Larking Gowen City of Norwich Half Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (267 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: KAREN Vernon
 | | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: |
In short: see below
In full: Didn't run it as they did not inform anyone until after you had paid your entrance fee that you could not use MP3 players which I thought was very sneaky. I suggest that next year they put it on their entry forms.
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Matt Howes
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A challenging two-laps. Well marshalled.
In full: This was my first half marathon and I found the hill at the end of the course really tough, especially as I remembered it from the first lap. I arrived at 9.45 when there were no queues to get in the car park. There were lots of marshalls giving you encouragement and several drink stops along the way. Well done to those who organised it.
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Helen Runs
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A bit boring but a good run. Took ages to get out of the carpark though and get into it!
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: nick pullen
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A fast course and a well organised race - nice!
In full: As one of those people who was perhaps not as early as I could have been, the delayed start helped me out quite a bit. The organisation seemed very good, especially the drinks stations, and number of marshalls around the course.
I rather liked the course itself as it wasn't very undulating, which meant I could set a PB again and if you had never done the course before 2 laps means you can plan where to pick your speed up 2nd time around.
Goody-bag wise I think it's nice to get one, as I've done plenty of races where you only get a medal, so the fact we got an apple/banana/cereal bar was cool.
Nice T-Shirt too!
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: G.fromthewell
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Nice setting over two laps, well organised, excellent marshals and volunteers.
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Richard Munn
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Lonely at the front end and a challenging hill to contend with-not that fast
In full: It was an OK race. I needed to do it to try and get a qualifying time for London and this was the only one that fitted my various committments.
It is a 2 lap cpourse and the first three miles were honest flat miles. Then this nice downhill section allows you to pick up the pace. After that you have an undulating section and then just before you get to the 6 mile point this very steep hill confronts you. First time around it slows you down but when you meet it for a second time it is real make or break stuff and unfortunately it broke me. I was about 20 seconds slower than my average pace on the second time I tackled the hill.
The course is also very rural and therefore there are not as many spectators as you would get at a more urban event. If you are running on your own (as I was) most of the race felt like a very long time trial!
Marshalling, organisation and car parking were all good though i think when the front runners started to meet the runners at the tailend a bit more could have been done to warn the runners that were being overtaken to be aware of the faster runners.
All that said the race was OK and I would say that whereas it was a very fast course it wasnt slow either.
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Rebecca Ford 4
| | 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: excellent as a first half marathon, hilly bit at mile 6ish and 12ish (as 2 laps)
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Iron Tractor Boy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A good challenge course on 2 laps.
In full: As it is on two laps you know where you more challenging bits of the course are. They only had water at the aid stations so I carried my own drink and gels.
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Chris Haycock
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A good rather than great race around undulating course, couple of good downhillss make up for nasty little slope right at the end. Organisation badly affected by traffic issues. Who pinched the contents of my goody bag?f
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Gary Norman 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good event
In full: My 2nd Norwich half, illness put payed to any thoughts of a pb but beat last years time by 5mins.Water stations well manned, a well organised race all round. Regarding the goody bag as long as there's a fruit bar, drink, fresh fruit I'am happy. As for car parking, don't think we can blame the organisers for pre-race weather, credit to the stewards for allowing an organised departure.My only gripe was not being able to purchase a t shirt on the day, I know people pre-ordered,so I left it until I was leaving (2pm)only to be told they were not allowed to sell them till later.
Date of review: December 1, 2008
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