Bristol Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (888 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Pete Reading
 | | 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: Well organised, good course in general but end of course route around town a bit irksome.
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Natasha Jorden 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: a flat good course
In full: I had a minor injury so ended with a 5mins off my PB but the course was nice and flat apart from a couple little slight inclines (I live in Devon so they were nothing for me!!). The cobbles were a bit dodgy but nothing to worry about if your sure footed. The Portway section at the start was boring and felt like it went on forever though and I couldnt see many mile markers until the end. ..seeems like I wasnt alone there.
Also, it was my friends first half and she said she found it really stressful and disorientating that around mile 9 when Marshalls had started to leave and barriers were being packed away and she didnt know where to go so had to ask members of the public..and she wasnt even the last runner!?! Surely they should wait until the last person has gone past prior to clearing the course...
Anyway, overall I would say its a good race and great support and not too expensive to enter
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Bob Depledge
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Get next years date in the diary!
In full: 2nd time for me and few disappointments. Potential PB course, good support, well marshalled, goody bag ok, medal great and generally well organised. Improvements could be looked at regarding mile markers while the 2 wave start is great tho if, like Bath Half, they displayed 10/15 min finish times within each wave you may get runners better sorted at start. Why do people moan about cobbles? No more of a challenge than a demanding hill climb (which Briz doesn't have), they add bit of character. Runners Village well placed and portaloos aplenty. My only real gripe was arriving early for an advertised massage only to be told the marquee had been mis-signed and it was for physio not massage.
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Kate Hopkins 4
| | 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 that just whizzes by!
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Green Pete
| | 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: Cracking day out!!!
In full: First time for Bristol for me and won't be the last!! Other than the short and sharp hill near the end the race is pretty flat which resulted in me getting a PB and just short of a sub 1hr 30!! Organisation was top class but the mile markers could be clearer next time,i only spotted 2 or 3. Great T-shirt and medal as well.
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: icklemichael
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Good big city race
In full: I saw pretty much all of the mile markers - and got a tshirt. :)
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Tom77
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: well organised, flat course, good support
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Donna L
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good crowd, mostly flat, plenty of PB potential
In full: Definitely a good course for PB potential, but the hill around 11 miles and the cobblestones were somewhat soul-destroying when you're starting to tire. Found it easy in the first ten miles to get into a good rhythm though.
Thought the finish funnel was one of the better ones I've seen, kept people moving. The mile markers were somewhat sporadic - spotted one or two painted on the ground but they were very easy to miss.
Pacers would've been nice, at the very least to help lining up at the wave start. I found it strange the energy stations weren't alongside a water station, but that could just be me.
Crowd and volunteers were fantastic, as were the live bands. Could've done without having to remove my own timing chip at the end though!
Feel like I've picked out the negatives here, but overall a fantastic event. Good medal and finishers' shirt too!
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: DT19
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In full: This was my 4th half of the year, but my first ever city race. I came here purely for a pb. Running on that basis i quite enjoyed the Portway section as it was an opportunity to get my head down and run and really get ahead of my plannd time. I found the last few miles difficult to maintain my flow what with the cobbles and the constant twist and turns.
I thought the event was very well organised and the atmosphere once back in the city was great. This is about as flat a race as you can get, the hills were nominal compared to th countryside races i have previously done, allowing me to knock 1 min 18 off a 5 mth old pb.
If i were to make one comment it would be that within each starting pen there are also time inicators for people to position themselves by. I was in the front of wave 1 but still found myself nestled in with runners looking for times a good 10 minutes behind me and spent much of the first mile running sideways.
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Tickled Pink
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: How can you run out of finishers t-shirts?
In full: Nice flat course, reasonably interesting although the Portway out and back is just a slog. Excellently organised start and superb marshalling all the way. Nicely spaced water stations .... I could hardly fault this race until I crossed the finish line.
How, when there are no entries on the day and you've had my money for months could you run out of finishers t shirts? You knew the number of entrants who paid their money and who had a fair chance of needing one. The people who were supposed to be hand were apologetic and embarassed, I couldn't find anyone official to complain to.
I know I was at the slow end of the second wave but I was still a finisher. If the GNR and VLM can organise enough shirts (I have both) then dont't see why can't Brirstol. I did email to complain, no reply or acknowlegement yet ... poor show and spoiled a great event.
Date of review: October 2, 2012
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