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EVENTS
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23rd Great North West Half Marathon * Runnner's World pacing race with pacers 7 to 12 minute miling*

Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (31 votes).

11 to 20 of 31 ratingsPage: 1  2  3  4  

2012 race reviewed by: pdmancs
Overall score
 
60%
Would you do it again?
 
Maybe
 
Details:
Scenery
 
60%
PB potential
 
80%
Atmosphere
 
40%
Organisation
 
40%
Value
 
60%
Beginner-friendliness
 
40%

In short: Ok
In full: Minuses - not enough parking. Directions/signs at registration not great. Needed more loos. No gun at the off ('3, 2, 1, go'). Water stations poorly manned (wouldn't want to be arriving with a pack of runners). Goody bag woeful - worst ever (50p socks, no use for runners!). Lots of club runners might scare first timers.

Pluses - fairly good PB potential if there's no wind. Loop course good for spectators.
Date of review: February 28, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: David Worrall 4
Overall score
 
80%
Would you do it again?
 
Yes
 
Details:
Scenery
 
80%
PB potential
 
80%
Atmosphere
 
60%
Organisation
 
80%
Value
 
60%
Beginner-friendliness
 
60%

In short: Well organised enjoyable run.
Date of review: February 28, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: fat-arze
Overall score
 
60%
Would you do it again?
 
Maybe
 
Details:
Scenery
 
60%
PB potential
 
100%
Atmosphere
 
40%
Organisation
 
60%
Value
 
60%
Beginner-friendliness
 
60%

In short: fast course n nice medal
In full: couple of things need sorted for next year, toilets - lots more of them pls, people were pissing everywhere (haha), also runners need some access to the start, there was too many heavy people near the front, can we pls get better goody bags ( flydecoastrunning are u just there to rip people off?) - you can do better for sure.

i would only come back for the p.b. hope the marathon next sunday is better
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: david bastow
Overall score
 
60%
Would you do it again?
 
No
 
Details:
Scenery
 
40%
PB potential
 
80%
Atmosphere
 
60%
Organisation
 
80%
Value
 
20%
Beginner-friendliness
 
60%

In short: Not the greatest Half I have done
In full: Felt dissapointed..expected more...Why you may ask?Abrupt to leave the HQ when you have collected your number..why?plenty of room...bag pipes blowing your mind..good intention I suppose.water stations un manned nearly had my head shaken at mile 9 with some tall bloke taking the water.Goody bag pathetic.Handed out with no thanks well done...but it round our heads weve jsut ran 13.1 miles...socks ha ha ha 3 pairs for a pound...wont do this race again...boring flat wall to your left sea to your right...
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: Miss fitz
Overall score
 
60%
Would you do it again?
 
No
 
Details:
Scenery
 
40%
PB potential
 
80%
Atmosphere
 
40%
Organisation
 
60%
Value
 
60%
Beginner-friendliness
 
60%

Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: Phillip Stringer
Would you do it again?
 
Maybe
 
Details:
Scenery
 
60%
PB potential
 
100%
Atmosphere
 
60%
Organisation
 
80%
Value
 
80%
Beginner-friendliness
 
100%

In short: PB Potential
In full: Nice and flat
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: El Hurrecan
Overall score
 
60%
Would you do it again?
 
Maybe
 
Details:
Scenery
 
80%
PB potential
 
100%
Atmosphere
 
60%
Organisation
 
40%
Value
 
40%
Beginner-friendliness
 
40%

In short: A good race but could be SO much better
In full: First... the car parking problems really annoyed me. Got there two hours before race start, had a shcok as there was £2 charge, and then it was a free for all as the guy sorting cars was not up to the job and the other bloke with the money was boarderline rude to most people. Someone people attempted to warn them of the problems they were about to cause but on they went! In the end 200+ Cars were blocked in! Really spoit the day for me as I got back and had to wait for a while before enough people turned up so there was a gap!

The race, I liked the course, intresting to a non Blackpool resident, and not that challenging. PB breaker for sure.

Other than the car park, its was well organised. Agree that for the money we paid you would expect a better goody bag, or if not more than just water at the water stations. Not the cheapest race I have done, and certinly one of the worst in terms of value.

Other runners were great though helping people around, the pacers were great, and the Blackpool residents where they were cheered people on.

Idea race for a weekend away as well.

All in all, considering this as something like the 23rd running of the race I expected much more for my money.... would probs do it again as I liked the course though.

Quick getting times and photos up on the net too.. bonus points for that
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: david goodwin 3
Overall score
 
80%
Would you do it again?
 
Yes
 
Details:
Scenery
 
80%
PB potential
 
80%
Atmosphere
 
80%
Organisation
 
60%
Value
 
60%
Beginner-friendliness
 
80%

In short: anybody want these socks ?? LOL LOL
In full: nice flat traffic-free run and the weather was
kind too. the bagpipe player was not really my
cup of tea to be honest and runners need to get
to the start line from the back and not from
the front which resulted in slow runners at the
very front of the race-two nearly tripped me up.
nice medal but goody bag very poor, the socks
were rubbish to be totally honest.
stayed overnight (the wilton) about 200 yards
away and arranged a shower there after the run
which made such a difference-great stuff.
will do again but please improve the goody bag.
PS the 1-30 pacer, how can you run that quick
while carrying a stick and chatting !! amazing
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: Snail1972
Overall score
 
100%
Would you do it again?
 
Yes
 
Details:
Scenery
 
80%
PB potential
 
100%
Atmosphere
 
80%
Organisation
 
80%
Value
 
80%
Beginner-friendliness
 
100%

In short: Slick organisation, good flat course, cracking medal!
In full: This was my first half marathon and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it!
Registration was quick and efficient.
Parking was almost shambolic - there seemed to only be one chap directing cars and he was a bit overwhelmed - more staff needed for this next time!
Massive crowd support at the start, this had thinned out a bit by the time I finished but was still very vocal. Not much support on the way round, though the water-stop marshalls were very good. Traffic-free course was great, although there was a bit of pedestrian/dog/pushchair/bike dodging to be done!
Near perfect weather (chilly and overcast) however the sea breeze, refreshing at first, soon felt relentless.
Quality medal made up for duff goody bag.
And to top it all, finished 7 minutes quicker than anticipated!
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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2012 race reviewed by: Andreia
Overall score
 
100%
Would you do it again?
 
Yes
 
Details:
Scenery
 
100%
PB potential
 
100%
Atmosphere
 
80%
Organisation
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Beginner-friendliness
 
100%

In short: wonderful, nothing but good things about this race,
In full: its a good race, everything you need you got, except for energy drink like lucazade or powerbar, but perfect excuse to get your supporters to carry it for you and ad its two loops, you will surely pass them a couple of times!! i will surely do this again
Date of review: February 27, 2012

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