'Down Tow Up Flow' Thames Towpath Half Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (167 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: Helen99
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great scenery, mainly good organisation but way too hot!
In full: The race was very good and generally well-organised, particularly the buses to the start.
As others have said, running out of water at the final station was potentially dangerous. There could have been a back-up of large bottles of tap water and some cups.
The course was beautiful but not as shady as I expected so I really felt the heat. May do it next year if the weather is cooler.
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Redheadedraver
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fab scenery, no hills, not much tarmac, great organisation, shame about the heatwave. I'll be back next year.
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Simon Lawrence 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hot. Very hot. Very very very hot. Flat, but hot.
In full: Before the one piece of criticism, let me say that I really enjoyed my first half marathon for about 14 years. Excellent organisation, fantastic course, good value, Mars Bar a lovely touch and I fell in love with the lady with the hosepipe.
But the one piece of criticisim really needs to be addressed and that is that there was insufficient water on the fifth and final water station. Even if it had been cloudy that would have been disappointing but given how hot is was, I think it was negligent. (What made it worse was that one of the stewards was encouraging runners by telling them that the next water station was les than half a mile away.)
Ah well, it certainly won't stop me from participating next year.
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: texastony
| | 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: Great views, good organisation, no hills but a bit too hot today.
In full: My first race, very good, well organised except the last water station ran out of water before I got there (should have run faster), some stretches were on narrow paths where difficult to overtake, but I'm sure slower runners would yield if asked. I hope to do it again next year.
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Way Too Slow
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: This would have been a lovely run apart from the sun
In full: The scenery on the whole run is beautiful, specially the bit between Maidenhead and Cookham, but it was just too hot to enjoy it. Had it been a little cooler this would have been a delightful race, but in the end it was a bit of a slog in the sun.
The only flaw in the organisation was that they ran out of water at the last water station, but other than that the organisation was spot on. I was very grateful to the lady with the water spray at Bourne End.
I will definitely do this one again next year and keep my fingers crossed it won't be as hot again.
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: TCP
| | 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: Lovely course along the Thames
In full: In spite of the blistering heat, I really enjoyed this point to point race along the Thames. The route was from Marlow to Windsor mostly along the tow path so very flat. The organisation was great from friendly marshals to an extremely nice "bag man". There was plenty of water and the bus journey to the start was very good.
One thing I was surprised about was the number of boat people and people who lived adjacent to the tow path who seemed slightly annoyed at our presence. Many really didn't want to move slightly to let us pass, I got tutted at for dropping a water bottle 30 meters from a water station and I heard a man complaining at the number of bottles outside his house. This was also within sight of a water station and a marshal was obviously walking back and forth picking them up. Thankfully, there were pockets of happy people cheering us on. Thanks.
Thanks to all at Purple Patch for a great race. I'll be back for the Grand Union Canal Half.
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Yvonne Scott
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Has potential but too hot this year as very open and no shade scenery lovely and flat though
Date of review: July 27, 2008
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