Reading Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (1085 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: MissJosieW
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great race, shame about the admin problems
In full: I love Reading half marathon. There is a great atmosphere. In the race village the organisation is fantastic. All the staff working there are incredibly polite and helpful. There are big crowds all along the route and bands playing (brass, samba, rock) which really lift the spirits.
Normally the organisation is perfect, really impeccable. This year I never received my race pack (it was never sent out) which caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. There was an unusually long queue (thousands of people long) to get on to the buses in the town and half of us couldn't get into the start pens in time for the start of the race. All very unusual and not what I've come to expect from Reading.
Date of review: April 4, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Paul Hughes 28
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Loved it
In full: This was my first organised race, so I don't have a lot to compare it with, but I thought it was a brilliantly organised event, especially given the numbers involved.
The support from the people of Reading was wonderful - loads of noise and jelly babies from people lining the streets.
The only downside is the rather bleak last few miles. You leave the residential areas and head down the dual carriageway and then the evil loop, which takes you away from the stadium just as your energy levels are dropping.
However, the wonderful stadium finish really made my day - it's a fantastic experience.
Date of review: April 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Birdy123
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Had expected better.
The stadium finish was good but you were in and then out of the stadium so quick, I can't remember much about it.
The start was a bit chaotic, not helped by the announcer directing us where to go without giving us the important reference point of where he was...
The crowd support was good when it was there, just a shame that so much of the start and especially the final 3 miles were in industrial estates or on dual carriage ways.
Date of review: April 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Angela Isherwood 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Lacked organisation, but an uplifting finish
In full: I would have to agree with other commentators that if it weren't for the stadium finish, this race would have been a waste of a Sunday. My race pack wasn't sent out, and despite checking 3-4 times wiht my charity and the organisers who had assured them that it would arrive by Friday- I still got that rather annoying email saying they had forgotten to send it out. A few uphills, and not much in the way of scenery, and I personally think it was a bit too far to the first drinks station. Also, there was far too much time at the end to get a drink, and it was very crowded- because of this delay in getting a drink at the finish, I had to sit down in the finish pen to recover. Its a shame, because I had heard such great reviews the year before, but htis is actually my first bad race experience :-(
Date of review: April 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: susieanna*
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great finish in stadium, ok course, hectic at start and finish.
In full: The best bit of this race - and what sets it apart from other similar events - is the stadium finish. The course was mentally draining in places, with some nasty little inclines and little to look at towards the end of the race, with a long dual carriageway section and a horrid hairpin loop just before mile 12 that makes you feel you'll never get to the end! The start was as good as can be expected for a race with 18,000 participants, but the finish (after we'd exited the stadium) was too much of a confined area, and seemed chaotic compared to other big events I've attended. Drinks should have been handed out first - not last! Had to queue for ages to get through the silver foil handing out, chip removal, medal awarding and goody bag grabbing before we finally laid our hands on some water. Then the meeting area signs were not clear enough on exit so runners wandered aimlessly around a dusty gravelly car park. The pre-booked car parking worked well before the race but we could have done with more marshalling within the car park when we were all queuing to leave. Can't help feeling Reading bites off a little more than it can chew with 18,000 entries - maybe a lower limit would have led to a less stressful experience.
Date of review: April 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Shaper
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: fast PB course, good atmsosphere, well organised. a bit of a bootlenecki geetting to the staar, and the PA seemed confused about the start time -couldn't do the maths.
Date of review: April 1, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: sills
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
Date of review: January 3, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: The Blade
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Enjoyable run with alot of people
In full: Excellent run with thousands of people finishing in the Football Stadium is amazing.
Date of review: October 3, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mannfred
| | 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: Superb half marathon - well organised and terrific atmosphere
In full: Anyone who wants to cross the finish line in front of 8,000 spectators should sign up now! Excellent finish in the Madjeski stadium, but the course in general takes you through Reading Town centre which means crowds and atmosphere. With various bands playing along the route you really cannot choose a better half marathon - beginner or experienced.
Date of review: August 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Andy Corcoran
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Expensive, but good atmpsphere and organisation
In full: Very well organised at the start, plenty of toilets and pens for anticipated finishing times. Shame we were late getting started. Well supported through out, especially the town centre and great finish in the stadium. Is expensive though, especially with the charge for parking on top.
Date of review: May 15, 2011
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