Royal Parks Foundation Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (203 votes). 2009 race reviewed by: Sonja High
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Best race ever!!!
In full: Cannot wait for next year, am counting down the days until I can do this race again!
It's brilliant, everything worked like clockwork, excellent marshals and markings. Loved every minute of it.
Date of review: November 8, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Nick Troon
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Quick flat course with oddles of character
In full: A well attended race which is flat and scenic with a great crowd to will you on. Very fast course although a very busy one!!
Date of review: October 30, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Lemmy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: London in a new light
In full: Did this race quite blase' about running around the sights having seen them and lived in London for 14+ years. Then did the race and that sense of woner about the Smoke came back.
Race was brilliant, getting empty goody bag and all goodies having been scoffed by sponging bluddy tourists was not. Surely should've been race numbers only for the scran!!!
Would I do it again. Not likely. Cost a lot, and there's a lot more races to be run...
:o)
Date of review: October 30, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Ralph Ralph
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
Date of review: October 22, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Neil Lancefield
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great half marathon for Londoners
In full: Quick start, great support, nice route, chip time txt to mobile and loads of free food at the end. Spot on!
Date of review: October 22, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: SarahWoo
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great first half-marathon - very special event
In full: I loved every minute of this - even after I ran out of steam at mile 10.
Fantastic surroundings, great atmosphere, wonderful marshalls and supporters and the festival village all contributed to a very memorable day.
One slight niggle was the huge queues for the baggage drop just before the start and the usual over-long queues for loos. Apart from that, everything went swimmingly and the support was wonderful.
Loved the chip-time being texted to my mobile just a few minutes after I'd finished.
Will definitely be back!
Date of review: October 18, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: zippy_69
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Superb race
In full: Fantastic experience, enjoyed it so much I was halfway through before I really clocked I was running a half-marathon! Ok so the amble through the park isn't as scenic as the first half but the support was infinitely better there than en route. The starting areas were lost in a sea of tents, stalls and toilet queues, if it wasn't for the woman on stage I'd never have known what to do. Still massive queues for the loos despite the extra urinals this year, not so bad for us men but I feel sorry for the women still queuing at 9:29! Will definitely be back next year.
Date of review: October 16, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Si Martin
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: It's a great race and I hope to do it for the 3rd time in 2010!
In full: By and large the race route was excellent - particularly the first 6 miles or so on the streets around some of London's most famous sights including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. The second half was a little tedious at times with the looping backwards and forwards in Hyde Park, although I quite enjoyed the seeing the elite/fastest runners going in the opposite direction on a number of occasions. When the tables were turned I also derived some smug satisfaction at seeing slower running passing in the opposite direction too!
The race organisation was excellent. It must be a logistical nightmare to arrange something on that scale. The marshalling on the route was good and the marshals did not lack enthusiasm. Many thanks for your support!
My only criticism was that the race pens for the wave start seemingly operated somewhat randomly with many runners promoting themselves to a faster wave. I'm not sure how the system can be improved though so that faster runners are not handicapped by plodders.
I don't feel that I need to comment extensively on the pre and post race facilities and attractions as many other reviews have highlighted the best and the worst of what was available. Besides, it's difficult to trawl around the tents after the race hoovering up freebies with small, bored kids, a hungry baby and a pregnant wife in tow! So, my line is that I ran the race for the enjoyment of the race itself and not the inducement of freebies (and certainly not the tasteless race shirt which remains unworn in its original wrapping).
I look forward to running this race again next year and hope the race is as successful as it was in 2008 and 2009.
Date of review: October 16, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Sheila Davies 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My first half marathon, great experience, I want to do it again next year!
In full: Excellent organisation - started bang on time. Friendly marshals funnelled us all to the start very efficiently. Weather perfect for running - cool with little wind. Lots of support round the course and lots to look at.
Date of review: October 16, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Alex Hurst
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: First Half Marathon, Loved it!
In full: Was a fantastic run, got my PB, although it was my first? A bit disapointed that they said there would be music playing all the way round and there wasnt but on the whole a fantastic day!
Date of review: October 14, 2009
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