Events

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		20%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Good but some improvements needed
In full: Love the course, love the atmosphere and love Portsmouth. This year the number allocations seemed random, didn't matter too much to the likes of me but not fair on the much quicker runners to be held up. I just went and stood in the zone I thought I should be in, no-one cared and I knew I wasn't going to hold anyone up. The parking on the common is still a joke, with comments in the magazine like "we have listened to feedback from last year", they put some people in reflective jackets in the car park who didn't seem to actually do anything in terms of traffic control and just stood there smoking cigarettes and chatting each other up - ironically it took me much much longer to get off the common than it did to run the 10 miles....! ;-) Could have done with a bit more than a bag of dried apple in the goody bag to sustain me during the 3 hours it took to get out of Pompey - yes I could have parked somewhere else, for an easier getaway but this was where the official signs lead to. I love this race, but am debating if I should do a more local race on the same day next year instead.
Date of review: November 5, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great atmosphere and excellent crowds
In full: Shame that the allocation of start positions appears to be entirely random. Put down a 1hr 30 time and found myself starting from the back of white C. Spent first two miles passing thousands of slow runners/walkers so pobably added and extra half mile to the run in zig-zagging accross the road and pavements. I appreciate that lots are doing this run as a one of for charity but starting at the front and then having to walk after the first mile doesn't help the rest of us looking for a reasonable time!
Date of review: November 4, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Fantastic race made better by supportive local people and marshalls.
In full: Haven't done the GSR since 2005 (it was sunny that year!) but definitely worth getting up early and travelling for. Everyone really friendly and excellent organisation. Bit of congestion in some places on the course but to be expected with such a popular race. Have already put next year's in the diary. Thank you Great Run!
Date of review: November 4, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: One for the calendar ...!
In full: Great race and excellent organisation. Surely, one year they will have good weather?! Thank you to all concerned especially the spectators!
Date of review: November 4, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Cold, wet and windy but worth it!
In full: Positives:
Great atmosphere, fantastic support, good route (nice and flat), seaside start and finish, lots of celebs and elite runners.

Negatives:
Weather, too many runners (way too congested meaning a PB was out of the question), suggested parking in city centre was a good 2 mile walk away, suggested arrival time in Portsmouth was 2 hours before the race started so we got very cold waiting.

Overall, a great day though.
Date of review: November 4, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great run; crap weather
In full: My first GSR but will definitely do again. Lots of people there but did not feel restricted once we were off. Support was excellent and the organisation was spot on. Special mention for the car park on the Common - we were out and on our way within 10 mins which is pretty good considering the numbers. The course is very flat (hardly a hill - not one of these 'flat' courses which mean the regular runners sprint up the hills and the rest of us suffer) and therefore good for beginners. The weather was poor, though - cold, rainy and blowy on the front. No problem once one starts going but definitely worth having a binbag or equivalent at the start to keep warm. Recommended for a beginner runner as a bit less severe than a full half.
Date of review: November 3, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Another "GREAT" Great Run Event, just wish Portsmouth had a better climate!e
Date of review: November 3, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great course, great atmosphere, great support, guaranteed to rain.
Date of review: November 2, 2008

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Absolutely brilliant. A must do!
In full: Thoroughly enjoyable race with great support and organisation. Great for beginners and veterans alike, some debate about the mixed ability pens at the start but it seemed to work well with plenty of passing space. Definitely will be back next year for a PB.
Date of review: November 1, 2008

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Rain again but a great run indeed!
In full: Third year in a row and third year I got wet! At least this time the wind off the sea was not as strong as last year, the poor seagulls had trouble staying put!! That said, it is a great run and still not too crowded unlike the Great North. Additional benefit of staying in the same hotel as Paula et al!
Date of review: November 1, 2008

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