New Balance English Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (45 votes). | 11 to 20 of 45 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 |
2010 race reviewed by: Waveyed
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: very wet, but strangley more enjoyable for that
In full: very very wet, but ran smoothly for the most part.
It got congested in parts as run went along a narrow path which was a change from last year to avoid runners crossing each other on a road, but a bit unsure if it worked.
I only saw water at the drink stations and only realised they had energy gels from their website afterwards as they were thanking the providers! Drink stations were plentiful though lines not very long giving out so got a bit bunched up at times.
Overall though very enjoyable and would definitely do it again and recommend it.
Date of review: October 5, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: linger89
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic potential, let down by off road sections and start/finish area.
In full: Start/finish area terrible in the wet - changing tent plonked in the middle of an athletics field - and also off road sections (cinder path) between miles 8 & 10 don't work in the wet. Otherwise a great mix of hills and scenery. Watch out for the invisible energy gel stations though!
Date of review: October 5, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: CraigReed79
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good course, shame about the weather!
In full: Very fast course and the stewards and locals were great. Shame about starting off in such a narrow lane, and the weather of course was horrendous.
I wasn't impressed that they didn't send the chips and numbers out, and also there wasn't a proper baggage area, just had to dump bags in the changing areas.
On the plus side, I was aiming for just under 2 hours and recorded 1 hour 44 somehow!
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Jonathan Storey
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The spectators were fantastic and it was pouring with rain
In full: This was my first half marathon and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every village we passed through seemed to have a cluster of supporters who needed little encouragement to be vocal. My favourite point was the small tunnel where spectators gathered to keep dry but made loads of noise.
The weather was wet, wet ,wet.
The course was undulating. As I live and train in the High Peak in Derbyshire I wouldn't call it hilly.
Early entrants were given a free plain white technical tee before the event and another with the race emblem printed on it on completion. Therefore well worth the entrance fee.
My only gripe was that you had to collect your race number and timing chip on the day. Fortunately it was well manned so it wasn't too unpleasant.
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: David Rimington
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wet wet wet
In full: 2 points for next year, send numbers and chips in the post and get more portable loo's!!
Apart from that, great race, great atmosphere, started on time and i enjiyed it very much, will definately do it again next year.
The weather was terrible but made it more interesting down some of the lanes.
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Kicked-It
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: There's just something special about this one
In full: Despite pre-race organisational hiccups, there is still something about this race that leaves me feeling good. I suspect that the last 4 or 5 miles being generally down hill helps to leave a pleasant impression in your mind after what is quite a tough course for the first 7 or 8 up-hill!
The race suffered this year from loss of sponsorship, (no sports drinks en route, sparse goody bag, low key t-shirt), but the organisers still managed to put on an extremely slick event on the day. Marshalling was first class, toilets plentiful, route well marked, water stations well organised etc.
My finishers t-shirt had the race logo emblazoned upon it, but others apparently only got a plain white technical tee - odd....
With a bit of luck, and improvements here and there, this could become a classic: secure baggage would be good, a few more diversions for spectators at the start/finish and they need to sort out this collection of chips and numbers business.
However, this is a big event and only in its second year so can be forgiven for a few growing pains - I'd love to see it grown in stature to become THE English Half!
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: DebW4
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: good amount of people for a first half - friendly atmosphere
In full: Good atmosphere and excellent support even in the pooring rain. well done warrington !
excellent race but single tracks in places made it hard to pass which was frustrating - you either paddled through or went over the mud !! almost all first 5 miles are uphill so be prepared- its cetainly not flat. disappointed at the end as wasn't directed anywhere or even congratulated and nowhere to 'cool down' or stretch (weather didn't help) NB 'shop' really disappointing, where were the poncho's !! - medal is brill but shame tshirts were not printed with event !
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Naomi Atkin
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: It's amazing how fun driving rain can be!
In full: Arriving in Warrington in torrential rain was not the ideal start to a race, but the interesting course, great atmosphere and knocking 8 minutes off my PB made it all worthwhile!
The spectators were really encouraging, the organisation was generally good and the mars bar at the end was very welcome! I wasn't expecting any off-road sections but they were a nice change from the roads and it certainly broke up the race.
My only small gripe would be, as others have said, that the race pack that came in the post did not include race numbers or chips. We arrived soon after 7.30 to only a small queue, so it wasn't to big a deal but it does seem strange to bother to send race packs out without the only things you really need!
I would definitely do the race again, and fingers crossed for a sunny day next year!
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: juleswill1
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Loved it well organised great crowds and marshalls and good course
In full: On such a rainy day the crowds and marshalls did us proud! The course was brilliant well organised Thanks Warrington would definitely do again and free bus back to the centre great stuff
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: SWJJ
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fantastic race - Crowd&marshals brilliant
Date of review: October 4, 2010
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