Shakespeare MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: runlozrun
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Worth getting up early for
In full: I ran the half and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very scenic with one big hill at mile 8 but other than that pretty flat. Plenty of water stops and sponges. Only a couple of things to improve on. With the amount of runners I would like to see pens used at the start as it was quite frustrating trying to get past slow runners at the front of the queue. Also would like to see different medals for the half and full marathons as then I might come back for the full.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: rookery
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: I thought this was a well organised race.
Good announcements at the start, there was a separate pen at the front for the faster runners.
Good marshalling, plenty of them and the route was well signposted. Water stations every 3 miles. A couple of sponge stations on each lap as well.
A scenic course with a few testing inclines in the first half of each lap and although the greenway is flat & fast, it was mentally tough - but thats the challenge!
No goody bag if you want that sort of thing. For me a medal, drink and a banana was just right.
A couple of points for improvements - if there is going to be just one water station with bottles, can it be later on the lap? Secondly moving the date of race back (compared with 2010), meant that most of the local B&Bs were only taking bookings for the whole weekend (into tourist season), when I only wanted a room on the Saturday night, this really added to the cost of the weekend. For that reason if the date is the same next year I doubt whether I will be back. Although I understand that the race probably attracts more people when it doesn't clash with that 26.2mile charity fun run around London.
Thanks to all the organisers and volunteers, another successful race!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: MadAsMrMouse
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not well organised
In full: Nothing but water at the drinks stations - this isn't good enough for a proper marathon.
Start was bad - terrible speaches from the 'District Governor', 'President' and Mayor. Spectators mixed with runners. Leaders catch up with late starters in the first loop.
Overall, I'd say that this event is organised by well meaning people who don't understand running - they need to get someone in to help them do it better.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Andrew Essom
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: all in all a good day out :)
In full: This was my first race after the Paris Marathon last month and I must say before the start I was not really in the mood to do the full marathon, but the effort of the organisers and the charming scenery lifted my spirits to get me around ;)
A good day out and I would definitely do the Stratford next year!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Kaly
| | 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 race but with some organisational problems at the start which could be ironed out
In full: I am local but this is the first year I ran this race. The course was really nice and some challenging inclines to keep it interesting. The stretch of Greenway at the end was enjoyable and was a nice break from the road pounding...
Marshalls were great and there were lots of water and toilet stops on the way round. The start however was a little problematic, with spectators in amongst the competitors causing a lot of congestion. It took me two minutes to cross the mat and the first two miles were pretty slow dodging slower runners - because the field is quite big for such a small start area organising runners into expected finish times would have helped as would keeping specatators away from the start line. Aside from that it was very enjoyable and I will be returning!
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: The Egg
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good well organised event - enjoyed ethe whole day
In full: Really enjoyed this event - good course - challenging in places (the long hill the second time around) and needed to buckle down to it in the sunshine on the Greenway.
One or two gripes about the start - but there were plenty of water stops and cups don't bother me as I don't carry a bottle.
As ever Marshalls did a great job and personally I thought the medal was one of the best - I don't run races for a goody bag so not bothered about the lack of one.
I will do this one again - but probably not next year.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: KSW
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Could do better
In full: Overall the race was good, however the start and some of the marshalling was a bit questionable.
Not being properly directed to the start led to a stressful start and no cahnce of being able to properly space out in time bandings which made the first part of the race quite challenging.
The marshalls were really good when they were bothering, but some just sat in chairs and had a chat, it would be quite nice to be encourage a bit more in the last tough few miles.
When I was finding it difficult at the end I did not appreciate being told that I was the 38th walker in a row and it was not a walkathon..not quite the encouraging words you expect from marshalls.
The course is not as flat as people made out, i'm not sure I'll be back next year.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Phil Smith 12
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very enjoyable marathon, very well organised, very encouraging marshalls, thanks to everyone involved
In full: Only my 3rd marathon, it was a nice run with pleanty of water/sponge stations, thanks to all the marshalls & people manning the water stations for all there encouragement. struggled for last 9 mile but was kept going by everyone along the route. will be back when all my aches & pains have gone.
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mary Taylor 8
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised day out, worth doing again
In full: Okay, I know a lot of people have griped about the organisation and cost cutting, but compared to many London events this one was slick. Also, the event is all for charity, so they're trying to keep costs low. I do agree that water bottles are miles better than cups though - i especially find cups hard as I have lip peircings they get stuck on! but even without that you have to slow down a lot to driunk
Plus points - well organised (except the start), free refreshments - tea, coffee, squash, banana, water, good support at beginning and end, well marshalled including lots of police on roads, an awful lot of 'get in lane' and 'turn here' signs, v helpful marshalled in town to help find the start (first time to this city), concessionary parking, sponges at two water stations were welcome surprise.
Down points; at the start need some sort of organisation to get the faster runners to the front. i'm a slower runner and couldnt guage how far back in the lineup i was, even though i tried to get near the back. also running single file along traffic was a bit frustrating but i'm not gonna risk running into a lorry for 10 secs faster time.
big mix of runner ages and abiliites which is nice. i finished in 2h30 for the half and was no where near the last half mara runner :)
i'll be back next year to have another go as overall race was still pretty nifty
Date of review: May 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Rob Elliott 3
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Awesome marathon. Well organised and superb support throughout! Loved it and def do again!
In full: 4th Marathon for me this year and considered excellent next to London, Berlin and Rome! Well catered, marshalled and drinks supplied. Nearly a PB for me (Berlin holds that) but only 5 minutes behind and probably down to me not the race. Great work Stratford Rotary and MANY THANKS - I loved it!
Date of review: May 8, 2011
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