Grand Union Canal Half Marathon  Here's how RW members rated this race (173 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Tom Crispin
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Surprising in a pleasant way
In full: The good - weather was fantastic: clear cool and autumnal. The scenery along the canal was great. Water points, mile markers and especially marshals were great. I managed to shave a couple of minutes off my PB without expecting too.
The bad - narrow in places; slippery under foot. But that's no one's fault and is more than outweighed by the scenery.
The ugly - a generic medal, a banana and a cup of water seem inadequate for what we've paid and done. Lack of loos - ain't it always so?
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Tom Hayhoe
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fun course over lovely, quiet route,although recent rain left it a bit muddy - you'd never guess there is countryside like this inside the M25. Nicely organised, although long loo queues at the start. Great atmosphere.
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Tom Newman 4
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not a PB course but a fun route
In full: First time doing this. On the whole it didnt offer quite what I expected - the canal was pretty boring and the path was in poorer condition than I expected. Thankfully the sun was shining!
Saying all that, the atmosphere at the start was great and I'm bloomin stiff this morning so must have been a test! I'm in 1.26 form and did 1.28.30 so gives an idea of pace.
Would hate to have been further back in the 'masses'...the pathway is thin in places!
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Neil Crawley 2
| | 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 race, split start contributed enourmously to new PB. Nice scenery path can be slippery and uneven but OK; encourages a bit of leg lift!
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Naomi Routledge
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: My first half. Enjoyed the run, happy marshalls and good weather. Mind i'm darned stiff today though :-)
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: allun burgess
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: 1st time running event
In full: nice touch with transport to start may be a little early, may could have done with some more toilets but as usual every one left it late to go. the split start was a very good idea, i started in the 2nd wave watched the bottle neck from the 1st wave on the canal path at the start. the route was not surprisingly muddy due to the amount of rain but not a problem the marshals were excellent as usual, plenty of water stops and clear mile markers, may be the finish was a long way from the car park and had to walk a long way but it was free. will i do it again next year YES
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: irregular
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not a race for a PB but excellent for a training run
In full: As usual excellent organisation
Tougher than a normal half marathon due to the constraints and conditions as previously stated by reviewers
The mud did not help but it twas the same for everyone
Runners two abreast early on with no regard to those wishing to pass were a nuisance. Perhaps in future a recommendation to run "indian file " would not go amiss.
This event is well worth a visit!
Date of review: November 12, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Bethnalquaker
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Lovely course and PB by 5 minutes
In full: Canal side run - lots of water stations - plenty of space to settle into the run and a pleasure to be away from the roads. Rain earlier in the week made it a bit slippery but not too bad with road shoes. I like the splat shaped medal - will be signing up for my 3rd in row next year.
Date of review: November 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Muttley
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Another Purple Patch success
In full: The best race organizers always make sure to arrange the weather in advance :-)
This is a nice little jaunt along the canal, with start and finish venues good for public transport. Course is mostly flat but with some short climbs, and can be a bit muddy and sloppy underfoot. Bag stowage excellent, which matters for those of us who don't have a car. Smoothly organized as ever, plenty of water stops and a nice medal.
Really good event, must come back next year.
Date of review: November 11, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: wayne.allen
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Flat and Fun
In full: Very, friendly, could have done with more toilets at the start. No stress just get on and run.
Date of review: November 11, 2012
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