BUPA Great South RunHere's how RW members rated this race (813 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: Alec Fitzsimmons
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fast but let down in key areas
In full: 2 things let this down:
1. The Mile markers were way out, which was annoying as I was using this as a good race to test my marathon training pace.
2. They messed up the allocation of waves. I don't think people were overly ambitious in their finish times; I think something went wrong with the system. My girlfriend should have been allocated with her sister in the White wave, but ended up with me in the Orange wave. I know a few other people this happened to.
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: angus pringle
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great Race, shame so many people in orange wave slowed the start
In full: Great race, althought cold and wet at the start. Difficult to hear "mr motivator" as he led the warm up as there was a separate tannoy system to introduce the elite athletes. The race organisers really need to be more strict about who enters the orange wave - I was aiming for a sub 70 minute run - but spent first 2 miles weaving through MUCH slower runners which meant I was 4 minutes outside my PB. Other than this it was a great run - althought the weather in the last few years has put a dampner on it! Perhaps they need to make the run two weeks earlier?
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: linsblake
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Excellent support transforms this race from a dull, rainy 10 miles into an event worth doing
In full: Whilst I very much enjoyed this race again I have to agree with the comments on the wave start - I was bumped down to white A this year which was fine but within a mile I was coming across obviously unfit people struggling with Orange numbers. This must be so annoying for them being passed constantly and for faster runners weaving to get past them.
Actually rather liked the rain this year and not so blowy on the final stretch and will definately be back for more next year but it would be nice to think that the Great Run peeps will start to listen to the runners and keep this race on the list for faster runners.
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Biggles M&Ms
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great Flat, Fast Race
In full: I have completed this race 5 times now and have always enjoyed it. Okay getting in and out the city by car can take a bit of time but other than that I think that it is a fantastic course. There is very little in the way of undulations meaning that it’s has great potential for a PB and is a good 10 miler for 1st time runners over this distance. Despite the rain and wind over the last 3 years there is always a fantastic amount of support for the runners, so full credit to the locals and spectators.
Though I do have to agree with some of the previous posts about people being a bit over ambitious with their entry time. I can understand about people wanting to enjoy the moment though it is a little frustrating coming across a line of 3 people walking within the first mile.
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Phil Harris 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: started in 1500th, finished 290th after usual first mile slalom!!
In full: Last year I finished in 321st position, this year I finished in 290th so why do I have to start in orange B behind 1500 runners of extremely mixed ability. Dodging around all of the people who must have lied about their expected time added over a minute to my first mile and so stuffed up my chances of a pb.
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Nicola Stockley
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: First run in such a large organised event. Impressed by the smoothness of the whole set-up
In full: Only disappointing aspect was the grading in the wave start. Are runners too optimistic of their finish times or is it an admin error? Some runners in white wave C were walking at 1 mile, even more at 2, thus holding everyone else up. Took first 4 miles to get past slower runners. If I do it again, I will definitley look to go up a wave.
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Ian Cadman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A very good race, Well i keep coming back!!
In full: Have completed this a few times and every year i learn something new, this year i learned that getting the train meant i got home 2 hrs quicker than last year. Fantastic. However i will agree that it is very frustrating as to how many people are walking after a short distance, i started with the white wave and the first mile took 10min due to slow, slow pace in front(i try to average 7min30). By the time i reached 3 miles any chance of PB was long gone. Good fun alround though
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: BUPA PATEL
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great race with a few issues, good local support.
In full: No problems getting to the Common, then we encountered the Car Park Marshalls - oh dear, why have two lanes coming in, split them then into four lanes, then back into two lanes causing back logs - whats that all about ???
Great race organisation itself, plenty of signage, loos etc, great guy on the PA keeping everyone entertained. Horrific weather as is usual for the GSR, third year in a row now weather has been less than ideal. The new wave start was much better than last year, only gripe with it is that some of the so called "faster runners" in Orange wave A & B were walking by the 2nd mile ??? - c'mon guys, be honest next time and let faster runners have a chance will ya ???
Good support all along the course from the locals, well managed finishing area with a great goody bag and a quality medal. No issues exiting the common, made a quick get away (less than 2 minutes) after learning the hard way last year which took over 90 minutes.
Overall, a great race, would recommend, especially for newbies.
Date of review: October 28, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: littlemisslazy
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: A lovely, flat, friendly race
Date of review: October 27, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: krissie
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: fantastic race
Date of review: October 27, 2008
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