Afford Rent-A-Car Alsager 5Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (237 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: kellyd2
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Well supported race , well organised but no chip timing.
In full: Fast and flat course on closed roads through town. Ideal race to set a pb, no hills. A little congested at the start but only for 100 yards or so then its fine. ample parking and plenty of marshalls.
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: -----
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Flat & fast.
In full: Good PB potential, though bit congested at start. Could do with chip timing.
Bit expensive.
Good turn out.
Date of review: February 7, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: WeV
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Same as last year....and the year before.....and the year before
In full: Same problems as every year - it will never change. Still the problems with the start, still have to move to the side several times to let cars past despite organisers telling us to be on the start 5 mins early. Still not chip-timed. Still drinks scooped out of a plastic bin full of squash/water (didn't check to see what it was - probably taste of the chemicals anyway). Haven't spotted any spelling mistakes on the t-shirt this year. 4 seconds added to my finish time.
The race itself was fine. Marshalls do a good job and a few of them actually shouted words of support. The local support was as good as ever, even with the bad weather. Alsager council could do with sorting out the potholes in the road. I saw a few people almost go over on their ankles. Despite the usual problems which I now just find amusing, I will still be back next year.
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Hallcross
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: PB potential, expensive race.
In full: 290 mile round trip for me, always fancied doing this race since I started in 1981!
I have organised many races over the last 25 years, so I am aware of what is involved, kudos to the organisers, all smooth, from the car parking to T shirt collection. Quick results too.
Managed to start near the front, so no issue there, for those further back, perhaps a problem to see the actual start line.
I do think it is overpriced though, I would expect bottled water at the finish nowadays and perhaps chip timing. Decent prize list, my wife picked up £30 of vouchers for 1st F60, very welcome, many races do not do vets prizes in that depth.
A lot of comments on Garmins on forums etc. please do not expect your Garmns to be 100% accurate, I have measured courses for 20+ years, I use one as a guide, they very rarely agree with the actual course measurers figures.
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: MaccPosh
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% |
In short: Fast and furious. Frienldy atmosphere
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Mark Holt 4
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Too crowded for a 5 mile race without chip timing
In full: Wasn't easy to see how far away I was from the start line (or to see the start line as I crossed it therefore unsure if I started my Garmin at the right point). Chip timing and/or time markers at the side of the road at the start would be a great help although I suspect the organizers want to keep costs down. On a less windy day this would have good PB potential.
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Nio
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Would have been really fast but for the wind
In full: I would do this again but given the popularity of this race there are improvements that could be made. It could do with portaloos given the size of the field, however I was lucky I didn't have an issue myself- I found a loo upstairs in the leisure centre (past the bar, for future reference). The start wasn't quite as much of a nightmare as I was expecting but I think a race of this calibre ought to be chipped as it does take a while getting over the start line. There certainly ought to be some kind of penning according to predicted time. A few people measured the race as slightly over 5 miles (I made it 5.05) however I realise GPSs can be slightly out. Other than that- friendly organisers, good atmosphere and would have been really fast had it not been for that darn wind!!
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Jonathan Storey
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Fast PB course
In full: Thoroughly enjoyable. Fast and flat, great PB potential. Unusually you collect your t-shirt before the race rather than in the funnel at the end.
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: mark neeld
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 100% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: excellent race as usual.
In full: Weather kinder than expected-wind really wasn't too bad. Well organised 5 miler with a great reputation as a Pb course so runners come from far and wide. Well done to the organisers and marshalls. See you all next year!
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: jshrew
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Wow despite the wind a nice fast course and a really good atmosphere all the way round
In full: Bit of a trek between the parking, the t-shirt collection point and the start but considering how many taking part it wasn't too bad
Toilets were a bit of a problem couldn't cope with demand and some of the leisure centre staff saying that that they never normally deal with so many people?!
Apart from that, for me it was the biggest race ive run and great to see everyone bobbing about ahead, i'm not quick so stayed right back but was dodging to get past alot of people early on hope it didnt affect too many people wanting a good start, tbh for me the finish was more of a problem nearly tripping over loose children on the final corner and dodging people with pushchairs on the final straight
Btw hope the chap that was on the ground a couple hundred meters into the race is ok
Date of review: February 6, 2011
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