Shakespeare MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (815 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Karen Samuel
 | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Remember Me? No! Let me jog your memory. My name is Karen Samuel; rejected 6 times from LVM.
In full: Relatives, Friends and fellow Runners please lend me your ears.
I just ran Rotary Shakespeare Marathon on 25th April, 2010 in the clean and beautiful city of Stratford–upon-Avon in Warwickshire. The same place in which William Shakespeare, the great playwright once lived.
I was umming and arring on whether to run the race because of the travelling distance. My darling Romeo was away. However, I decided to do the Shakespeare Marathon because I was desperate to run the London Marathon.
My damaged groins let me down once again. Shakespeare once wrote ‘The course of true love never did run smooth’. – that applied to my painful run.
I liked the course but it was quite a bit undulating and more hilly, especially on the second half. I have never seen so many supportive Marshals and the locals were as loud and cheerful as Hastings half Marathon.
I knew it was going to be good race because Jand Results chip timing were involved. Although I must say Jand there is difference with my time, I actually made my time 4.25!!! Just one problem I had with the race, I was unable to find any portaloos at the start and the finish but there were plenty of toilets en route. However, it was not a major problem as I used the local pub toilet. There were also lots of water stations en route. The announcer at the start of the race, I’m not sure if that was the lady Mayor, (I could not see her) was a barrel of laughs and had a great sense of humour. At the finish the Mayor actually handed out the medals out to runners. I preferred her medal thy one which she was wearing!!! Can we swap????
Were there any goody bags? All I received with the medal was a small bottle of water, and a banana.
This was a great marathon. I would love to run it again, but I seriously need to sort my legs out. It took me 3 hours to drive there and 4 hours home (traffic).
Well done everyone involved!! I loved all the flags that were displayed in the town especially the Grenadian flag, but could not find the Jamaican flag!
To run or not run the Shakespeare Marathon??? That is the question.
I loved ye city, locals and thee atmosphere. Shakespeare, this was no doubt in my mind one of thee greatest marathons I ever ran, but please more toilets before and after thee race and more energy drinks during thy race.
Now I have just got to wait with baited breath to see if I got a place for LVM 2011. (It’s not looking good –I think I am doomed:(
When: 25th April, 2010
Where: Stratford upon-Avon in Warwickshire.
Time: 09.30
The half marathon is also ran at the same time (1 lap)
NB: The marathon is a 2 lap course which is undulating in places. The cut off time is 6 hours!!!
Dedicated to William Shakespeare baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon (birth date unknown) baptised 26 April 1564, died 23 April 1616 at the age of 52 years.
Poet, playwright and actor - considered as England’s greatest rater, oops writer that ever lived.
“O Bottom, thou art changed! What do I see on thee?â€
(From A Midsummer Night’s Dream.)
Cellulite!!!
R.I.P Bro. Powell - 21.11.34 to 14.04.10
Date of review: May 1, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: KayCee
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised and scenic race.
In full: My first time for the full, always hard to keep going when others turn off at half way in a 2 lap race. Good marshalls, enough water stations. Start through town very congested and also at a cuple of points through the course. Nice medal and a bargain compared to the half.
Date of review: May 1, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: nick-c
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised, pretty and varied route, tough last few miles
Date of review: April 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: JOHN Stew 7
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 3rd run at this event, as well organised a race you will find anywhere
In full: A highly proffessional and well managed race, good marshalling all over the course, good system of drink stations, and sponges on hot days always welcome. Still comes up with a unique medal at each race, and remains one of the best Marathons in the UK....Keep it up.!
Date of review: April 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Jo Palmer 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: more cheerful marshalls please!
Date of review: April 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: JBS
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In full: Enjoyed it, good first marathon. Marshells could be more suportive, espiecally on second lap. If your using cups of water instead of bottles make sure there full,i like to be able to drink & pour some on my head, hardly enough to drink at some of later stations.Was still fun & i will run it again.
Date of review: April 29, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Mike Medcraft
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A Good first marathon!
In full: It was a good race & my first ever marathon. Although the 2hr25 cut off for the first lap was in the back of my mind for the entire first circuit and the Greenway is a lonely place on the second circuit when the legs are hurting & the mind is begging you to stop! But overall it is a good well organised marathon that I would do again!
Date of review: April 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Hannah Spriggs
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: excellent organisation, enjoyable experience
In full: GOOD - marshalling, signage, finish area, organisation, supporting charities, decent original medal, no. water stations, big race
IMPROVE? - plastic cups not great, not enough energy drink, no iPods (the greenway is 5 miles long on 2nd lap - yawn)
Date of review: April 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: The Lazy Greyhound
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Another enjoyable plod around Stratford
In full: This was my 4th Shakespeare marathon. Can't honestly say that the cup issue was that much of a problem. The point must be that they had plenty of water. If they had started to run out then that would have been cause for complaint. Overall a well organised race, easy parking right by the finish (council could have offered it for less than £6 though) and I even managed to enjoy the greenway for the first time ever!
Date of review: April 28, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Clive Trusson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good Regional Marathon
In full: Made a weekend of it, visiting Cov. Cathedral on Saturday and the family were able to enjoy Stratford on Sunday while I ran the marathon. Certainly could have done with more water in the cups in mid-race (or pref. bottles which were only available at the first water station - would have paid more to enable this). I think this possibly contributed to me suffering more than usual after 20 miles. but thanks to all the marshalls and organizers. As someone who tries a different marathon each year it is good to cherish those regional marathons available.
Date of review: April 28, 2010
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