Cheshire Oaks Chester Half Marathon - Race FullHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (134 votes). 2013 race reviewed by: Hail me a taxi
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good, but preferred the old course
In full: I ran the Chester Half on the old course back in 2010. Being an ex-pat of the city I took the opportunity to visit friends and family this time and race the new course. It was fast, but I found the course boring once out of the city. There are much better routes in/around Chester to run around than this course, the old course was one of them. Overall a decent race, not great but worth £26. If you're a PB chaser then I'd recommend it but only at this years prices.
Date of review: May 15, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Alan Jackson
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: superb race with excellent marshaling and terrific atmosphere all round the course
Date of review: May 15, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Ian Berry 6
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 1st time half marathon definitely looking to do more this year thanks
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: David Bignell
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Well organised, I knocked 5 minutes off last years time and am going to try and do the same next year.
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Keith M
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great, well organised race. Good support from crowds. Enjoyed the city centre finish despite the hill at the end
In full: Really enjoyed the race. Mainly flat course and really well organised. Plenty of portaloos at the start, efficient results service both on the website and direct to my mobile. Would recommend it to newcomers and seasoned runners. City centre finish was great especially as I had been able to park nearby.
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: JennyWren
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race, great organisation & the atmosphere all round the course was brilliant!
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Rachel Rick
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great support in rural areas, and in town for the final stages
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Alan Reynolds
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The most well organized event I've run
In full: I'll start at the start, which was a bit congested. I suspect that this was through no fault of the organisers. Rather, it seemed more the fault of some of the runners lining up just behind the 1:30 marker when they were aiming for 1:45, despite the clear markers! The surface on the racecourse is hardly ideal for running, but it doesn't last for long and what the racecourse start does allow for is lots of portaloos - hardly any queueing, which is unheard of at most events.
It is a little difficult to judge pace for the first two miles, being up, down and up again. 7:20 for the first mile, 6:29 for the second, so if you like to print out pace armbands, you'll need to take this into account. Then it's very gently undulating to about halfway - on average gently uphill, but barely enough to notice.
Good to see energy drinks at the halfway point (though I had taken my own) and timing mats at 10k and halfway (and later at 20k). Then it's flat or downhill almost all the way back, apart from a little bridge over the motorway. I say almost, as there is that evil little hill in the last kilometre. The upside, though, is a town centre finish which is a more than fair trade off in my mind. Besides, the hill in the last kilometre adds, in my mind, to the character of the course.
The finish seemed very well organized with a decent medal, running top and other goodies.
All in all, well organized, friendly support and, despite the last hill, a pretty fast course. (Well, I have to say that after getting a pb right on one of my goal times - 1:30:00. I'm very glad the organizers didn't add the traditional one or two seconds to my watch time when calculating my official chip time!)
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: Tom Smith 30
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great first half marathon
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: ActionJackson
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: My first but not my last
Date of review: May 14, 2013
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