EDF Energy Birmingham Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (191 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Richard Simkiss
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great if you're not caught in the congestion, but course & general setup could not handle the number of runners.
In full: I felt very lucky to be in the first pen, as it sounds like it was a bit of a nightmare for the mid-packers.
My only gripes were the delayed start because people were still arriving at start area at 9am... I had to battle through crowds of spectators to get to my area (climbing the barriers in the process).. oh and the bottleneck 50m after the start (It held me up slightly and I was in the first wave!).
Running down the long road on the return section of the course to be greeted by runners coming at me head on, on the wrong side of the course (A sign that the course wasn't wide enough for the masses).
And which idiot put the 500m to go sign about 150m-200m before the finish? I held off my finishing kick far too late as a result.
Otherwise, really enjoyed the race, good standard of competition, great support from the locals, and a pretty quick course. No Cranberry Sauce in the goody bag this year though :o( lol.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Must run faster!
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Crap start, worse finish, cramped course, Bham must do better.
In full: As a resident Brummie the best part of this race was the fact that I got home quickly afterwards. Absoloutely no point in having pens as it was a free for all resulting in people cutting in and out from the beginning right through to the end of the course. The route was too narrow and winding which led again to dangerous behaviour as faster runners tried to pass slower runners in front. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, the finish line - or the fact that you couldn't get accross the finish line. Then to have to wait for 20 minutes to get your chip removed and your bag - ridiculous!
Birmingham must address these issues or they wont have any runners next year.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: matt hopkins 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very congested. Took me nearly 8 miles to claw back the time I lost in the first 2miles.
In full: I think my sentiments largely echo other comments made on this site. The start was very poor - I'd argue it was more congested than VLM, which is about four times the size. I didn't have any probs at the finish, but I finished in 1:24:07, so it wasnt too congested. I appreciate that it would be absolutely gutting for people who got delayed crossing the finish line - it's a basic thing that simply shouldn't happen.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: lovelybird62
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: crap start, crap finish, don't matter about the bit in the middle....
In full: crap start, got over line (ie chip activated) then stopped for 2 mins waiting for congestion to ease, but even more pissed off by the even crapper finish! wanted my 'run over the line moment' that's what finishing the race is all about...not impressed! didn't like the route as much as last year either, why keep changing it?? that's 3 different routes in 3 years, sort it out Bham!
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: richard brankley
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In full: The most badly organise run I have entered. A shame because the course and the crowd lent towards a quick and enjoyable run. However - parking and temporary road diversions were a nightmare and poor signage in general compounded the ridiculous 9am start. Add to that a free for all start that could knock minutes off your time, a backlog at the finish and some poorly placed cones on parts of the course that were too narrow and I left with the impression that this was organised as a weekly task for Alan Sugars' Apprentice hopefuls. I actually enjoyed the run but left feeling it should have been so much better.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Esther Whitten
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: shambles at start caused an uncomfortable run for 1st 5 miles, finish was terrible
In full: i did this race last year and was looking foward to coming back with an alternative route, but i have to say the start was awful. not sure where to go (where were the balloons from 2009) and having to climb over the barriers TWICE to finally get in my correct pen, i was disspointed that for the first 4-5 miles i struggled to establish a pace because of slowler runners, and people walking in front of me - how i ask when i crossed the start line within 5 minutes of the gun!!! thought i was going backwards at times lol
i was dissapointed with the bottleneck shortly after starting , this was a potential hazard as runners were just beginning to speed up to come to a very qucik stop, generally the route was very nice, and i can see how a PB is achievable. i due to injury hadnt ran for 6 weeks and still got a good time. the incline at 10.5 and 12 was hard but preferable to the end last year.
the spectators and music (community presence) along the way was very nice - well done local brummies
then it comes to the finshline, well when your running a sprint to the finish to come to a very dramatic stop, not the best. it took me once actually got to cross finish line 45 minutes to get through and pick up bag etc. this needs improving. it made me smile, well actually laugh lots - that i received a text congratulating me on finishing the race and my time from the chip when i still hadnt moved off the actual mat!!
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Tim Hulse 2
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% |
In short: Great people around the course shame the Organisers are useless
In full: The start was a joke, I spent the first 9 miles weaving past walkers and slow joggers. I felt gutted by this - but thanksfully avoided the madness of queueing to cross the finish line - absolutely criminal. Great spectators & bands.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: ian stevenson
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Free for all at the start. 20 minute queue on the finish line
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Irondog
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The Midlands Has Lots Of Breweries ............ This Lot Couldn't Organise The Proverbial
In full: I had to pull out of this having been called in to work - so what qualifies me to comment? My wife ringing me at work to say she was standing in the queue for .............. the finish line! My daughter had the same problem albeit not quite the same delay as she is a quicker runner. But both were on for PB's and both missed out due to poor start organisation and a catastrophic finish line! A real shame for the UK's (alleged) 2nd city.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Ian Mullin
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Shambles
In full: Start line was a total shambles, no organisation, pointless having colour coded numbers and pens as we couldn't get to them. Ran with a first timer was a tough course but very enjoyable.. Loved the crowds especially being out at 9am on a cold october morning.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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