Surrey Badger Half-Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (192 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: Joe Hawk
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very nice race, a bit muddy but not too bad.
In full: For a first time this event has been run the organisation worked pretty much perfectly. If they can sort the weather out I will be back next year and if it rains like this year I'll have to buy myself some trail shoes. The course has some hills but nothing really nasty and they are balanced out by some really nice downhills.
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: ninanana
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Beautiful countryside, stunning views, squishy mud, supportive marshalls, , well organised
In full: What a fantastic event! Well organised at the start - not much waiting around. Friendly atmosphere - the marshalls gave appropriate levels of encouragement and were well spaced. Good mix of road and off road - thought it was going to be much muddier given the recent weather conditions. The hills were tough but worthwhile for the views and the stretches of downhill - I felt on top of the world at mile 5! Well done and thank you to those that made it such a success.
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Running Geek
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A really great run!
In full: I was very impressed by the good organisation of this run, even more so considering this is its first outing. It was nice to be able to keep warm in the barn before setting off. In addition to the mile markers along the route, I really liked the fact that signs with "drinks ahead" were there, which provided even more of an incentive to keep going! At the end of the race, I got a nice goody bag and the way this was organised probably meant that everyone ended up getting one. (It's not fun running a race with promised goodies and then not getting them when others have snatched more than they should have!)
The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly with friendly runners and encouraging marshals. I have to mention the schoolgirls at the drink stations who were so enthusiastic which provided an extra boost along the way.
The route had a good mix of uphills and downhills, although there were more hills than I expected! I liked the combo of road and trail running.
This was a really good race that I'm sure will attract more and more people each year - well done to the organisers!!!
This was a really good race
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Steve Winder
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: tough (but not brutal like MM) off road (but mainly on good surface) hillyish 1/2m with very friendly atmosphere.
In full: What a cracking event! No chance of the grim weather spoiling this one. Superbly organised considering it was the first running. One more marshall near the sawmill/summit would have been a good idea but that's the only fault i could find with it. Good idea to use the mole barn as registration area and excellent to have nice shower facilities at the finish. Goody bag etc was possibly the best i've ever seen with the Badger beer at the finish a particularly inspired and welcome additional freebie :). Will certainly be back for another crack at this one next year. An event this good deserves to be allowed a larger entry if the powers-that-be permit it. A big thanks to the organisers and all the marshalls. Cheers.
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Laura Butt 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very impressed with this race & even more so as it was the first one! Friendly marhsalls, plenty of drinks stops (inc energy drinks at some) great atmosphere & a fab goodie bag . Well l done!
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Lalli
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: What a fabulous race! Traffic-free, very well marshaled, friendly and very well set up course. I'll be doing it again!
In full: This was the inaugural Surrey Badger and was very well organised, marshaled and marked out. We were supported by enthusiastic marshals, plenty of water stations and the course was cleverly laid out so that we were rewarded with nice downhill sections after having slogged up muddy trails or weaving around to deal with awkward cambers and puddles on woodland paths.
I loved this race and will definitely do it again next year.
Thanks to all the organisers and marshals.
Fab time!
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Northern Exile
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A very enjoable run through scenic countryside.
In full: Thought the whole event was well marshalled with enthusiastic helpers. Especially the girls at the 4 and 9 mile mark!
Look forward to next year!
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: TCP
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great new race on the calendar
In full: Really enjoyed this race. Some people have put a lot of effort to make this new race such a success. The route was really good and well thought out and the organisation first rate. The goody bag was good as well. Top stuff. Thank you all.
I wish I'd worn my cross country shoes as it was very muddy in places.
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Dalya
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: A terrific inaugural half marathon
In full: Thank you to the good people at Run to Live for putting on such a fine half marathon. It's great to have such a race in Mole Valley at this time of year. The race route was very cleverly planned. After Dr. Rob's customary leadership of the group rendition of 'God Save the Queen' we started with a level warm-up mile paralleling the River Mole, then a steep, but not heartbreaking, uphill into Nobury Park, a long and varied section of up and down trail running around Norbury, past Bockett's Farm, and then a return retracing the first three miles or so of the route.
Weather had made the course muddy, and it is a hilly course in parts, but it works extremely well in terms of variety of effort needed; the downhills came at the best psychological moment, and the tracks were wide enough so that the rapid runners could pass slower ones with no jostling. It is a beautiful run for those who love nature, and included some stunning views down into the valleys. Although the course had been rained upon, we were fortunate that not much rain fell durig the race itself, and in temperature terms, it was ideal for a half.
The organisation was very fine, with smooth registration, and clear instructions at the start. The one niggle at the beginning was that there were no loos obviously accessible near the actual start point as the shopping centre loos were locked. Today, the parking lot adjacent to the start will have had more than its fair share of organic fertiliser!
But the course was very clearly marked, the marshalling superb, and the drink stations well-spaced. The goody bag was also generous, and included a T-shirt with the cute Badger logo, and many more items. There was also a convivial atmosphere to the whole event.
I'll be signing up for the 2009 version! This was great fun!
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: SeanW4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Excellent organisation. A great course. Marshalls were exceptional.
In full: A huge thank you to the organisers for putting on such a great event. It ran like clockwork. It was more challenging than expected due to the general running surface and mud at times, but all the more enjoyable because of it.
The marshalls were the best I have come across, as were those at the well placed water stations.I particularly want to thank the woman with ginger hair at the 4 mile (approx) water station and the marshall at mile 5 (approx) for their encouragement. The whole event was particularly friendly and I had several conversations with runners during and after the event. There was a good buzz. This may have partly been due to the size of the field. Any negatives fade into insignificance compared to the overall experience.
You can expect me back and I will highly recommend it to others. Thanks to all those involved once again.
Date of review: September 7, 2008
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