Wokingham Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (598 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: N Brown 79
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Despite the rain, it was an excellent traffic free course
In full: Organisers only need to improve baggage drop off, but part from that excellent race and well marshalled.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Wool
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: organizers got unlucky with the weather but you must plan for it being bad in Feb!
In full: the roads were closed, the course is pretty fast, there was plenty of water, free tea at the end (thanks!), plenty of people and it's reasonably scenic. This should make for a good race but the start line chaos and baggage tent farce really spoilt the whole thing. I didn't enjoy starting a road race in a state like I'd already run an XC!! I was comparing this to my experience at Fleet last year - they are very similar races, the only difference was perhaps the weather. Sure, WHM was unlucky but it's Feb and they have to cater for that.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Jenny Zaremba 3
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Terrible start packed into a narrow, muddy corrdior for inaudible start & unable to drop off kit after mile's walk from parking , but a fast race. At the end the showers were totally cold, and unable to find advertised massage. But a free cup of tea.
In full: I really appreciate that these events take a lot of organising and would like to say a thank you to all of the organisers and marshalls and water station folks for turning out on a wet and cold day (as it usually is at this time of year).
I found it really difficult when I arrived to work out where to go. I gueued for ages and ages to go to the toilets (and of course like any race no paper). But it did strike me that there needed to be some more women's toilets as this took 20 mins.
Then the queue for the kit tent was just huge and there was no in/out system - just one massive mudslide to get in and out. This queueing seemed to take 30 mins or more and the line just didn't seem to move. It would be better to have an in door and out door at opposite ends of the tent. And then more people working inside to get a flow through. And if labels had been sent out in advance of the race we could have written our own numbers on them, saving more time.
The start queue was the worst - so tighly packed into that narrow path. Nowhere to warm and and I was worried about my friend who seemed to be beoming hypothermic with the wet and cold. Then the guy in front of me in the line started doing knee flicks and kicked me so hard in the knee that I thought that I would not be able to race. It was agony. Luckily this wore off after 10 mins.
I did not hear the start talk and hooter (I was stood at the 1h50 line). I thought that the race would be delayed given that theree was still a huge queue for the bags.
And then as we moved forward I saw from my chip time that it took me 5 mins to cross the line. At the time, I did not realise that the flags were the start line - becuase you then ran in reverse through the finish ganrty I was left thinking that maybe the flags were for the Apex Sports kit sale tent. So a proper sign saying start would be good.
I doubted even more as my Garmin said that the 1 mile and 2 mile markers were not quite in the right place - and I know that other people said the same.
At the end I went for a shower but none of us could bring ourselves to go under as they were totally cold.
And I could not find the massage tent, nor where other things were. I heard by word of mouth from other runners about the free cup of tea (great!) but again there was no signage.
So a couple of signs and pointers would be great.
And maybe a little more explanation in the leaflet sent out in advance. I did read it, but still was left all at sea.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Jonathan Cooke 2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Adrienne Hopkins
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Decent course but what a shambles at the start
In full: What on earth was going on in the baggage tent? 30 mins standing in a cold, wet field in my shorts, trying to hand in my bag (which I didn't even manage), was not ideal race preparation. As for the bloke on the tannoy telling us to 'please make your way to the start quickly now' while the queue just wasn't moving - not helpful. It generally felt as if the start/finish area couldn't cope with the number of runners, particularly on a wet day. Just a tent to shelter in would have been nice. A shame, because I'd heard good things about this race and the course itself was enjoyable after I'd finally managed to warm up.
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: David Hewlett
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: cold and wet
In full: very wet and miserable start - things did improve, but it was hard work - thanks to all marshalls especially the jelly baby man near the end thank you so much - could have easily hit the twit at the end telling us to smile for the camera!
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Andrew Dacombe
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great race & fast course, well marshalled. Shambles at the start and no goody bag
In full: Race is great and fast course, the start was a shambles with slower people caught up at the front. Very well marsahlled and plenty of water stops. Shame no goody bag at the end, 15 min walk to pick up car was hard with nothing to eat. Water station at the finish was hard to find.
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Boingy
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A quick but flawed race
In full: I've run this race before and love the course. It's fast and well marshalled. However the start this year was chaotic (a lot of this had to do with the weather to be honest). People putting baggage in late led to a shambles as all the late runners, many of whome were at the slower end of the pack, funnelled in at the front, and promptly ran three abreast blocking the way for all the others who had prepared properly and got in their correct starting area. I spent the first mile just barging past people. Please can we have better organisation at the start to stop this happening? So close to being a very good event. Shame.
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: nearlyman
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race - just needs a few tweaks.
In full: First time at Wokingham. Positives - Excellent marshaling and water stations - thank you. Nice medal. Good changing and shower facilities. One of the few races I've done where it is possible to get a hot shower and changed without a crush. Lovely, relatively flat course through varying countryside.
Negatives - Layout of start and finish. Too narrow and congested. Would it not be possible to start on the road? Bag drop (No need to repeat what others have said).
I can't believe some of the comments on this site - too hilly? no medal? energy bar at finish? chip timing not accurate? Were they actually at the same race? All in all a great morning in (eventually) almost perfect weather. Looking forward to next year.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Steven Davis 3
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very Cold and wet before hand. Well marshalled, good course. Good spacing for drinks stations
In full: A welcome cup of tea afterwards, but where is the doggie back? That would help turn a great race into a fantastic race.
I had a PB and look forward to better next year, put me down for it please!
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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