Bristol Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (888 votes). 2008 race reviewed by: Just Martin
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Plenty of PB potential - but watch the cobbles
In full: Lovely race overall and the organisers appear to listen to the runners as they took out the nasty cobbled stretch which was in the 2007 race. Unfortunately, they made up the lost distance by including Welsh Back - also cobbled (albeit flatter). Basically flat with a couple of nasty rises at the end, lots of scope for a good time.
Date of review: September 21, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: NV89104
| | 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: A great day out with great weather to match!!!
Date of review: September 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Tim Hyatt 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Greatly improved organisation - fantastic way to spend a Sunday morning!
In full: Last ran the Bristol Half in 2006 and wasn't sure I would make the trip again as the organisation at the start was chaotic. However the improvements for 2008 definitely made it worthwhile.
Running along the Portway first meant the field spread out much more quickly, as did the 2 wave start. Not sure running down a back street and being told to "mind the skip" was that impressive, but it certainly made the runners laugh!
Running around the City streets at the end with the large crowds for support was great. Yes there are a few inclines and the well documented cobbles on Welshback, but for me that adds to the interest of the course - who wants it flat as a pancake?
Have to say don't get that concerned about the contents of the goody bag, the atmosphere enjoyed during the previous hour an half is far more important!
Date of review: September 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Speedofasloth
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised particularly at the finish although I am not sure if the good bag was the bag itself or whether there was supposed to be something in it :-)
Date of review: September 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Stace.
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bristol... It's where I live... It's where I run... I do like this event but...
In full: I do like this event but, every year another "improvement" to the course means something else suffers. For me running on a blue number at the Harbourside with a 9.30 start was brilliant for me, getting over the start line in about 30 seconds and running and getting on to pace with no bunching meant a PB! I know slower runners in the 10.00 start complained of over crowding.
Running through Queens Sq avoiding the cobbles was good, but running down Welsh Back on Cobbles was BAD!
Again not enough toilets and the goody bag was poor. The medal & tee shirt are good but the entry cost of £30 is steep and is dearer than the London Marathon! C'mon Bristol Half pull it together for next year.
Date of review: September 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: martin ford 6
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: good track,didnt care about the cobbles,thanks to the marshalls
In full: this was my first half marathon and i really enjoyed it.plenty of drink stations.happy with my time of 1h 37mins 50 secs.be back next year to start at the front of the pens and knock 8 mins off!!
Date of review: September 18, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Andrew James 18
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great event, good scenery good value - but get the finish area sorted!
In full: Organisation was generally good, but could do better with sign-posting around the runners' village and bridges to allow people to cross the course from the runners' village to College Green and Park Street.
Date of review: September 18, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: SeeJay
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: At last the organisers seem to be listening to the important people.
In full: A good race this year, a little hot for me but then only one person controls that!! I found it a little difficult to get into the pens, more controlled entrances please. The staggered start seemed to work better than I thought but oh those cobbles, its a pity we have to go down Welsh Back, it really makes running difficult when your feet are burning and your legs are like lead!!! Can they not put mats down like London??? Anyway I beat my last half time by 6 mins so well on my way to break the 2hr barrier!!! I will be back.
Date of review: September 18, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Dave Morris
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well organised,well marshalled, fantastic crowd support.
In full: The 2 wave start seemed strange but overall made for a very well organised start and not the usual pushing and shoving.The course is challenging but fair the final 3 miles around the city takes its toll. The marshalls out on the course and the water station personel did a fantastic job.
The only problems occured at the end and that is when you had recieved your medal and had to get back to college green to collect your change of clothes, near on impossible to get across to that side of the road as it ment crossing the course and as runners were still finishing you could not cross thus you got cold. Apart from that small problem a great day and a great race will be back
Date of review: September 18, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Keith Hill
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Outstanding course, organisation and (this year) crowd support
Date of review: September 18, 2008
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