Blackmore Vale Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (278 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Mike Pearce 6
 | | 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: A well ran scenic course with a sting in the tail
In full: Well organised event with a fast challenging course but a nasty little hill at the finish. My family enjoyed the refreshments and cake on a cold winters day.
One small issue not enough gents toilets, huge cue with 15 mins left to the start.
Date of review: February 7, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Andrew Merrick 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: very well organised. Water stops seemed to be every couple of miles. Well marshalled. Good support - genrally a reeally good race.
Date of review: February 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Maria Powell 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A well run, friendly race with a fast yet challenging course, especially the last mile!
Date of review: February 6, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: Robert Lush
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Quiet roads and no flat parts
In full: Amazing number of drink stations, great support from marshals excellent value, my first road race for a while and thoroughly enjoyed it
Date of review: February 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mdsparkyuk
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Challenging course...no matter how used to running
In full: This was my first half marathon race...guess i had to start somewhere! Yes, the hills are challenging and brutal climb to the finish line! Fantastic to see the early finisher coming back down to cheer us slower runners on..Loved the experience
Date of review: February 9, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: rebecca sandle
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: How did i survive?!!
In full: My first ever half!! The hills were horrible to say the least. Very well organised and had a nice atmosphere where I was in the pack. I did it in prep for the VLM and I had several tell me that the VLM would be a piece of cake if I could do the BV half!! If you have grit and determination then I would say go for it. To the poster below, there were small T-shirts as I got one but they were in the very end box.
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Clearly
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Occasionally undulating but mostly hilly
In full: Very well organised. Everything seemed to run like clockwork. Even the wind wasn't as bad a problem as I anticipated as there's lots of shelter on the course.
A very minor gripe was that the t-shirts only came in large and medium and I don't fit into large.
I wouldn't hesitate to run it again.
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: racing turtle
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: another challenging run with some buffering head winds
In full: year 5 and still a great race with some testing hills and beautiful scenery. thank you organisers and marshalls for your stirling work
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: old4speed
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Definitely hilly, windy and tough
In full: Great race with fantastic organisation. Last year they tried chip timing and it didn't work properly, this year they went back to manual recording and had the prize giving two hours after the start! The hills make this tough any year, but the wind this year was just an extra challenge. Very friendly but I wouldn't recommend it for a first half, might put a novice off!
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Cat A
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Challenging, but do-able, and very smooth organisation
In full: There are hills, hills, more hills and then when they aren't enough, some really windy hills.
But despite the chilly breeze, the excellent marshalls were supportive all the way around and the course through the lovely countryside is enough to take your mind off, or at least provide a small distraction from the tarmac rising in front of you.
Water nearly every mile, and a t-shirt and drink at the finish.
Chip timing would be a nice touch, but given the field is only 500-odd, the times are still pretty accurate.
Really friendly atmosphere with lots of support from other runners - thanks to the lady who gave me a supportive pat on the back when I slowed to a walk up a hill. It was the kick I needed to get running again!
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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