EDF Energy Birmingham Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (191 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Ian Lloyd 2
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very poor organisation at start and finish
In full: No signs to parking, and the cost was very steep, no warning about this. The early start hurt people trying to get there via public transport. Not enough toilets at the baggage area. Incredibly crowded start, now i know what sardines feel like. And it seems nobody took any notice to the starting sections which meant overtaking and weaving for close to half the race, which is not ideal for keeping a pace. And to start and then have to stop after 20 seconds for the bottleneck was inexcusable. The route was nice a realtively flat, but the poorly divided two-way road sections combined with narrow roads led to even more weaving. The hill at 10-11 miles was not a nice surprise and was like coming up against a mountain. The last 3 miles was very tough and challenging (for me at least). Thankfully i crossed the line before the congestion started, but again this is inexcusable, i really feel for the people who trained hard and got the finish and had to wait to cross the line. Easily the poorest race organistaion i have experienced and has put me off coming back next year. Lessons need to be learnt.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: ALD
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: luckily started at the front!!
In full: After realising there were purple and blank colour numbers in with the black bands, I moved forward to the green start. I walked past two race organisers who didn't say anything. They were letting people into this section regardless of their colour so no wonder it was a complete mishmash.
Overall my race went excellently and I got a 13 minute PB, but unless there is an assurance that starting blocks will be marshalled I won't be back.
Sounds awful at the end for many people though.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: mistywillow
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Devastating lack of organisation
In full: Am absolutely gutted. To sprint for the finish line, on for a PB, only to have to pull up short to join a queue to get over the line. Not only robbed of a PB, but robbed of the hard-won experience of running over that finish. Devastated.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: TOWN FAN
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: First time ,great course but need to sort start and finish.
In full: First time I have run this,I really do feel for the people who had problems at the start and finish the organisers need to listen to them.From a personal point of view I had no problems because I had green number so I crossed the line quite quickly.The water stations needed to be marked more clearly and set out longer to try and avoid the congestion.Another thing my garmin measured the route at 13.3m I spoke to other runners and they had the same something not right there.One way they could improve the removal of the chips is to supply sticky paper ties rather than wire,the girl who removed mine was using scissors to cut wire and struggled.I loved the course and ran my best time for 10 years hopefully be back next year.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: sprint
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Queuing to run over the finish line! Disgraceful
In full: Loved last year's race. Yes, there were issues with the starting pens (same this year), but the route and atmosphere was excellent.
This year:
+ Atmoshere / drinks / Weather / Goody bag / waft of chocolate when passing cadburys
- Route was changed to shorten the Bournville section (which was a highlight LY)
- Ridiculous 2m sharp incline (miles 11&12)
- Starting pens were unclear and poorly organised
BUT this is incidental when you've trained for months, run 13 hard miles and then have to queue for 5 mins to pass the finish line.
Organisers should apologise and refund / discount next year for those affected.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Pi Mark
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The start was bad and should have been avoided as this is the third atempt to get it right. Having said that i enjoyed the rest of the race once the crowds started to thin out at about 3 miles. It
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: cosmic
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good Run, Just requires better organisation
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: SoS_flyer
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Why did you change it all again???
In full: Third time out for me & sadly must concur that it was the worst experience. Last year was close to perfect, start brought into town, but well queued & marshalled round the back of the square. Course was fine, personally I preferred the hit of the hill to the finish in the last mile rather than over 10-12, but that's preference. I went away thinking good job, organisers had listened yo feedback and it made a difference. This year tho! The start was a shocker, fortunately I managed to get in about the right place but honestly it might as well have been a free for all, first 2 miles were dangerous and there was no chance to settle, not fair on anyone really. Fortunately was way ahead of finish issues but they sound like a nightmare.
Please listen to the feedback, you normally do! I'd switch the start to 09 format, in fact most of the course & all issues would disappear! If you're aiming for 15k entries you could do worse than taking a trip down to Berkshire in March, Reading manage it brilliantly year after year. The potentialof the race is too good to be let down by basics, I've always enjoyed this & did today I hope too many weren't put off and it was just a bad day at the office for the organisers :-)
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: James Goldby
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A complete shambles, more like commuting at rush hour than racing.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Rob_bridge
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Super atmosphere. Sort out the start and the finish!!!
In full: OK 2nd time I have done my city of origin race. Last year organisation was not great at the start - this year add the finish to the start. Woeful. There is not enough room for spectators and runners at the start. Nowhere near.
Sort this out and this has potential to become a fantastic event - if you don't people will stop coming back.
Good to see the wonderful folk of Brum come out at an earlier hour to cheer us on and thanks to all the volunteers - you are the unsung heroes of these events.
Date of review: October 24, 2010
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