British 10KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (606 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: Craig Birch 3
 | | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY
In full: I got a late corporate entry for this "race". I cannot believe i wasted £35 on this rubbish - it is not even the money it was just such a waste of time. Badly organised, no race pack, replacement numbers, marshals had no idea where bag drops were. This is not a race it a charity run. I was close to the start (on the bridge for those in the know). When we got across the line, i had to dodge banks of walkers! The only saving grace was the location - but seriously train for the marathon! Dont waste your time here. I wont even mention the goody bag.
Leaving a an overal score of 20% is 20% more than i wanted to leave
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
|
2012 race reviewed by: Craig Birch 3
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 20% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY
In full: I got a late corporate entry for this "race". I cannot believe i wasted £35 on this rubbish - it is not even the money it was just such a waste of time. Badly organised, no race pack, replacement numbers, marshals had no idea where bag drops were. This is not a race it a charity run. I was close to the start (on the bridge for those in the know). When we got across the line, i had to dodge banks of walkers! The only saving grace was the location - but seriously train for the marathon! Dont waste your time here. I wont even mention the goody bag.
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Sanna Duthie
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Need to split walkers and runners
In full: I did enjoy the race and I would have got a PB if it wasn't for all the walkers as it was a great route.
Also I started at least 45 minutes after the race started and I watched people walking.
Also spectators were in the way so I did a lot of dodging!!
But I love my t shirts and medal.
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Oliver Robinson 2
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Spectacularly terrible race
In full: Where do I start - no race pack, was given a replacement number, was told two different places to leave my kit bag, no recorded finish time, T-shirt two sizes too big, totally shambolic organisation at start and finish. I never post reviews but this shocking waste of money has prompted me to publish a review. I don't understand why Nike would want to put their name to such a spectacularly terrible event. There are so many great 10k races out there in the South East - you could probably do 3 for the price of this one and you will enjoy it far more.
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: SabV
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Never had such a horrible race
In full: I have a long list of complaints but the highlights are:
-Chaos on the road. Way too busy, regular groups of people walking (not running slow or taking a break but walking start to finish, three people wide)... must have ran 15k instead of 10 by constantly trying to dodge people
-Took ages before I could start
-Finish was completely confusing, who hands out medals at bag area? I didn't have a bag! And the bag area was a 10min walk from the finish, so not somewhere you'd end up anyway (which is another point)
-Expensive
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Mei Perryman
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Organisation hasn't improved since 2009
In full: The last time I did this race was in 2009 and I remember how much of a shambles the organisation was then, 'fortunately' nothing had changed so I remembered what I had to do/where I had to go from last time.
Firstly with NO signage around Trafalgar Square to anything - bag drop/toilets (not that there were any), secondly - no toilets at the start - they could have put some at the end of Pall Mall. I couldn't see any - anywhere. (thanks to Valerie Patisserie by the way for letting us use theirs). I just put my bag in the charities bag drop as couldn't for the life of me find the white bag drop.
Too many people running - someone tripped me up. For a run as big as that they need to stagger the start.
The course was fine - nothing had changed there, except I would say using cups of water instead of bottles would cut wastage and be less hazardous.
Process:
Bag drops not clear (again) fortunately as I had used the charity bag drop I found mine. Bag drops not covered!!!! Luckily I had double bagged, but stuff was soaked (they knew it would rain?!) also had loads of people asking me where I got my medal from as the charity bag drop was closer to the finish.
There was no proper process after the finishing line - hardly any stewards or signage. They really need to sort this out.
Anyway, I got my medal and 'goody bag' - which was the most shocking one I have ever received: http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9792/goodybag.jpg
A couple of leaflets, pistachios (a lot of people have nut allergies), a sweet, a tea bag :/ some sugar (????)
Then I went to meet my friends in the pub and realised I hadn't picked up my souvenir t shirt. Found the voucher and then went on the hunt for this t shirt.
Remembered where I had to go last year for the bag drop and fortunately it was in the same place.
It could have been so much better. The best thing about it was that I got a new pb.... oh and a medal for my trouble...sorry £50.
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: fizz190
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Shambolic
In full: I beat my PB by 8 minutes but still finished in a foul mood! I think that sums up my experience. The delayed start (I crossed the start line 50 mins after the advertised start time) and the chaotic finish (which had me wandering around aimlessly trying to find anyone who could tell me where to get my medal) ruined my experience. I didn't even bother to queue for the t-shirt I'd paid extra for.
A lot of runners is no excuse - if you can't cope with 30,000 runners, don't have 30,000 places. Simple as.
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: theparrott
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Enough said from all the previous comments!
In full: Positive thing to say is that the supporters were fantastic in appalling weather. Bad things - I got elbowed frequently and almost got knocked flying. Very badly organised at the end having to walk a long distance to get a medal (took one out of a box on a table. If someone was handing it to you it would have made it feel more special). I didn't leave anything in the baggage bay but still had to go there for the medal and goody-bag (probably the worst goody-bag I've ever had). Then had to go and queue in another area for the commerative t-shirt. Shame because of the £50 entrance fee. Don't think I'll be doing it again.
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Jogging on
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Really enjoyed it!
In full: Having read reviews from past years and the booklet I got sent I kind of knew what to expect. I'm not a fast runner but a first come first run start meant a lot of weaving. Who can blame those walking in 1st kilometer for getting there earlier than others. Didn't take any baggage due to what I had read before but clearly problems, lack of volunteers maybe?
I've read someone stating they were running slowly on the right, as they should have been, and still had people pushing past. Unfortunately it was obvious not everyone was aware of this as there were walkers all over the road!
Great atmosphere with great support, would definitely do it again!
Date of review: July 10, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: lou reed
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great course but terrible organisation considering the entry fee
Date of review: July 9, 2012
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
