Events

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Very well organised event
In full: Maybe a little expensive if you do think about the cost before entering.
Marshalls were superb and I never found myself on my own (runners or spectators) for more than a minute or so.
There were 2 level crossing which people got held up at.
Running through the city centre was fantastic.
It was more hilly than advertised in my opinion.
Ample parking (although I suppose this may become a problem if it gets bigger!)

Overall, fantastic event that I would definitely recommend. Going to lay off the marathons for a while I think but I would have no hesitation of joining the wusses for the half!
Date of review: October 15, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Second time out and may Birthday as well.
In full: Ran the Leicester Half Marathon last year and that was my first ever Half. Much excitment coming back again to run my in my home city and Leicester didn't let me down. A great day - in fact my Birthday, so I had to get a PB and at 2:17:36 I got the present I wanted (well cuffed). Leicester might not be the most scenic of runs but once you get into Watermead Park and back along the canal to Abbey Park it's great. With Jackie (my wife), Chris(my son), Alicia (my soon to be Daughter in law) singing Happy Birthday to me as a came up to the finish, that made the day. My other Son Dan finsihed in 1:32:40..Don't you just hate the youngsters ....
Date of review: October 15, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great race for a 1st time marathon
In full: Great marshalls, I'd say the course is flat, lovely toilets in the village hall at 14.5 miles. Does go over a level crossing, not sure how they handle your time if you happen to get a train passing, I'd just missed one. All in all, a great day out.
Date of review: October 15, 2012

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Fair PB potential as reasonably flat for Leicestershire. Starts and ends on the busier half route.
Date of review: October 15, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In full: Having seen some mixed reviews, I would like to say as a seasoned club runner this was a really excellent event and the runners are well looked after. I have to say I got a massive PB in my 4th marathon so perhaps I am slightly biased. There was fantastic support from the many stewards and also supporters on the route. Don't come here for huge crowds but it makes such a difference to have the locals turn out. The scenery was surprisingly pleasant on what was a lovely day. The supply of drinks, High5 gel/drink etc was excellent (can't stand lucozade so again biased!). The course wasn't completely flat but no hills as such until the last 1-2 miles which was challenging after 24 miles! The organisation was good by most standards and there were plenty of toilets, plus at least two en-route. So, I'm sorry London but I much preferred Leicester to you and it was much friendlier and less intimidating!
Date of review: October 15, 2012

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Not a PB potential IMO
In full: I entered the full marathon but due to injury I had to cut this to the half, this was simple enough as you just follow a different route on the day (got a few shouts at the split point from marshals as my number was a different colour). So perhaps a good one to enter if you are injury prone like me!

I think compared to other races I have done this is good value but to a certain extent you get what you pay for.

For me despite my injury, I struggled to get my speed up for the following reasons and thinks it is useful to highlight for others -
1) First few miles very dull along Belgrade Road and didnt see a mile marker until mile 3
2) Toilet queues at the start line were so big I had to opt out and spent the first few miles looking for a public toilet while running (my own fault really but word of advice to get there early!)
3) Not that well supported
4) Ban on MP3 players, which is enforced. I know a lot of runs say they are banned but often you can wear them anyways as I see others doing this but here is was a total NO which with little support and the first 6ish miles being not scenic made a hard start
5) The more scenic parts were narrow paths which were hard to overtake on
6) Last mile is a gradual hill

Good organisation, only bananas and water at the finish but I prefer the t-shirt to a bag full of chocolate and lucozade :)

If like me you need music, crowds and lack of hills to get a PB then just be aware before you enter.


Date of review: October 15, 2012

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Shows promise, but could do better
In full: Positives
- Great weather: a tiny bit chilly to start but clear blue skies all the way around-
- Running through Watermead Park: a very pleasant part of the route and you'd easily forget you were running through an industrial city
- I was happy with my time of 1:53:12, especially since I've only been running at weekends for the past couple of months
- A nice medal, t-shirt, banana and bottle of water: all you really need in way of a race-pack
- The post-race meal at the Landsdowne Pub on London Road, which never disappoints when it comes to food
Negatives
- A ban on MP3 players, because of 'elf and safety. I'm used to running with music, and while I suspect it may have been for insurance reasons, banning music players seemed a bit over the top to me
- The finish forced you through a couple of army tents and we were penned in like sheep, steadily seizing up, as we waited to pick up our medals and t-shirts. Why couldn't they just have a wide cordoned off area for this - there was the whole of Victoria Park to play with?
- A bit of confusion in pre-race correspondence (i.e. where to pick up race packs; besides, why couldn't they mail them like every other race?)
- The support was quite poor, compared to other races I've done, like Reading, Hastings or the Great North Run. Big thanks to those who turned out to cheer us on, but Leicester's Sunday morning shoppers just looked at the runners like we were zoo animals
Date of review: October 14, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Excellent organisation. The marshals and people supporting at the drinks stations were great. There seemed more crowd support this year. The course undulates a bit. The weather was ideal. All in all an excellent day.
Date of review: October 14, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: My First. I'll never forget it. All the Marshalls were brilliant
In full: My first Marathon, in fact my first race.

You start in the heart of the city. At the top of a hill in Victoria Park sweep down around the edge of the town, then onto some big roads, then after about 6 miles the half splits off back into the town, and the full then does a 13.1M loop through the countryside through some small towns with lots of people cheering you in the towns, and quiet inbetween. Then after this extra (completely different 13.1M loop) you then come back to where you were at 6M and continue down the same route the half marathoners took a bit earlier and you go through a couple of parks and back into the edge of Leicester, then through the main shopping streets, then the only really steep bit of the race is a slog up the hill you came down initially back to Victoria Park. It's hard this hill right a the end but I found it fun. I was going to struggle at the end whatever the terrain, so why not go uphill. Then you have a flat 200m dash to the finish.

It was great everyone was so helpful, in the quiet bits you need the marshalls otherwise you would get lost but they have it covered. Oh... and after about 15 miles there is a drink stop outside a village hall where two very nice ladies were looking after the village hall loos, and making them lovely and clean for us to use. I was dreading messy loos and these were spotless. Love the whole thing will be back next year.
Date of review: October 14, 2012

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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: Well organised and marshaled
In full: This was my first road race, I do XC and fell running normaly. I wasn't particularly looking forward to it as I'd only entered it as a couple of mates were doing it. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, the atmosphere was great helped my the enthusiastic marshals and the local residents who clapped us on. the last couple of miles up through the shopping areas was briliant. I will definatly do it again next year.
Date of review: October 13, 2011

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