Baxters Loch Ness MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (442 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Runner MacBean
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very special - will remember this for a long time
In full: As a relative newcomer to running in general and particularly with this being my first ever marathon, I had felt a certain amount of trepidation before this event. I needn't have worried - apart from the bus situation ('nuff said already, I don't need to say any more) this has been the best event I've entered so far. From the very friendly and supportive fellow runners (with special thanks to my hostel room-mates Liz and Anne, you know who you are, ladies!) to the efficient and smooth organisation, to the course itself. I loved it - perfect weather, beautiful scenery, supportive locals, even the two-mile hill couldn't dampen my spirits (even if it did kill my quads!) And as the final bonus I smashed my target time and finished in 3.45 (and I could have shaved a couple of seconds off this if I hadn't slowed to high-five the gorilla! Cheers mate - really made me smile when I needed it most! :D ) All in all, a near-perfect day - I'm sure this has spoiled me for other events. I will certainly be back in a couple of years!
Date of review: October 9, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Duane Daugherty 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A great race, in beautiful place as long as you run at the right pace. Marshalls, other runners and the spectators were very supportive. The weather was close to perfect. I just tried running too fast in the first half of the race, and paid for it.
Date of review: October 9, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: skytrekker
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great scenery, great people, great race, great tim had by all.
In full: Apart from a mess up by the bus companies it was a very well organised event and one which i am glad to call my very first marathon.
Ill be back.
Date of review: October 9, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Mooey
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fun, Fab & Fantastic!!!
In full: Exceptional marathon in every sense. My 2nd Loch Ness (and 2 PB's - so can't be that bad!)- and it won't be the last. A big thank you to all the helpers/marshalls who were very friendly and encouraging. Great scenery.
Goodie bag & medal were brill, too. Tee shirt was nice, but would prefer a technical tee even if it means paying a higher price for entry. Well done Baxters - see you next year :o)
Date of review: October 8, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Kwaka
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Very enjoyable and great value for money. Organisation was excellent, the late bus arrival being only a minor irritation.
Date of review: October 7, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: bapestar
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Perfect weather , Stunning scenery , well organised except for the buses from inverness and the one in front of ours breaking down .
Thank you to all the villagers young and old for your support and especially the old lady who gave me some jelly babies at 23 miles !
see you next year .
Date of review: October 7, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Gordon Ross
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great scenery spoilt by great incompetence
In full: As background information to my comments, I would like to point out that I travelled from Germany to do the race, and spent a lot of time and money doing it. So maybe you can understand if I am a little more critical than other people.
1. There was no record of my pasta party ticket which I had ordered. fair enough.......these things happen.
2. The bus fiasco. I guess you have heard enough about this, but my comment is simply this: couldn't they of sent someone around the buses informing us of the problem? Would that have been so difficult? We waited for over an hour. The toilet on the bus was full and disgusting and........well, you know.........Why use buses at all? Why not start and finish at the stadium? Out and back course? Is it because of traffic regulations? Other cities manage it!
3. I informed the organizers when I entered the race that I had my OWN Champions Chip. Imagine my surprise when I found another race Chip in my race envelope despite this. I had already had so much hassle and was so tired I couldn't be bothered to report this, so I just ran with BOTH chips.......thinking that I couldn't go wrong........but I was wrong..........you guessed it.....
4. There are no race results and consequently no photos for me. I have no idea why. I had 2 chips and neither seemed to have worked. Hmmmmmm
All these problems in themselves are not SERIOUS I guess(except for the buses fiasco)and I am fully aware how hard it is to organize a biggish race, but taken all in all, they were more than annoying. I wouldn't do the race again because of them.
There were positive aspect of course - above all the scenery, the bagpipes and the excellent food but the organizational incompetence (which I have never experienced in any other race) unfortunately put the dampeners on those aspects.
Date of review: October 7, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: nelso
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Glad I chose Loch Ness as my first marathon
In full: Good atmosphere around Inverness and the Loch all weekend. Fantastic scenery for the entire 26 miles made up for aches and pains that were brought on as a result of the never ending hill at 17-18 miles. Whilst I wasnt expecting much in the way of crowds, the villagers came out in force and really helped me along the way. All in all, a great weekend that I would highly recommend.
Date of review: October 7, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: William Bonar
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Set a new PB time here, some tough hills, especially miles 17 - 19!
Date of review: October 7, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: helterskelter
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Tough on the legs but puts a big smile on the face!
In full: My comments are along the same lines as most other peoples. What a wonderful, welcoming and beautiful race. The scenery was spectacular and the atmosphere was outstanding. The local villagers came out in force to cheer us on and provide support and all of the volunteers did a brilliant job. I got myself a brand new PB and some wonderful memories. It might take a month for my legs to recover but it was so so worth it! The organisers should be very pleased with themselves - buses shmuses.
Date of review: October 7, 2009
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