Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: First year I've managed a better run time than car park exit time!
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Best toilet facilities I've seen in ages.
In full: It was frustrating that the course was changed at the last minute (I wouldn't have known this if I hadn't done a practice run the weekend before, discovered that the advertised route was half a mile short and contacted the organisers to find out why) and a shame that it didn't finish through the town. The finish area was very confusing, which is not good when you're already a bit spaced out from running 13 miles in the heat.
Having said that, the marshalling was fantastic, there were more than enough water stations and they were very well manned. It was the toilet facilities, however, that were the highlight of my day. Not only were they relatively posh, with proper flushes, but less than half an hour before the race started, I only had to queue for 5 minutes to use them. And they didn't smell.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Very good race - big improvement on course route but finish area problemss need sorting!
In full: New Course route million times better than old main road route. Lots of shade a godsend on hot day & scenic to boot!
Organisation excellent apart from shambles at finish!
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Shady lanes and plenty of water stations very welcome on this hot day
In full: Well organised as usual with excellent marshal support. The course is so much better than it used to be, lots of mild hills. As usual it was very hot and this detracted from the chances of good time.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Hot and lumpy but worth the effort
In full: Enjoyed the race but I could have picked an easier one for my first half marathon, seemed like there wasn't a flat section anywhere.
Good marshalling and support along a pretty scenic route with plenty of water stations.
The only things I didn't like were the 2 bottlenecks immediately after the start and the lack of sports drinks at the end, though the ice-lollies were a good idea on a hot fairly humid day.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great (except for the finish)
In full: First half marathon and got round in 1:56 so was chuffed. Marshalling (and general crowd support) was excellent as was organisation at the start. Poor organisation at the end was a blight on what was otherwise a really great experience.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: really enjoyed this race
In full: Loved the new course, thought it was slighty harder but much more scenic. Loved the walkers being there and loved the amount of water stations. i think this race IS good value, T shirt, medal, lolly and chip timing...see you next year.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Pro's and Cons
In full: I always find the rating criteria too rigid and not flexible enough to really reflect my impression on a race, and this is a prime example.
I gave organisation a 3, but there are parts of this race that deserved a 5 and others a 1.
Marshall's were a plenty, were very supportive and noisy in places and the amount of water stations on such a hot day is second to none in any Half Marathon I've been in so far. The start and the expected finish times was well organised. That's the good stuff.
The bad; the finish area was shambolic. You finish and then you have to remind yourself to get a medal (generic for all distances on the day is a cop out). You have to remind yourself to take off your chip. You have to search out a t-shirt. I finished top 10, and came into the finish area wondering where to go and what to do. It was stacked with people getting ice lollies and medals from the earlier races and no directions to what you need to pick up as your finishers reward. Why not clear the people out the way in time for the mass of Half Marathoners coming in? Some kind of system at the end would be wise. Still no results on Monday, I know it's soon but that's what chip time is for - I have been in other races that have results almost immediately with chips, so if I'm paying for the use of the chip it would be nice to get an efficient service out of it.
A big bug bear of mine was the route map. I never received the updated one in my race pack and the old one was online until only very recently. My Aunt and cousin went to a point to cheer me on to find out we were not coming past as the route had changed and a lady drove round to tell them and others we were not coming by. Thanks for that organisers.
The car parking - well that's my fault in a way. I last ran this 3 years ago and the exit was a nightmare then and it was just as bad yesterday, obviously no measures taken to sort that out. We left the cars, went for a walk to get something to eat and came back when it was quiet. Must remember to not park there again.

Some great views during the race through lovely greenery, it is certainly undulating and I enjoyed the actual run itself a lot. No faults there at all. Great to have the roads closed for us. I have the feeling they want to make this event even better year on year, and it has much potential, just need to iron out a few creases first. The main website could do with a revamp for a start, but if your looking to do a Half to add to your ' have done' list then this is worth a go.
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Scenery much better than expected and quite challenging
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great race, hot day, quite hilly
Date of review: June 9, 2008

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