Events

Overall score		40%
Would you do it again?		No
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		40%
Value		20%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Still not good enough from professional organisation
In full: Massive queues for no where near enough toilets, even at 8am. People still queueing at 9am when it started as they just couldn't get to a loo before this.

No PA system or proper announcer or music. Couldn't hear a thing the announcer was saying.

No atmosphere and no support from locals/spectators. (Not the organisers fault)

Not enough marshals. A couple of places it wasn't obvious where to go as there were little paths leading off. I understand some had been cordened off, but the chord removed.
So these places needed a marshal, as people will always mess with stuff like that in a place like Blackpool.

Poor quality medal and t-shirt. Fine for a cheap 10k, but not an expensive marathon. £20 not cheap for what you get. No goody bag either. Just a tiny bottle of water at the end.
Just not good enough from a professional money making business. (Sorry Mcandrew, don't swallow the line you pay over five grand of your own money to put on these races.)
I know races cost a lot to put on, but you make a tidy profit and you know it.

Plus points, seemed to be several people on safety bikes and plenty of first aid cover.
So a safe race with road closures.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: HALF - Noticeably smaller than than other races but with a similar price tag
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well organised event. Last 5 miles tough with little support
In full: Overall a good event for a first marathon and beat my GFA time so definitely happy. Organisation was pretty good overall. Marshall's did their job well. A special mention for the guy at the drinks station by the Pleasure Beach who after I missed the cup chased me down the road to make sure I had a personal delivery. Thanks it made me feel great.

Course is generally flat but the rolling slight hills north of the Hilton became serious mountains on the second lap. The last 5 miles you are out on your own with virtually no support, just dog walkers and bikes. This made it tough, but then this is when you feel most vulnerable.

A good course overall and would do it again, although not next year after that GFA time.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		40%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: A few minor grumbles but overall satisfactory race
In full: Overall satisfied with this race, marshals did their job well and on northern half of route were nice and encouraging, water stations were fine, no problem with cups but did have issue with fizzy Lucozade (useless). I personally did not enjoy the route but thats not the organisers fault, others seemed to like the two lap/up and down prom format, it just wasn't for me. Start/finish all went smoothly but disappointed with tee and medal, others may argue they are not important but I like to have
a nice keepsake, and these efforts are not nice!
I might consider it again if the route does become an out and back at some future stage.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In full: Have run this race 3 times now and i still carn't make a sub 4hrs! lol.Will be back next year to try oh yes.Big thanks to the two little girls handing out jelly babies by about mile 19,and also to all the marshalls for their support.Agree with somebody elses comment if you wanted support all the way and a goody bag....What you moaning about its Blackpool not the Great North Run.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: A proper marathon
In full: There was nothing to complain about.

A lot of the negatives seen so far are more to do with unrealistic expectations of new/recently started runners. Eg
a) Toilets en route - when did that become a race requirement? Over the years I can never remember needing a loo mid race, if you have to then improvise. What do you do on training runs?
b)T-shirts/Medals - If that is what you're going to Blackpool for then there are plenty tat shops on the front where you can pick up such things to your exact requirements. You dont need to enter a race to get them.
c)Water in cups - how is that a negative?
d)Lack of atmosphere - Jeez, what were you expecting? Do you want the orgaisers to lay on a 6 deep crowd all along the course for you?

