:
1) toilets at the drinks stations. There might have been no water, but at least there was somewhere to go :-)
2) supporters in the villages who turned out to cheer and encourage all runners on - you were fantastic!
3) the fellow runners at the back. Hope that the guy I finished with who was seriously hobbling, is now ok - and that I didn't piss you off in encouraging you to the finishing line when you were in so much pain.
4) Plenty of car parking near to the start.
Things I didn't like:
1) the time pens at the start. As there weren't entrances at the side, it meant fellow runners were pushing their way through from the back to get to their time zones, so as I was towards the back, constantly being pushed about as people squeezed through.
2) Four water stations: first two had run out of water by the time got there.
3) Second time that I've been at a race where Dame Kelly has been handing out medals - but both times missed out coz of being a slow runner and she'd already gone. Guess I must try and get faster somehow.....
4) The hills weren't hills as such just long drags and no proper downhill sections to get teeth into - so did get bored.
5) No where obvious to get a hot drink afterwards (unless it was hidden away inside with the changing rooms?)
Would I do this race again. I don't know - maybe to get practice in doing long drags.......
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mike Clyne
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Excellent inaugural event
In full: A really good race. Quick parking, friendly marshals and loads of them. Lots of support on the course, plenty of water stations, efficient start and finish. Very impressed
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Alistair Howitt
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Brilliantly organised, well done for first time round.
In full: Everything went like clockwork, well done to all the organisers. The course is undulating but no real sustained difficult hills, nothing like its sister half marathon in Tunbridge Wells, let alone Hastings which another contributor commented on or the Bewl 15. It was unseasonably warm but high hedges for most of the route provided shade. Several seasoned runners did comment though on how tough they had found it.
And Dame Kelly to put your medal round your neck!
So well done and thank you for putting this race on, doubtless the organisation will get slicker with more experience and its success will continue.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Sean O'Driscoll
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: I thought this was a brilliant first event. Yes it was challenging over the first and last three miles but the rest of the course was very fair.
In full: As a start up rest I can only pass on my congratulations to the organizers. I live in Peterborough and traveled the 80 miles to do the race (my family live around Tonbridge) and thought it was well worth the trip.
If there were some issues (I was not aware of any) given how good the whole event was this year I am sure they will be sorted for 2012. I will definitely be there and I would certainly recommend it to others.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: waggytail
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Nice Medal to compensate for the hills!
In full: I would say the race was undulating bordering on hilly which was quite brutal with the heat. Enough water stations but due to the heat I also carried my own drink around. Organisation was great as was Dame Kelly giving out the medals. Would do this again next year hoping that the heat would not be so punishing.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Kev the Hammer
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough and Challenging. Especially in the Heat !!
In full: A tough course (at times).I don't think the heat made it any easier though..... Well done to Dame Kelly Holmes on supporting the race, and giving out the medals. Good support from the local villages.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Marcus Elwes
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Scenic but brutal half marathon
In full: This was on my second half (not including 2 during the London Marathon!) and I enjoyed it, though not as much as Hastings. Lovely scenery but the course itself, whilst picturesque, was brutal. Many tough hills and one killer one around 10-11 miles. I found it a struggle to be honest, even though I did get a PB.
The organisation was good around the start and finish but as one other runner mentioned, not enough water stops and perhaps more dangerously, not enough Marshalls on the course in case anyone got injured. Saw one man go down after around 8-9 miles and there was no-one near him to get aid other than other runners (well done the lady who did alert the Marshalls). Given the unexpected heat of the day, this perhaps should have been expected.
All in all, a good run, but very challenging. Getting the medal presented by Dame Kelly Holmes herself was a real and unexpected bonus, so well done for that.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: A. Runner
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Discusting
In full: This race was disgusting. Got to the first water station at 3 miles to be told sorry we have run out of water and it went on like that for the whole race. For a hot day I'm surprised people were not falling over.Mile markers were here and there so it was difficult to work your timings out. Just 3 people from the Round Table who struggled to cheer you on. Only the residents of Leigh made an effort to cheer. The bag at the end was put in the bin by the runners as it was so poor. I could have handed my medal back to say keep it when I finished. Dame Kelly should be ashamed to put her name to this race. I will never bother again.
Date of review: September 25, 2011
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