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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