Etc etc

Accurate, fast course with reliable marshalls, timekeepers and organisers. HQ facilities spot on with well organised baggage, sports massage and toilets. Thats 100% in my book.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Well organised and speedy
In full: So much better than the non-running naysayers would have you believe. Well organised, good course (I LOVE laughing at the stags and hens!), fast and plenty of water. The only criticism would be the fuelling situation - fizzy lucozade in cups just isn't good enough - although we were told about it in advance so you could make alternative arrangements.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: read on.....
In full: Think some of the comments are harsh...specially from the lady who has never done a race before, and she chose to write war an peace! Hey, try some club events love, you'd be surprised!
People get on my wick at times, in fact, the British nation does (a reason i could happily become a recluse) because we just love to moan! It was advertised as a 'flat' race, FFS, it's Blackpool! If you read the site, you would have known that a cashed chq or pay pal receipt, was you entry confirmed, packs to follow! Why on earth do you want them weeks in advance? We'd only lose them anyway! Drinks stations, they should be pleased there were that many! And i had no probs getting the water i needed, half a cup or not, stop and take more! Don't drink lucozade if you don't like it, and as someone says, BLACKPOOL IS BLACKPOOL! Why moan at the organisers about running past hotels with people drinking beer at 9am, and a gaggle of girls hanging out the window of one shouting 'look at the c*ck on him' It's not there fault, it's us as a nation, have no god damn respect!! Embarasing as well, in the next hotel were some blue rinses trying to show there support!
It was closed road, and for Blackpool, chav or not, it's busy,and that's no mean feet! I think we should be thankful for that. We could have been allocated a lane of the road (Que Mersey Tunnel 10), or some sea front to run on, but no, we got the whole lot to ourselves, i mean, please!!
Toilets....are there EVER enough toilets at these events...NOPE, never, and never will be.
As for the the 'run up a ramp' FFS....whatever this person does, do NOT enter Snowden! They'll moan there's HILLS..it's WALES for gods sake!
I thought it OK! Better than that in fact. Simple,turn up and run! Drinks stops, allright support, not organisers faults that the GREAT British public never cheered and waved as much as we would have liked (i thank those that did,a nd the couple withthe tray of Oranges) Flat, i got a PB, t shirt was pants, granted, and medal was something that Jimmy Saville would be proud of, but, class all the same! But look at London's medal,you can't tell ME a chav would not be proud of that one!!
I could go on about lots of races, some that i thought were real pants, and yet, when i have read back, are just getting nothing but GREAT feedback! Were all different, with different opinions! I've finished a race where they were still putting up the finish line..no, nothing to do with me being great, and super quick, just real bad organisation, and yes, i moaned! But really, there was reason to.
I never moaned that there was no water, the sun was a degree to hot, or that the tarmac was slightly rougher in one place, than another! It's true, were happy with nothing! If there was nothing to moan about, we'd moan about that...
Take these things with a pinch of salt, and the comments about this race, the negatives i mean. DO THIS race if your looking for a nice 'by the sea side' Mara, one with better views than boring countryside, or a housing estate, see, now this will start more moaning, again, we all differ! I did Anglesey, for me, running down lanes, staring at hedges, having cows looking at me thinking, WHAT on earth is he doing, is a boring as hell! So the the british stags and hens, made light entertainment!
End of the day, we knew the route was an out and back etc, nowt wrong with it!
Support it, or it will stop, and then we'll start moaning again about how it's wrong it's gone. 450 year old mara, gone, just like that...etc etc!
Enjoy your sport, rather than worry about some little things. If there were NO or inadequate drinks stops, fair enough, but all in all, it was a good event, and doesn't deserve some of the negatives!
If you want bling, and glory, go do London, Great North, etc, but for me, the nitty gritty, and ultimately, the support i give to races like this, is worth allot more!
PS,
The geezer on the bike, not sure if it was the same one as being talked about (the one who haunted me had a young lad on the cross bars) your right, REALLY should be very careful using some of the motivational 'chat and commnets' on people when they have just ran 24 off miles, and there only purpose in life now, is to cross that line....do NOT need it....it's a wonder he was still able to ride that bike, and i feel the child,was his saviour!!
Head up, and Race strong!


Date of review: April 13, 2010

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Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: WARM,WARM,WARM,PURE SPEED
In full: For The First Ever :We had Blue Skies with Warm Sunny Weather and Pure Speed Dead on Time and loads of Crowd,Plenty of Water,Marshells and the route was better after all since there change there minds about the route althrough its better then nothing with or without works.I'll be back next Year.Hopefully more Toonies will follow ie Sleaford Town Runners and hopefully Shaun will be back aswell.Well Done to Lewis and Team.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Decent run by the sea, but could be much better
In full: Good flat course, and was good to be able to run along the prom on closed roads.
The atmosphere was lacking, especially on the second lap when all the HM support had vanished, but the finish was great, and lots of support and encouragement over the line.

The main problem was with the water, why was bottled water only at 10 and 23 miles? In an event this size the least you expect is bottled water, cupped water is close to pointless.

I can't fault the marshals, who were friendly and offered support (and many thanks to the marshal at about 22miles who gave me 20p for the loo!).

The entire event, though, just seemed to be done on the cheap, from the cupped water and fizzy lucozade, to the half cup of coke at the end. It didn't seem as though it was properly thought out and surely it wouldn't have cost that much to solve these small problems, which leave such a large negative impression.

I would do this event again, as it's fairly local and does have the potential to be a really good, fast marathon, but it just needs to sort out one or two problems.
Date of review: April 13, 2010

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